SoCal Surf Fishing - they were BITING! [Lucky Craft Flash Minnow]

[@surphvision]

Nice corvina!

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thank you, late season Corbina are always fun! Happy holidays!

[@addicted2fishing119]

The tug is the drug‼️

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Yes sir!!!

[@Fishingwithdaboys]

Corvinas be tasting so good. !!

[@ham5765]

Hwaiting!! Nice sesh.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thanks Francis, happy holidays brotha! I saw Tim at Yorba yesterday and we stuck a few! Hope we can get a session in soon!

[@GregoryN-h2e]

The beach ought to have some huge heifers laying in a trough right about now get your extra layers on and enjoy the cold.

[@marvinlagua1376]

LC master. Udaman🤙🏽

[@BenjieKimFishing]

haha thank you! I'm no master but I do love throwing them and I've def gotten better over the years. Tight lines!

[@marcomunoz7453]

Loving the new visual you have popping up on screen. What a day of fishing!

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thanks Marco! It was nothing crazy but always fun to get a few bites.

[@snipergene]

Nice session Benjie!

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thank you Eugene! I hope you’ve been well! Have you been able to eat all your yft yet?? 🤣

[@snipergene]

@@BenjieKimFishing The last of it will get eaten when I make spicy ahi poke on Christmas Eve! I'm ready to catch some more!!

[@BenjieKimFishing]

@@snipergeneoh that’s awesome, man that ahi makes for some REALLY GOOD poke. Let’s do it again!!

[@manamike13]

Way to slay those fish Sir.. You are right Benjie.. it’s about being confident in what you using.. I know on a C-Rig I’m catching fish.. Lucky Crafts I still gotta get practice and confidence with them..

[@BenjieKimFishing]

That's right Mike, there are tangible and intangible aspects to our wonderful sport that can bring success. I believe most of us fixate on the tangible things ie bait, gear, spots, etc. Those are super important, but so are the intangible aspects ie the mental game and what you mentioned, confidence in what we're doing. One tip to keep in your back pocket - the same waters and conditions you succeed with the C-rig might not be the same waters and conditions that bring success with the LC. Tight lines and happy holidays my friend!

[@manamike13]

@@BenjieKimFishing Thank you for that tip.! I will use it on my next trip out this weekend.. 🤙🏽 Tight lines Benjie..

[@rafaelcamarena5351]

I love the descriptions in the bottom left corner with the limits and fish type that’s awesome. Bet it’s a ton of work.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thank you so much, I appreciate your kind words and empathy, at the end of the day I'm making a product for consumers so it's very rare for someone to think about the work that goes on behind the scenes. Tight lines and happy holidays!

[@frankieg3409]

You are a trooper Benjie! The water is absolutely fuh-reezing right now. I gotta get out there on the surf soon and test out my new water shoes with my waders, I had been fishing walking around with stockingfoot waders and no shoes.

[@Nobodybaby78]

I love “decent grade something’s” too benjie😂👌🏼

[@BenjieKimFishing]

lol!

[@Redneckkratos]

Howdy Benjie!!!! So I’m coming from Vegas to San Diego in early January for the rodeo but wanna get some surf fishing done for the first time, is there a good beginners beach you recommend for people who haven’t ever surf fished but want good success

[@Photowrm]

I was jonesing for a video, perfect timing! Do you fish a leader? If so how long? What about straight to braid via clip?

[@marcomunoz7453]

Typically he uses a leader that’s 12’. The main thing is allowing it to be long enough to not get into the reel. If your rod is like 6ft, use 9ft of leader. There is a video he posted while ago about fishing straight to braid.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Hi Bob!! I do use a 15 lb. leader using the RP knot for connection, about 2 to 3 arms length pulls is what I typically do. Straight braid is definitely viable especially if you are fishing open water with not too much heavy structure. I used to go straight braid at times but I had back to back sessions a couple years back where I got sawed off on rocks on really good fish. Braid is like noodle when it comes to rocks or reefs.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Also keep in mind that I have short arms so take that with a grain of salt when it comes to "arms length" pulls lol. Technically even 1 arms length is perfectly enough.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thanks Marco, you got this!

[@Photowrm]

@@BenjieKimFishing I hate the feel of a knot going through my guides. Ok sounds good. Thank you, I fished an LC all the way back to my truck the other day. I didn’t hook anything but I’m going to keep at it ‘til I get something good.

