THE PARALABRAX PUNISHER
....So what will May 17 th hold for the SWBA gang at Round 3? Let's take a look. There are two different mind sets. To the West (Up the line) you'll find the legendary Barn Kelp. Maybe not the gold mine it used to be, but, still one of the premier spots along the coast. Most boats fish the outside edges. I personally prefer the middle to inside areas where some huge Cali 's reside. Box Canyon , where I took my biggest limit of Calico Bass a few years back could put any team on top and over the 25lb mark. The power plant, yellowtail kelp, the clam bed, the golf ball and all the spots up to and above Dana Point will now be in play. I'd look for the isolated stringers that almost never get fished and wear them out. Some big boys live on these isolated stringers so take note.
Skidave: proudly displays a 5lb. class Calico Bass caught fishing the nearshore kelp beds West of Oceanside Harbor.
....To the East (down the line) is a totally different ball park. Massive kelp beds, rock piles, points and reefs with deep water access for the pelagics to use will be the key. Not a lot of shallow water fishing as that found up at Palo's Verde's but enough to allow choices. Noah's, Charlie's, Grandview, Swami's, Carlsbad, Del Mar and all the way down to La Jolla will all be in play and I fully expect many of the 70+ teams will to make some serious long runs in their pursuit of a podium finish at Round 3. Best of Luck to all, however, it is what my brother Steve and I call home so no farting in the hallways.
Limits since 1957: The Bruce family have seen many limits fishing the nearshore waters around Oceanside and continue to do so even today; only today's limits are mostly released back into the waters in which they were caught.
....With any article like this one I must give credit where credit is due and I'll close by giving kudos' to the following.
Dad - How many of you have made your own boats, taught dozens of your son's friends to fish and never asked for anything other than a beer and smile? A true hero in every sense of the word who we lost just a short year ago.
My brother Steve - God only knows he was there then and remains right there now. One couldn't ask for a better brother (fishing / surfing partner). Just don't let him drive.
The Taft Family - Spike, Chuck and Bobby. Chuck opened up his book of tricks and those tricks are used every time we go out. Bobby taught me the ways of the local WSB. And, Spike, opened the door for all of us to walk thru then kicked our asses when we screwed up.
Keith Larson (The Bear) - We should probably be in jail for some of things we've done but, hey, we survived and enjoy fishing together today just as much as we did 25 years ago.
Mark Oronoz - Simply put, one of the most underrated skippers on the coast back then and now. Mark ran the Electra, Sea Trek and Tortuga . Runs boats out of Seaforth now and I would recommend his operation to anyone.
Enjoy the photo's "knowing that Dad forgot more about this area than I'll ever know. Whether it be Cali 's or Rock Fish. We always seemed to bring back more than most".
....Well, there ya have it and now it's time for Round 3 ‘The Paralabrax Punisher' in Oceanside. Like I said earlier, it all started in August of 1957 for my family. Little did we know that lives would be changed. In one weekend I found my home away from home and it's still looked at as just that. Enjoy Oceanside Harbor with its Fish and Chips, Bubble gum ice cream (ask my nephew Elliott) and great ramp not to mention the fishing. It's a gem that's survived many unexpected turns along the way. A gem that continues to shine brighter with each every passing year. 
Be safe, have fun and bring back a 25lb bag!
Skidave
