9/1/13 - Dana Point New Species (ID Please)
 

I hit the launch early while still just dark to a warm and still morning. Oh how I will grow to miss the solitude. The trek out to the kelp forest at the headlands was smooth and quick. Water temps stayed in the 70-degree range.

I started by trying to make bait and after a while in the process I snapped this picture of the sun trying to rise behind clouds.

Sunrise Over Dana Point Headlands
http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/p...pictureid=1618

Anyway, the bait making process was slow as I was trying to avoid Grunion however the Macs never showed themselves. Thus I eventually settled for Grunion and a Wrasse.

While making bait, a fish I have never seen before hit the sabiki. It looked like a purple, blue and gold version of a Surf Perch. There is much more purple and blue than shows in the photo. I would appreciate it if anyone could identify the species.

New Species For ID
http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/p...pictureid=1616

So with my well sufficiently full of Grunion and a Wrasse I fly-lined around the the kelp. This produced a few Calico Bass. I also threw a big hammer to catch a few a more. Here is the obligatory photo. The others looked about the same all being a bit short.

Calico Bass
http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/p...pictureid=1617

By mid morning, I was convinced I was fishing along the 5-freeway. There were helicopters, air planes, paddle boarders, jet-skis, multiple rowing teams, sail and power-boats. This is the most crowded I have ever seen it off Dana Point. Nothing like full throttle wake 15-yards away! Strangely however, I only saw two other kayak fishermen.

I decided to head back into the harbor where they must have been giving sailing lessons for beginners. For the first time, I found myself desperately blowing on my safety whistle to keep an out of control sail-boat from running into me. He was going one way, raised his sail, began to list 45-degrees and changed course immediately crossing the entire width of the harbor. Two other boats necessarily averted his pathway as well.

Enjoy...

Looks like a nice day out there. All I can say about the crowds is that it seems typical for a labor day weekend. Don't worry in about a month things will hopefully be quiet again.

Oh ya, that fish you have is called a Rainbow Surfperch. Pretty cool looking fish.

That perch is cool. Did you do anything with the wrasse or just release it?

That is a Rainbow Seaperch

Loved your photo of Dana Headlands and nice bass!- thanks for sharing. I have learned to avoid DP on Mem. Day, July 4, and labor Day. Its crowed, chaotic, and dangerous. I fished the headlands on Fri before Labor Day and C&R'ed my 1st sevengill shark (5'). Halibut have been almost non-existent but I have caught over 6 different species of shark there this summer. It's been a very unusual year at DP..

I tried to fly-line the wrasse but he disappeared. I reeled in just a hook. Something took it.