[@bouncerfishing]

I gotta get back out there in the winter I think I've always just viewed the winter season as a time where you can't get fish from the surf which is completely wrong. Great Video.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Yes, Fall and Winter are actually my favorite times to surf fish, partially do to less pressure on the beach from both beach goers and fishermen. Generally speaking the fishing does slow down but timing is everything, and I believe it is the same for Summer too. If you get out there on the right day, Winter fishing can be just as good, if not better, than Summer. Tight lines and happy holidays!

[@beansan11]

So close to a legal man! But always nice getting hooked up. Good advice as always man.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thank you Werner, yea man legals are nice, trophies are nice, but those things take care of themselves over time. Was just grateful to be out there and feel a few bites.

[@poersch86]

How do you tie the 110? Straight to braid?

[@Minhtieu619]

Dayam Bennie I miss fishing with u! I miss fishing period! I been working the towers! Up and down dealing with the cold. This week It be in the single digits here in Texas. I miss it. Thanks for the video!!

[@Chivo5-5]

What is your line setup?

[@toxicwzgameplay5577]

Is this Newport Beach?

[@theoldsurffisher1943]

Those water conditions looked ideal for casting and working light jerk baits in "flat" water.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Hi Ron, yes it was certainly very fishable water, perhaps the one thing I yearn for the most when planning a trip out. And even then, we just never know. It’s a never ending obsession to fully understand what we will walk up to on any given day.

[@jamiefelix4921]

Good fishing man love the content i met u at yorba linda and it was a pleasure lad

[@Smallaut]

Sheesh got the quadfecta! 😂 Nice work Benjie!

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thanks Josh, it’s always nice to get anything to bite when we get out there. Winter can be a crap shoot so very grateful!

[@jtuck682]

Benjie, that was a huge corbina! Hope some of the sponsors level up and give you a pair of waders.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

It was definitely one of the bigger one's I've ever caught regardless of technique/context!

[@socalpilotjin3720]

Where is here??

[@Drago286v]

Beautiful video and great tips as always...Thanks for taking us along!!

[@curtismatsune3147]

I just started surf fishing during the covid and since that time I've been surprised at the opportunities for legal halibut in the dead of winter despite the conventional wisdom. I have several winter legals, the latest just this past Friday. The water was warm and the weather was real nice so I was fishing in shorts and pulled off my long sleeve outer layer before 10am. SoCal surf fishing is the best!

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Great observation thru the experience of being out there to find out! Yes, winter can be fantastic halibut fishing and with a lot less pressure from beachgoers as well as other anglers. There does seem to be a 1 month period or so when everything seemingly shuts down but that’s just anecdotal experience on my part. Some of my best days have been dead of winter. Thank you for sharing and tight lines!

[@do1du]

What beach is this?

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Hey there! For the most part I don't specify beaches on the channel but this was in Orange County.

[@nufolopez83]

What kind of rod do you recommend for surf casting those lucky craft flash minnow?

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Any rod that meets the specs of the LC110 (16.7 grams) as well as your reel and line. I use the Phenix Trifecta Lite 903 ML rated 6 to 12 and 1/4 to 3/4. I'm definitely a finesse fisherman so most guys I know will go with something heavier. Typically, any rod that is MH and is rated for 1/4 to 1 oz and 10 to 20 lb will be just fine. That's a pretty generalized rec but just trying to paint you a picture. Hope that helps.

[@ralphsaldana529]

🤙😎

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Thank you so much Ralph!!

[@oscxng]

This was pretty cool. Love surf fishing and are planning to do it more. Also Benjie you may notice me as a random person but I’m actually the person who was the kid gk. Yes that sentence was a little cringe but yeah. I’m planning to start a channel for my fishing adventures on the weekends and I hope to start posting early next year or in a few weeks. Also question, do you ever use conventional reels in the surf, because I see people using them because they cast farther and it seems very interesting. I’ve been planning to get a surf casting conventional reel and I want your opinion. Thanks for reading my heck of a comment Benjie! keep the lines tight!

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Hey there, thanks for making the connection. I have not ever used a conventional in the surf so I can't give a proper opinion either way. I always say that everyone should use what they like, what they're good at, and what brings confidence.

