Dana point Sunday 9/11 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

DPevin · 09-11-2016, 05:36 PM

Lagged a bit this morning getting underway but we were on the water by 7. Tide was peaking at the high tide around 7:06. Water seems to have cooled off a bit. We headed out of the harbor and fished in front of doheny and capo beach, but out past the red bouy.

I launched first and as I waited for my two buddies I threw a fluke at a bouy just off baby beach and got a spotty first cast.

Made a nice sized mack right off the bat. Not too big. Set myself up on a drift and had the mack on bottom with a dropper loop. Was working the plastics on the bait caster for calicos with no luck. All the sudden rod in the holder has a nice steady bend, turns the kayak 90 degrees and even pulls me a few feet. I was stoked, knew it was something pretty big right away. Fought pretty good until I got it off bottom then went pretty dead weight. Started to hope and dream it was a Halibut, then it went on a nice run as I got it closer to the yak. Then I didn't know what to think it was. 2 more runs and I finally got a glimpse of it. Was surprised to see a Leopard shark. I was a little disappointed as the wife has be giving me a hard time for not bringing home anything to eat lately hah. But it was still cool as I have never caught one bigger than a foot before.

Another drift this time with squid on the dropper loop landed me probably my personal best calico. Had me stuck on something good for almost a minute but kept a steady bend on it and it came off bottom finally.

Hit a small kelp paddy on the way back to the harbor mouth and nabbed another calico on the drop with a fluke.

What started off as a slow day ended up pretty eventful. Was a good time as always. Hope everyone else else got some this weekend.

Ro12 · 09-12-2016, 06:09 AM

Nice job
Was gonna go out this morn outta Dana
But work popped up
Oh well
Bills before fishin thrills

DPevin · 09-12-2016, 09:43 AM

Tell me about it. I have 6 month old twins. I'm lucky to be getting out the once a week like I have lately. Been working days off and everything hah.

alanw · 09-12-2016, 09:49 AM

That's about average size for a Leopard around Dana I'd say. I hear they're good eating too, but I don't keep them. They sure are pretty fish.

DPevin · 09-12-2016, 12:25 PM

Yeah I agree, they look too cool. I don't think I'd ever keep one. It was a fun experience appreciating how strong it was, snapping a few pictures and letting it go.

dpricenator · 09-13-2016, 11:40 AM

Dang! A keeper leopard is on my list. 36 inches and I'm taking it home.

Was surfing with my daughter last year right next to the jetty at Doheney. I saw something move underneath us. and tried to get the glare off the water. I got up on my knees so I could lookdown and there it was again. Then again and again. We had happened on a small bait ball that had 4 or 5 keeper leopards eating off it. I told my daughter to keep her hands and toes out of the water. I didn't want a finger being mistaken for a minnow. We watched them darting under us for about 10 minutes until they moved on. Ever since then I've wanted one.

Nice day of fishing you had, congrats

09-11-2016, 05:36 PM	#1
DPevin Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Dana Point Posts: 96	Dana point Sunday 9/11 Lagged a bit this morning getting underway but we were on the water by 7. Tide was peaking at the high tide around 7:06. Water seems to have cooled off a bit. We headed out of the harbor and fished in front of doheny and capo beach, but out past the red bouy. I launched first and as I waited for my two buddies I threw a fluke at a bouy just off baby beach and got a spotty first cast. Made a nice sized mack right off the bat. Not too big. Set myself up on a drift and had the mack on bottom with a dropper loop. Was working the plastics on the bait caster for calicos with no luck. All the sudden rod in the holder has a nice steady bend, turns the kayak 90 degrees and even pulls me a few feet. I was stoked, knew it was something pretty big right away. Fought pretty good until I got it off bottom then went pretty dead weight. Started to hope and dream it was a Halibut, then it went on a nice run as I got it closer to the yak. Then I didn't know what to think it was. 2 more runs and I finally got a glimpse of it. Was surprised to see a Leopard shark. I was a little disappointed as the wife has be giving me a hard time for not bringing home anything to eat lately hah. But it was still cool as I have never caught one bigger than a foot before. Another drift this time with squid on the dropper loop landed me probably my personal best calico. Had me stuck on something good for almost a minute but kept a steady bend on it and it came off bottom finally. Hit a small kelp paddy on the way back to the harbor mouth and nabbed another calico on the drop with a fluke. What started off as a slow day ended up pretty eventful. Was a good time as always. Hope everyone else else got some this weekend. Attached Images

09-12-2016, 09:49 AM	#4
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	That's about average size for a Leopard around Dana I'd say. I hear they're good eating too, but I don't keep them. They sure are pretty fish. __________________ Hobie PA 14 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Jackson Kraken ¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu X-Factor ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu Stealth-12 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Its not a spelling B its a fishing B ~yakjoe

09-12-2016, 06:09 AM	#2
Ro12 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 137	Nice job Was gonna go out this morn outta Dana But work popped up Oh well Bills before fishin thrills

09-12-2016, 09:43 AM	#3
DPevin Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Dana Point Posts: 96	Tell me about it. I have 6 month old twins. I'm lucky to be getting out the once a week like I have lately. Been working days off and everything hah.

09-12-2016, 12:25 PM	#5
DPevin Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Dana Point Posts: 96	Yeah I agree, they look too cool. I don't think I'd ever keep one. It was a fun experience appreciating how strong it was, snapping a few pictures and letting it go.

09-13-2016, 11:40 AM	#6
dpricenator Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: South OC Posts: 120	Dang! A keeper leopard is on my list. 36 inches and I'm taking it home. Was surfing with my daughter last year right next to the jetty at Doheney. I saw something move underneath us. and tried to get the glare off the water. I got up on my knees so I could lookdown and there it was again. Then again and again. We had happened on a small bait ball that had 4 or 5 keeper leopards eating off it. I told my daughter to keep her hands and toes out of the water. I didn't want a finger being mistaken for a minnow. We watched them darting under us for about 10 minutes until they moved on. Ever since then I've wanted one. Nice day of fishing you had, congrats