Channel Islands??
 

Does anyone know of a good outfit to go kayaking with off Santa Barbara to the Channel Islands or Santa Cruz? A friend of mine is in LA visiting would like to do a trip to include hiking on the islands as well.

Any help is appreciated

ISLAND PACKERS

Island Packers does not take fishing yaks, there trips are guided paddle trips
same with Santa Barbara, no fishing yak trips....

It seems geared for "fun tourist experience" as opposed to fishing or sea kayaking.

I talked to them as Channel Islands noob' a few weeks ago and they seemed pretty savvy and willing to talk. They noted that the paddling trip was much more rock garden type fun in shorter sit-on-tops (I think) and suggested the tour transport boats didn't cotten to transporting ruddered boats like Hobies and fishing rigs and such that required more care in handling (as opposed to stakin' a bunch of molded fun boats.)

Not a bash, just what's the norm.

They suggested to just come out and enjoy their stuff and get to know the islands through the standard fun tour and find someone eventually who'd bring over a fishing or Hobie style yak.

If you got your own boat over there . . . It seemed a bit like the scenario of getting to Catalina where you have to take the added step of shipping your boat over with the shipping company or other option while you travel over on the tourist boat.

Seems doable, but an added step and I wonder if it would be smart to take care to protect your boat's rudder-like parts for shipping by capping the rudder area etc.

Parts is parts, freight is freight . . . as opposed to a savvy tour crew that doesn't bash boats. Hmm. Might make the Black Pearl more appealing. :)

Right now I don't believe there are any boats doin mothership trips up here
until the Black Pearl gets here...:reel:

From my last visit on the Seabiscuit boat, Channel Islands have SOME Great kayak fishing spots.


I wouldn't mind trying the fishing up there either. Except my wife has me on lock down for going on the last trip....


but hey i can only get thrown out of the house right. lol :D

Yeah but we can't get the yaks out there...

island packers
 

We went on a kayak fishing/camping trip to Santa Rosa with Island Packers.
You can rent their kayaks and bring your poles and milk crate or bait tank.
We had a great trip...This was 5 years ago