Best Catches of 2021

[KamWalsh14]

I've noticed it isn't very popular to post recent reports on here for fear of blowing up the bite and being greeted by dozens of cars at the beach on the next trip. I get that and am guilty of withholding on posting on kayak forums too, but I'd like to see what everyone has been quietly catching this past year. Here are my top 5 days on the water in 2021. Light tackle halibut in the South Bay, a couple of shallow water homeguards, and one of those relatively rare days on the water where everyone in the group got to catch something decent. I personally found the Yellowtail fishing to not be as good as last year, but I felt as if I was better able to capitalize on the times in which good numbers of fish were around. Now show me what you guys have caught!

[Gflann]

Two PB’s in ‘21. Spring home guard YT (weighed 38.6# at Dana)followed up with several limits of ground fish and a PB Vermillion (5#).

As for putting recent reports...I never understood that logic. Sure leave out a few details but the reader still has to put in a bunch of work leading up to just putting their kayak on the beach let alone getting out there fishing. Early wake up, negotiating time off from home/work, loading unloading x2, preparing gear etc. It’s not like the general public is going to read it and pounce on your future fish. And if you’re following someone elses report to the T, you’re probably too late anyway. Just nice to share general info But it’s your work, your fish so your choice.

Happy New Year!

[f'nsabiki]

Nice fish for both of you. How did you cook the Vermillion? That fish has grilled whole written all over it.

[AlwaysFishing]

It looked like you have a fantastic year, Kam. Thanks for sharing.

[AlwaysFishing]

Originally Posted by Gflann

Two PB’s in ‘21. Spring home guard YT (weighed 38.6# at Dana)followed up with several limits of ground fish and a PB Vermillion (5#).

As for putting recent reports...I never understood that logic. Sure leave out a few details but the reader still has to put in a bunch of work leading up to just putting their kayak on the beach let alone getting out there fishing. Early wake up, negotiating time off from home/work, loading unloading x2, preparing gear etc. It’s not like the general public is going to read it and pounce on your future fish. And if you’re following someone elses report to the T, you’re probably too late anyway. Just nice to share general info But it’s your work, your fish so your choice.

Happy New Year!

Very nice PBs.
I agreed regarding reports here. I think it's a shamed that we can't share our outings without being ridicule around here. I am not taking about sharing GPS numbers, here. Just the mentioning of the name of a place, like Redondo and some would get all worked up. Some people just think they owned the ocean, I guessed.

[BenCantrell]

Happy New Year everyone! Here's a tour through my 2021 kayak catches. As I'm sure all of you have seen by now, I've been focused on catching different species.

Sablefish from La Jolla - Jan


Pacific sanddab from Dana Point - Feb


Mexican rockfish from La Jolla - Mar


Greenblotched rockfish from La Jolla - Mar


Guaguanche from Sebastian - May


Mangrove snapper from Sebastian - May


Ladyfish from Sebastian - May


Little tunny from Sebastian - May


Blue runner from Sebastian - May


Atlantic bumper from Sebastian - May


Blackear wrasse from Sebastian - May


Porkfish from Fort Pierce - July


Pinfish from Fort Pierce - July


Smooth puffer from Fort Pierce - July


Sand perch from Fort Pierce - July


Mutton snapper from Sebastian - July


Spinner shark from Sebastian - Aug


Mayan cichlid from Sebastian - Aug


Striped bass from New Hampshire - Aug


Masquerader hairy blenny from Sebastian - Sep


Red drum from Sebastian - Oct

[h2ofishfo]

[QUOTE=BenCantrell;316360]Happy New Year everyone! Here's a tour through my 2021 kayak catches. As I'm sure all of you have seen by now, I've been focused on catching different species.

Sablefish from La Jolla - Jan
[img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50839817797_66837d29f2_c.jpg[/img[/. QUOTE] Sable fish ? Interesting never seen one.

[AlwaysFishing]

Congrats Ben. A nice list of different species.

[Salty]

Some great fish you got there! Here are some of my faves from 2021:
1) Sheephead in La Jolla. This one stands out because of the bait I caught it on- a 7" Spanish Mackerel on a heavy Carolina rig. Was not the target I was hoping for, but a pleasant surprise nonetheless! Released after the pic

2) Black Sea Bass in Dana Point. Catch these fairly frequently further south in LJ and off the boat around San Mateo Point, but this one was a surprise because of where I caught it- at the edge of the canyon NW of Dana Point. happened to hook a few energetic greenbacks on a jig and pinned them to my flyline and Carolina rig. This guy bit off the bottom after a pod of dolphins cruised by. Also released after the pic

3) Bluefin Tuna from the 277. Do a lot of tuna fishing when they come within range of our boat. This one was special because after trying to get my cousin on the boat all year, we finally got him on board and found the tuna foaming only a handful of miles from the harbor. This is the first one we landed together. They liked the 60g Colt Sniper. Made into vacuum-sealed fillets after the pic

Hope this year brings you all lots of tight lines! My Resolution this year is to land my first WSB from the kayak....

[Caseym]

Originally Posted by Gflann

Two PB’s in ‘21. Spring home guard YT (weighed 38.6# at Dana)followed up with several limits of ground fish and a PB Vermillion (5#).

As for putting recent reports...I never understood that logic. Sure leave out a few details but the reader still has to put in a bunch of work leading up to just putting their kayak on the beach let alone getting out there fishing. Early wake up, negotiating time off from home/work, loading unloading x2, preparing gear etc. It’s not like the general public is going to read it and pounce on your future fish. And if you’re following someone elses report to the T, you’re probably too late anyway. Just nice to share general info But it’s your work, your fish so your choice.

Happy New Year!

You’d be surprised to see how fast word travels. This site is not an isolated group of dedicated kayakers who can sometimes break free…we are social beings who read other sites, boat fish and share info. Plus there are non kayak guys who read the sites for dope. Case in point…4 years ago two kayakers scored on yt’s and posted epic pics in here. Guys in bdecks licked it up and within 24 hours there were 136 boats…plus a slew of kayakers off the point in LJ. It’s insidious.
We’re all hungry for the score, we’re competitive by nature (just drive anywhere in SoCal these days) and everyone of us loves the idea of going out in search and coming home with a trophy. With dwindling stocks….I get why people
Don’t post.

[katchfish]

Impressive and inspirational catches gentlemen!👨🏻X🍳

[icelogger]

Nice catches guys!

[Jxjones]

Impressive catches. Thanks for sharing.