Ventura County/Santa Barbara Area - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Jizzling · 04-07-2016, 03:48 PM

Just out of curiosity, has anyone kayak fished out in the Ventura/Santa Barbara area? I haven't stumbled upon much information about how the fishing is out there and wanted to see if anyone here has tried.

onthewater · 04-07-2016, 03:52 PM

I know a lot of kayakers go a little bit south to Leo Carillo (sp?) and can sometimes get into some nice fish. It can be tough to launch, depending on your skill level. Additionally, there are many coastal kelp beds out of SB/VTA that are decent for the usual reef suspects. Some guys like to go north and kayak fish out of Gaviota as well. Let us know what kayak you got, what species you are targeting and your skill level and I'm sure a few more people can chime in!

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domtesta27 · 04-07-2016, 05:23 PM

I fish out of either Malibu or north Ventura once or twice a week weather permitting.

The fisherman are a little more tight lipped in this area, especially in Malibu, but there is still some really good fishing. Try and meet up with some of the locals and have them take you out the first couple of times.

I know we're all waiting to start seeing sport boats out of County Line on the webcam and then all hell is gonna break loose.

2-Stix · 04-07-2016, 05:50 PM

Everything above is about it. Its bigger waves and spookier waters up here. Gaviota will blow 90 mph, SB is pretty tough to get the good spots, Ventura and Oxnard are pretty dead, and Malibu is the easy pickings with very very tight lips. As Dom said, look for boats. The rest is up to you making bait and being ready to go. Be ready to rock the shore breaks...they will whoop your ass.

cesar74 · 04-07-2016, 08:16 PM

Gaviota was very sharky (GWS) last year & i wouldn't be surprised if they came back this year. Goleta is a good spot & an easy launch. Ventura,Oxnard,& Hueneme ehh! i really don't fish it. County line is good but you really have to time those waves. Buddy up & get out there, its going to be another great year.

Jizzling · 04-07-2016, 10:24 PM

Thanks for the info everyone. I wanna keep my options open to anything and everything rather than the same areas. I've done a lot of pier fishing in goleta and Ventura growing up up until now with my kids and I've always notice the conditions aren't the best. I can imagine the amount of skill level required to be able to handle it all.

04-07-2016, 03:48 PM	#1
Jizzling Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 65	Ventura County/Santa Barbara Area Just out of curiosity, has anyone kayak fished out in the Ventura/Santa Barbara area? I haven't stumbled upon much information about how the fishing is out there and wanted to see if anyone here has tried.

04-07-2016, 08:16 PM	#5
cesar74 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ventura,CA Posts: 81	x3 Gaviota was very sharky (GWS) last year & i wouldn't be surprised if they came back this year. Goleta is a good spot & an easy launch. Ventura,Oxnard,& Hueneme ehh! i really don't fish it. County line is good but you really have to time those waves. Buddy up & get out there, its going to be another great year.

04-07-2016, 03:52 PM	#2
onthewater Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 33	I know a lot of kayakers go a little bit south to Leo Carillo (sp?) and can sometimes get into some nice fish. It can be tough to launch, depending on your skill level. Additionally, there are many coastal kelp beds out of SB/VTA that are decent for the usual reef suspects. Some guys like to go north and kayak fish out of Gaviota as well. Let us know what kayak you got, what species you are targeting and your skill level and I'm sure a few more people can chime in! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04-07-2016, 05:23 PM	#3
domtesta27 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Ventura, Ca Posts: 111	I fish out of either Malibu or north Ventura once or twice a week weather permitting. The fisherman are a little more tight lipped in this area, especially in Malibu, but there is still some really good fishing. Try and meet up with some of the locals and have them take you out the first couple of times. I know we're all waiting to start seeing sport boats out of County Line on the webcam and then all hell is gonna break loose.

04-07-2016, 05:50 PM	#4
2-Stix Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 376	Everything above is about it. Its bigger waves and spookier waters up here. Gaviota will blow 90 mph, SB is pretty tough to get the good spots, Ventura and Oxnard are pretty dead, and Malibu is the easy pickings with very very tight lips. As Dom said, look for boats. The rest is up to you making bait and being ready to go. Be ready to rock the shore breaks...they will whoop your ass.

04-07-2016, 10:24 PM	#6
Jizzling Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 65	Thanks for the info everyone. I wanna keep my options open to anything and everything rather than the same areas. I've done a lot of pier fishing in goleta and Ventura growing up up until now with my kids and I've always notice the conditions aren't the best. I can imagine the amount of skill level required to be able to handle it all.