San O 6/16 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

GregAndrew · 06-18-2018, 06:10 PM

Got out to San O for the first time in a while to pretty snotty conditions. Onshore winds lasting thru the night, and not changing direction all morning made for some chop. Add in a couple of different swell directions and it made for one of those days you just wonder what you are thinking as you set up your kayak. Hit the beach right at low tide for a long drag over the reef to the water. Started paddling parallel to the beach in the narrow channel between the outside reef and the beach part, and realized my hat had fallen off on my drag to the water. 10 minutes later I am back at the end of the narrow channel, passing through the small inside surf. I get through that and know better than to let up now. A minute or two later, I am glad I knew better as I pass face first through a breaker. Wind was probably only 5-10 for the most part, with occasional bursts for a few minutes. The problem was that it had been blowing a long way in the same direction for a long time. It took me 2 hours to get out the 3 miles I was shooting for, with the occasional stop to catch some bait. Made some good summertime bait in 9 - 11" Greenies. Wind was blowing me right back at the launch, and I was not going to stay long if conditions did not improve. First drop in about 75' gets picked up for a Halibut probably in the teens which I released. Just continued the drift that I was on, all the way back toward the kelp line. About an hour later I get picked up with some big head shakes. Thought small shark for a few seconds, until it just went to dead weight with short runs. Ended up being a big gurl that was ready to pop with eggs at 31lbs 6 oz. Landing was uneventful except for 1 sneaker wave that I had to back paddle through. Sorry, it is a bit long to show the miserable conditions.
https://youtu.be/ZGO2Q0D9VhA
Ps: La Jolla was pretty poor conditions on Sunday, with very green water and about no light reaching over 85' all morning. Bait was a scarce mixture of grande Greenies and tiny Spanish.

rossman · 06-18-2018, 08:40 PM

I love that place and I hate that place and your video perfectly captures the reasons for both feelings. In most surf landings you can sit outside the surf line and paddle like hell between sets through the danger zone, but at San O those rogues can pop up anywhere within 1/4 mile from shore. I used to pick my days very carefully there and I would have aborted in the parking lot on the day of your video Greg,

blitzburgh · 06-18-2018, 08:44 PM

Another slob flattie. You Sir, are The Butt Whisperer

DanaPT · 06-19-2018, 05:55 AM

Very impressive to get out there solo. Nice fish! You always make it look easy peasy.

Tomol · 06-19-2018, 09:38 AM

Nice. At least someone did well. I slogged all the way out to the upcurrent end of the bed, found horrible green water and packed it in. I was home by 9:30.

WARRIORMIKE · 06-19-2018, 10:44 AM

Brass balls for sure. Good Job!!

katchfish · 06-19-2018, 04:21 PM

Congrats Greg! Great effort and report.

Reading about footwear, sheepshead and fish finders, you'd think it was January and had been raining for two weeks straight.

06-18-2018, 06:10 PM	#1
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	San O 6/16 Got out to San O for the first time in a while to pretty snotty conditions. Onshore winds lasting thru the night, and not changing direction all morning made for some chop. Add in a couple of different swell directions and it made for one of those days you just wonder what you are thinking as you set up your kayak. Hit the beach right at low tide for a long drag over the reef to the water. Started paddling parallel to the beach in the narrow channel between the outside reef and the beach part, and realized my hat had fallen off on my drag to the water. 10 minutes later I am back at the end of the narrow channel, passing through the small inside surf. I get through that and know better than to let up now. A minute or two later, I am glad I knew better as I pass face first through a breaker. Wind was probably only 5-10 for the most part, with occasional bursts for a few minutes. The problem was that it had been blowing a long way in the same direction for a long time. It took me 2 hours to get out the 3 miles I was shooting for, with the occasional stop to catch some bait. Made some good summertime bait in 9 - 11" Greenies. Wind was blowing me right back at the launch, and I was not going to stay long if conditions did not improve. First drop in about 75' gets picked up for a Halibut probably in the teens which I released. Just continued the drift that I was on, all the way back toward the kelp line. About an hour later I get picked up with some big head shakes. Thought small shark for a few seconds, until it just went to dead weight with short runs. Ended up being a big gurl that was ready to pop with eggs at 31lbs 6 oz. Landing was uneventful except for 1 sneaker wave that I had to back paddle through. Sorry, it is a bit long to show the miserable conditions. https://youtu.be/ZGO2Q0D9VhA Ps: La Jolla was pretty poor conditions on Sunday, with very green water and about no light reaching over 85' all morning. Bait was a scarce mixture of grande Greenies and tiny Spanish.

06-18-2018, 08:40 PM	#2
rossman Marginally Irrelevant Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bahia Asuncion Posts: 936	I love that place and I hate that place and your video perfectly captures the reasons for both feelings. In most surf landings you can sit outside the surf line and paddle like hell between sets through the danger zone, but at San O those rogues can pop up anywhere within 1/4 mile from shore. I used to pick my days very carefully there and I would have aborted in the parking lot on the day of your video Greg, __________________ "When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean’s skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang. " — Herman Melville Y'all come see me now, hear!

06-18-2018, 08:44 PM	#3
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Another slob flattie. You Sir, are The Butt Whisperer __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

06-19-2018, 04:21 PM	#7
katchfish Paddle for Mahi Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Doing the happy paddle! Posts: 848	Congrats Greg! Great effort and report. Reading about footwear, sheepshead and fish finders, you'd think it was January and had been raining for two weeks straight. Last edited by katchfish; 06-19-2018 at 07:00 PM.

06-19-2018, 05:55 AM	#4
DanaPT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South OC Posts: 1,606	Very impressive to get out there solo. Nice fish! You always make it look easy peasy.

06-19-2018, 09:38 AM	#5
Tomol Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 34	Nice. At least someone did well. I slogged all the way out to the upcurrent end of the bed, found horrible green water and packed it in. I was home by 9:30.

06-19-2018, 10:44 AM	#6
WARRIORMIKE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 303	Brass balls for sure. Good Job!!