Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge  

Go Back   Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge > Kayak Fishing Forum - Message Board > Kayak Fishing Reports

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-14-2019, 03:19 PM   #1
trollindirty
Junior
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 7
La Jolla hookup Aug 29 and/or 30th

Hi everyone,

I'm relocating from Reno NV to Raleigh NC. Since I love saltwater fishing in my Hobie Outback, I decided it'd be worthwhile to detour to San Diego for a day or two of kayak fishing. I have a lot of experience kayak fishing offshore at the Rigs when I lived in Houston prior to Reno.

I want to launch from Avenida de la Playa. I plan on going to the kelp beds (past the restricted zone) and jig midwater/bottom as well as troll/freeline any bait I can catch with my sabiki. I'm targeting yellowtail, but will be happy with rockfish or whatever else I can get. I have sonar/gps and can take 2 rods with me.

First, I'd be much more comfortable if there's other kayak fisherman in the area. From what I read, it seems like this area is pretty popular with kayak fisherman. Is it likely that I'll have company on those days? If not, I'd love to hear from anyone thinking of going so that I can meet up.

Can anyone enlighten me on the surf conditions I should expect? Whats the surf structure in that area (number of sandbars, how many sets of breakers, anything I should be aware of, etc)? What swell/surf conditions and sizes are "doable" for a reasonably safe launch and reentry?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Bo
trollindirty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 04:53 PM   #2
f'nsabiki
Senior Member
 
f'nsabiki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 309
Check the LJ Webcam--It gives a great view of the surf zone.
f'nsabiki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 11:27 PM   #3
jbara
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 31
Not sure how it will be that day. Some days it's a pond and others common sense will tell you that it's too much. If you have experience going to the rigs in Texas you should be fine with LJ. You might catch a couple to the face and chest that you have to power through on rough days. If.you get scared coming in just jump off and hold on from the back for an easy ride in. Always have you're gear stowed before leaving and coming in and should be good to go. Good luck. You're timing for fishing should be great since this season has started so slow.
jbara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2019, 07:36 AM   #4
daperrin
www.TheKayakLaunch
 
daperrin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Orange County
Posts: 237
I saw a video where a guy would return to shore by facing the oncoming waves. After a wave would pass he would back paddle untill the next wave. He would paddle through each on coming wave then continue to back paddle until he reached shore. Is that a technique that others are doing or just this one guy?
__________________
David P

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thekayaklaunch
https://www.instagram.com/thekayaklaunch
daperrin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2019, 09:50 AM   #5
trollindirty
Junior
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 7
f'nsabiki,

Thanks for the tip. It helps, though I know from experience that a lot of times you can't tell just how big the surf is until you're face to face with it lol

jbara,

Launching is much easier for me. Don't mind getting wet on the way out. Coming in is the hard part. Even with gear tied down i hate having my gear go underwater or rods breaking. If it is shallow enough I'm totally fine jumping into the water if it increases my chances of not turtling. There were times in texas when a breaker would start turning my kayak and right before it would flip I'd jump out.

Since my schedule is constrained to those dates, and we have no idea about what conditions will be, do you have a suggestion as to where I could launch in more sheltered water and still have a decent water commute to some offshore kelp? Mission Bay comes to mind.

daperrin,

Yes this is a thing that some kayakers do religiously. The theory is you have a much easier time staying pointed into the surf if youre facing the surf. I never tried it. But it would be worth trying with an empty kayak when you have time. The fat body of the Hobie Outback loves to get turned parallel to the surf when coming back to shore, which is definitely not a position you want to be in.
trollindirty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2019, 10:53 AM   #6
chris138
donkey roper
 
chris138's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Pacific Beach
Posts: 968
If you are making the trek to fish la jolla, just launch la jolla. You will be fine. Stash everything below deck you can and tie down the rest. The yellowtail dont care if there is surf or some wind, actually they seem to bite better when there is big swell and lots of current. In the late summer, the majority of significant swell are from the south, which is totally protected at the shores launch. Just charge it, you'll be fine.

I guess you haven't given us all the info, if you are an older individual or have some physical disabilities, I would be cautious. If you are a healthy adult and you have a PFD, charge it.

If you want to catch a yt you will have to focus on the yt the WHOLE trip. Get your bait as quickly as possible, put out your flyline, and just cover ground. Look for bait balls and birds. Your plan sounds good. Troll that mack and drop your jig on marks and you have a great shot!
chris138 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2019, 06:22 PM   #7
f'nsabiki
Senior Member
 
f'nsabiki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 309
Quote:
Originally Posted by daperrin View Post
I saw a video where a guy would return to shore by facing the oncoming waves. After a wave would pass he would back paddle untill the next wave. He would paddle through each on coming wave then continue to back paddle until he reached shore. Is that a technique that others are doing or just this one guy?
I've landed that way for years. An Outback is not so good in the surf.
f'nsabiki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2019, 09:44 AM   #8
Nickrivers
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Santa Paula
Posts: 32
Quote:
Originally Posted by f'nsabiki View Post
I've landed that way for years. An Outback is not so good in the surf.
Just went out for the first time in my Outback, definitely likes to go sideways. Had a big wave break over me and I got soaked.

I think I'll be swimming it to shore next time...


Nickrivers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2019, 09:14 AM   #9
Bruntoj
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: San Diego County
Posts: 168
I always come in backwards in my PA14. 95% of the time I do it upright


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bruntoj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2019, 11:57 AM   #10
Bruntoj
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: San Diego County
Posts: 168
Regarding backwards:
Keep the mirage in and ready, and power pedal into every wave. You’re most stable when moving. You only want to be going backwards again once the wave has passed under your butt. In the PA14 I stop pedaling and dig in my paddle to catch some of the wave’s momentum. If you fill up the cockpit in a PA14 then only forward momentum can keep you upright.

I’ve actually seen people surf Outbacks. You can also brace sideways without window shading and do a lot of things the PA can’t.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Bruntoj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2019, 07:05 PM   #11
dsafety
Olivenhain Bob
 
dsafety's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Olivenhain, CA
Posts: 1,121
As Trolldirty says, you should keep the mirage drive available but use the bungy to make them retracted to the hull. In my experience, paddles work best when going in backwards. It is usually wet but much less wet than flipping when your yak turns sideways in the surf.

For the normal small surf at the launch, just time your dash to the shore using the peddles, (with the bungy) and have the paddle ready to lean on if you go sideways.

Most of us have flipped lots of times.

Bob
dsafety is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2019, 07:20 PM   #12
FullFlavorPike
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 809
Yak will roll in a pretty insignificant wave...one you could easily handle standing up. Unless it's a real surf day, the waves at the boat launch break in like waist deep water, and the yak tends to roll even shallower. If things go literally sideways on a mellow day, you can jump out on the seaward side of your boat and grab hold of the side handle. On a mellow summer day, you're not in very deep water and you can avid embarrasingly losing your stuff in 2.5" of water in front of a bunch of tourists.
FullFlavorPike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2019, 10:47 AM   #13
Flounder
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 101
I have a pa 12 does not go in well forward at all. Switched to backward landing and success rate is 100% over last year on not flipping in lj.
Flounder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 10:13 AM   #14
trollindirty
Junior
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 7
I will try coming in backwards. Unless the waves are small enough, then I'll charge forward.

Thanks for all the tips guys. Hoping to see some of you guys out there. I'll throw another post on this thread a few days before to see if anyone is down to meet up.

Tight lines
trollindirty is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:53 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
© 2002 Big Water's Edge. All rights reserved.