North County Humble Pie
 

I arrived at 5:30am to fish North Ponto. The available parking was already jammed up with people camped in their cars and rv's. Dragging my PA14 down the steep cobbles was a nuisance but it was the choppy surf and 3 foot breakers that had me worried. Thought I saw a gap and went for it. My kayak got flooded with a few waves but eventually I made it out after hitting a sand bar or rocks somewhere. Mirage drive felt weird and when I inspected realized I lost a fin somehow. PA14 was moving slow after this and the mast rod was hitting the bottom of the boat with every stroke. Kept going out to about 40 foot of water looking for bait. Then my fish finder started flashing and I guess the battery was dying. So now fishing blind with only one fin I lowered my expectations for the day. Oceanside sport boat came for about an hour but then left. Worked hard to only get a few short calicos and one legal for taco(s). Found a couple bait fish but no luck on them either, whole area just seems dead. Got desperate and tried to ball bounce for awhile using a flasher and only snagged a lot of floating grass. Time to go in and the single fin did not help my effort. Surfers looked at me like I was a crazy person. Jumped out thinking it was deep enough and couldn't touch bottom. The tide was higher now and the beach was a treacherous washing machine with huge rocks. Had to get help from three guys to get my gear back up to sand. Exhausted, I promised myself never this beach again. Too hard to even walk on these rocks. Anyone know where to get the mirage drive repaired for a good price?

You North County beach launchers have juevos...Ponto? Hell no! Mirage drives are def a DIY deal! There's got to be someone in your North County Crew who can help you. Haven't checked but I'm thinking You Tube will have plenty of helpful videos. My recommendation is to change the nylon insert bolts every time you take them off. These bolts will back off on you if worn...Good luck! Jim

Oh man, great effort, I've been wanting to try Ponto some time but just as you said the parking can be horrendous with the campers. And then you have to wheel quite a ways to the water.

Yesterday must have just been one of those days as Mr. Fixit had a rough time with it as well.

Carlsbad had no life as far as birds, porpoise, very little bait. The conditions were just right but you just can't make them bite.

Hope you can get that fixed.

Try Pure Water Sports in Oceanside for a north county repair spot. They usually carry all kinds of parts for turbo fins. 760-721-6195.

Man, sounds like you had one heck of a day...sorry.

As for the fin, are you missing just the fin or other stuff on the drive came apart? Assuming its just your fin and the pin that holds it is missing, should be an easy fix.

Thanks for the report...I have not had the huevos to launch @Ponto...always seems to be a swell there, even on "flat" days.

Can't remember the fin names offhand, but is this the standard comes-with-PA fin or did you upgrade to the longest fins?


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I have the v2 fins with the ST Turbofin - the long gray kind.

Looking closer today, it seems like the pin, circle ring, and adjust screw all all in place and the rubber must have ripped. Mast looks good and I should be able to just slide the new one on.

Also just saw on YouTube that there is a new Mirage Drive come out that will shift into reverse?!? That could come in handy when trying to judge the surf window coming in. Also squeezing back out of kelp pockets.

Simple
Launch at S Ponto by the jetty
Park on sand no stones get a buddy or wheels straight to launch.

Coming in pick and choose I've dodged tourists many times easy landing even on big days nice strong push straight waves.

Paddle S to Beacons good structure and kelp. Avoid party boats N going for sandbass to fill sacks.

Whole reason through MLPA fiasco I never brought up Pontos.

Thought you might have the smaller ST fins like I have lying around (upgraded "my wife's" Outback so they're just lying around. )




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Hobie Fin
 

Any Hobie dealer should have one.
DW

caught some nice halibuts in that channel

It's entertaining to watch the beach launches here in north county.

Landings, too!

You can try Dana Point Jet ski, might be close to you. It really isn't hard to fix yourself though and you can get the parts on Amazon.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I went down to Fast Lane Kayaks today and picked up a new set of blue ones. Also grabbed some trax 2-30's, hoping they help in the deep sand.

Just re-edited this video hope you like it https://youtu.be/R_HANDqKu2Q

Fun Day
 

Ahh, Ponto.

Every time I have launched there it has been dicey coming in. The beach is steep and rocky. Good job continuing after losing one leg. All in a day's work! How come you did not mention the giant calico you farmed, Chris?