[@oscxng]

@@BenjieKimFishingthis is kinda unrelated but im going trout fishing at ralph b Clark regional park on Sunday and I’m very new at trout fishing, is it possible that I can have some tips? I’m using some spoons, one a gold/red (medium size) and one gold one (small)

[@rudycarreon3199]

What a great day, mixed bag. What was the actual date you fished? always good content Benjie, thank you

[@titanosauruswhat]

Hey Benjie! I’m looking to get the Phenix Tricecta for LC fishing and had some quick questions about specs? Could I get away with using the Medium Light or should I stick with the Medium Heavy? Lmk what you think!

[@marcomunoz7453]

Check out his review of the trifecta 904. He kinda does a comparison between the two.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Hey there! Yes, you CAN get away with the ML...it's what I've used exclusively for this context for the past 3 or so years. I'm a finesse fisherman so it is on the lighter side but it's got surprising power for what it is. I've landed big bat rays, a 50+ inch leopard shark, 32" halibut, etc with that rod. But at the same time, it's not a rod that you can pin your drag and high stick with, if that makes any sense. The way I'd describe the ML is it gives me elite sensitivity and feel with adequate power. The MH does almost everything the same with slightly less sensitivity. Casting distance is the same. You can have a bit more confidence pulling on better grade fish. Hope that helps.

[@titanosauruswhat]

Will check out that video! Thx for the info! Should’ve looked to see if there was a vid first 😭

[@reel_it_in_socal]

I really love surf fishing and had some decent catches using bait. LC is something that I never figured out. Once in a while I try it and nothing ever bit. After 5-10 casts I would usually switch back to bait, as I know I will get something with bait. I think I need to convince myself that I can catch something with LC. Any advice?

[@BenjieKimFishing]

I'll be honest, and I think most folks would agree with me here - overall, you'll catch more fish with bait. Generally speaking though, the quality of fish you catch in the long run will be better with the LC. It's tough to accept less fish and commit to the LC (IMO). But at the same time, I've had plenty of sessions where I've caught both quality and quantity with the LC...but that was only after a long season of commitment to throwing the LC (a rough period of almost 1 year). You should use what you love and brings confidence and success. If you want a different challenge and want to commit to catching with the LC (or any other lure for that matter), make a commitment and don't stop until you figure it out. It is def a different style of fishing and where you succeed with the C-Rig may not be where you succeed with the LC...not to mention tides, structure, and conditions. Tight lines and happy holidays.

[@reel_it_in_socal]

Thanks for your detailed reply. I appreciate it. Indeed it took time to hone the skills and build confidence that, if I'm not catching, the spot is dry and I need to move to next spot. It took me ~8 months to get a sense of c-rig and consistently catch croakers and corbinas. Another ~10 months to figure out the reefs for basses and sheepheads. Thinking about going back sand for halibuts, for which I will need to use lure, either LC or swimbait. So far my lure sessions are mostly skunks, making it harder to figure out what to change (cuz I would not know if the change makes things better or worse). But as you said, it is a commitment and just keep trying. I am in SD and maybe I will see you some time. Until then, tight lines! @@BenjieKimFishing

[@legitbetterthanvinny9725]

Hey Benjie, just curious if you know what the MKB and MPB stand for on the lucky crafts cuz I have no idea. Also, have you heard of the Shimano 115 World Minnow jerkbait in the surf? I’ve read about it being really good but haven’t seen a lot of people use it. Merry Christmas!

[@t-posingrat713]

I had no clue Yellowfins could be caught in winter! Nice catches

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Yup, yellowfin are kind of year round, just a matter of finding them swimming thru. Some of my best wide open yfc sessions have been dead of winter. Tight lines!

[@garrettmartinezstone2655]

Man I never could figure out how to finesse lucky crafts except snagging jewelry and lock boxes then panicked and gave them away they're legit and my cousin jester will probably be pissed off but maybe you'll run into them catch em for cheap

[@CurrentJAM]

So happy you posted. I’m new to SD and was wondering if there is anything bitting this time of year.

[@BenjieKimFishing]

Welcome to SD! Fish definitely hold in the winter. IMO it is definitely slower but also a higher chance of finding a trophy. The bite can still go wide if the conditions line up, sometimes the bite goes completely dead depending on water temps or more specifically, extreme temp breaks...but technically that applies to all seasons.