Fishing Report: Spotted bass record set at Nacimiento

En route to a bass tournament win Saturday at Nacimiento Lake, Bryan Grier, who honed his fishing skills at Nacimiento Lake and Lake San Antonio as a youth, obliterated the lake’s existing spotted bass record.

Grier, 29, was fishing with his dad, Steven Grier. The tandem, both pros, habitually fish their way to the top or near the top of tournament leaderboards.

“We didn’t realize just how big the record spot was,” the Hollister resident said. “It was our fourth fish of the day, which I caught in 20 feet of water on a shad-colored DD22 crankbait. It wasn’t until later in the day when my dad caught a 4 1⁄2-pound spot that we realized just how big my catch was. Dad’s fish looked like a dink in the live well compared to the one I caught.”

Although the fish is a Nacimiento record, Bryan Grier has caught bigger spots. “Two years ago at Lake Shasta I caught a 7.85-pound spot. But, it was in practice for a tournament.”

All five fish in the Grier’s awesome 19.30-pound limit were spots.

The catch was a belated birthday present, as well as a fitting way to christen his 2012 Ranger Z518 bass boat, which he was using for the first time in competition. Bryan Grier turned 29 on Nov. 23.

Bryan Brier’s catch bested the previous mark of 6 pounds, 2 ounces that Heritage Ranch resident Dean Guzman set Oct. 6, 2011.

It was the third time this year that Bryan Grier has registered a tournament win at Nacimiento Lake. He won a bass boat Nov. 7 in the WON Bass season-ending championship event.

Ironically, one of Grier’s sponsors, Jim’s Pro Bass Tackle, was launching the 101 Bass Tournament series Saturday. That event attracted 37 teams while the Central Coast Angler’s Choice competition managed just five entries.

Angler’s Choice Central Coast Top 5, Number of Fish, Weight, Winnings

1.Bryan & Steven Grier, Salinas, 5, 19.30 pounds, $710; 2. Dan Frazier, Arroyo Grande, Ken Sauret, Paso Robles, 5, 11.63 pounds; 3. Tom Nieto, Mike Tuck, Salinas, 5, 11.51 pounds; 4. Neal Franklin, Atascadero, Clay Gates, Paso Robles, 5, 10.75 pounds; 5. Mead Hedricks, Steve Morris, Lompoc, 5, 9.73 pounds.

1st Big Fish, 7.31 pounds, Bryan Grier. New Lake Nacimiento spotted bass record, old mark, 6 pounds, 2 ounces, Dean Guzman, Heritage Ranch, Oct. 6, 2011.

101 Bass series

Jigs were the winning ticket for Arroyo Grande’s Jared Lintner and partner Nick Salvucci of San Miguel in the inaugural 101 Bass event at Lopez Lake on Saturday. The team earned $3,645 with a five-fish limit of 23.04 pounds. The winners won with a margin of 6.77 pounds.

Gene Gray of Atascadero and his new partner, Tony Pratt of Paso Robles, placed second with a 16.27-pound limit that was worth $1,770.

Seventeen of the 37 teams entered had five-fish limits. Lintner and Salvucci also had the big fish at 5.23 pounds.

101 Bass Top 10 (all 5-fish limits), Weight Winnings

1. Jared Lintner, Arroyo Grande, Nick Salvucci, San Miguel, 23.04 pounds, $3,645; 2. Gene Gray, Atascadero, Tony Pratt, Paso Robles, 15.27 pounds, $1,770; 3. Fred & Freddy Ledesma, Soledad, 13.31 pounds, $770; 4. Jeff Rose, Jeff Zeilenga, Oceano, 11.92 pounds, $330; 5. Dan Barrios, San Luis Obispo, Sal Rocha, Arroyo Grande, 11.89 pounds, $300; 6. Carlos Vasquez, Jose Canchola, Soledad, 11.88 pounds, $250; 7. Roger Haas, Morro Bay, Kevin Rayner, Templeton, 11.71 pounds. $200; 8. Jim Slusher, Atascadero, Erik Zillig, Cambria, 11.21 pounds; 9. Ron Raymond, Bryan Vogt, Paso Robles, 11.01 pounds; 10. Austin & Larry Bonjour, Atascadero, 10.29 pounds.

1st Big Fish, 5.23 pounds, Lintner & Salvucci.

Christmas gift suggestions

It’s getting late, so here are some more gift suggestions for the outdoor set on your Christmas list

• Four Seasons Outfitters, San Luis Obispo — Sure Fire flashlights from $59; tents from $89; sleeping bags from $59; Bushnell binoculars from $69; complete line of gun cases from $25; Shimano rods and reels from $29; Carhartt sweatshirts from $39; rifle, pistol and shotgun reloading supplies; fresh and saltwater fishing supplies. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

• Patriot Sportfishing, Port San Luis — Women’s Tshirts $17.25; kids T-shirts, $9.50, hoodies for kids $21.75; rods and reels $80-$200; hat, visors, sweatshirts and assorted tackle. Hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

• Port San Luis Boatyard — Launch card special, buy nine get three free; tackle and marine hardware 10 percent off.

• Jim’s Pro Bass Tackle, Paso Robles — Shimano reels $89-$299; any rod and reel combo 25 percent off; full line of terminal tackle, customers’ choice of gift certificate amount. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

• The Outdoorsman, Grover Beach — Remington, Kershaw and Case knives 25 percent discount; turkey, quail and varmint calls discounted; personal protection sprays $10-$40, rifle scopes 10 percent off. Open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Port San Luis Boatyard

Seventy-five lingcod, two halibut and 60 Dungeness crab were in last week’s catch by anglers aboard 53 launched boats.

Arroyo Grande’s John Schwind had the Whopper of the Week a 17-pound, 9-ounce lingcod caught Dec. 6. Boatyard operator Marty Codorniz plans to begin posting fish reports at www.portsanluisboatyard.com.

Patriot Sportfishing

The lingcod catch on three trips last week numbered 27, 22 and 18.

The big fish of the week was a 14-pound lingcod caught by Coalinga’s Jim Reese. Also winning jackpots were: Anthony Gray, Los Alamos, 13-0 ling; Peter Ng, Rosemead, 12-8 ling; Mark Masicampo, Atascadero, 12-0 ling; Mark Silva, Santa Maria, 10-0 cabezon; Tim Murphy, Lompoc, 8-0 cabezon; and Rick Cooper, Gardena, 7-0 cabezon.

Kids 12 and under fish free with a paid adult Dec. 21-22 and Dec. 28-29. Rockcod and crab combo trips Fridays and Mondays from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. are $66.

For trip schedules and reservations, call 595-7200.

Virg’s Landing

An 18-pound halibut caught by Russell Jones of Fresno was the big fish of the week. Other jackpot winners were Mason Burens, Bakersfield, and John Pater, Cambria, both 12-0 lings; Robin Hawkworth, Bakersfield, 10-0 ling; and Mark McFarlin, Paso Robles, 7-0 ling.

Ladies Day trips are being offered Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Women pay a $25 fare, men pay $59. A special jackpot trip is set for today. Call 772-1222 for details.

Central Coast Sportfishing

A 15-pound lingcod caught by Visalia’s Kurt Michaels took jackpot honors Sunday.

For schedules and reservations, call 772-3474 or 704-2084.