closer to shore - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

wms,Jr · 04-11-2011, 10:48 AM

Hey, again-just gettin into this coastal fishin thing. I notice most of the info is on the La Jolla area and for really experienced hardcore guys. I'd wanna start off with my son at the local kelp beds, Encinitas and north to Carlsbad. Just some Calicos, Sandies and maybe some Mackerel, and if lucky some Halibut. If anybody else is hitting these areas between their La jolla big game days, please post a report or some tips, THX

evilkhemist · 04-11-2011, 10:58 AM

Try hitting Cardiff, it can have the yellows and WSB like La Jolla. The kelp beds are really close and have tons of bass. Plus, you can park basically 10 feet from the launch.

dsafety · 04-11-2011, 11:14 AM

Cardiff is a good place but be careful of the launch conditions. The surf is almost always larger there than at the shores and things can change dramatically based on the tidal conditions. I have embarrassed myself on both launches and landings a number of times at Cardiff.

Parking can be challenging at this location. You can pay to park in the State lot or park for free along the highway. Finding a parking place after about 9:00 on a nice day can be a real problem. Weekends are worse.

Bob

old_rookie · 04-11-2011, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wms,Jr

... I notice most of the info is on the La Jolla area and for really experienced hardcore guys. ...

Not entirely true. There may be experience hardcore guys out there, but there are also inexperienced rookie types too. I know - I'm one of them.

evilkhemist · 04-11-2011, 12:04 PM

Bob is correct, I left out some important info. The pay parking area is nice, because it puts you right on the beach. It can be a pain to park on summer days. I have the state parking pass, which is cheaper if you are at the beach alot. The waves can be huge and change based on the tide. I have flipped a couple of times at Cardiff, which sucks with all the people watching you

. It is still a nice location to fish in North County.

Zed · 04-11-2011, 12:23 PM

LJ Shores launch is about the most consistent beginner friendly kayak launch, aside from a harbor launch. It only gets bigger in places other than the Shores.

Kaijuu · 04-11-2011, 02:43 PM

You can always start out by launching at the harbor at O'Side. You step into your yak from a dock and off you go.

Good place to start to learn the yak. Inside the harbor is always easy going. Outside gets a little blown sometimes but its still quite manageable.

If you want to fish for halibut or bass, about a mile or so in 40' on a 275 heading, not a bad place to start. There's artificial reefs.

I go out usually on week days, If you wanna tag along, just PM me.

P.S. don't use or park at the boat launch, its free on the other side of the harbor.

wms,Jr · 04-11-2011, 03:04 PM

now we're talkin, thats some good info. right now my son and i are fishin off of sup's, i hope that dosent get me kicked off the site!! eventually i will move to one of the fancy kayaks i see on this site, but thats after he gets his butt outta the house, i wanna keep it fun for him now so i can enjoy his company as long as possible, a lil surf a lil fish, so the kelp beds along the shore are the best for us. The reef, pipes and swamis sound good, thanks for the oside info. dont know how it feels to be on an sup way out in the ocean, freaks me a lil thinkin about it, but if thats what i have to do to catch fish, so be it. any tips on bait, tactics, and what is PM?

04-11-2011, 10:48 AM	#1
wms,Jr Junior Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 24	closer to shore Hey, again-just gettin into this coastal fishin thing. I notice most of the info is on the La Jolla area and for really experienced hardcore guys. I'd wanna start off with my son at the local kelp beds, Encinitas and north to Carlsbad. Just some Calicos, Sandies and maybe some Mackerel, and if lucky some Halibut. If anybody else is hitting these areas between their La jolla big game days, please post a report or some tips, THX

04-11-2011, 12:04 PM	#5
evilkhemist Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sorrento Valley_SD Posts: 40	Bob is correct, I left out some important info. The pay parking area is nice, because it puts you right on the beach. It can be a pain to park on summer days. I have the state parking pass, which is cheaper if you are at the beach alot. The waves can be huge and change based on the tide. I have flipped a couple of times at Cardiff, which sucks with all the people watching you. It is still a nice location to fish in North County.

04-11-2011, 12:23 PM	#6
Zed BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: W of 5 Posts: 1,265	LJ Shores launch is about the most consistent beginner friendly kayak launch, aside from a harbor launch. It only gets bigger in places other than the Shores. __________________ Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a week.

04-11-2011, 02:43 PM	#7
Kaijuu "Floater" Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: so cal Posts: 164	O'Side fishing You can always start out by launching at the harbor at O'Side. You step into your yak from a dock and off you go. Good place to start to learn the yak. Inside the harbor is always easy going. Outside gets a little blown sometimes but its still quite manageable. If you want to fish for halibut or bass, about a mile or so in 40' on a 275 heading, not a bad place to start. There's artificial reefs. I go out usually on week days, If you wanna tag along, just PM me. P.S. don't use or park at the boat launch, its free on the other side of the harbor.

04-11-2011, 10:58 AM	#2
evilkhemist Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sorrento Valley_SD Posts: 40	Try hitting Cardiff, it can have the yellows and WSB like La Jolla. The kelp beds are really close and have tons of bass. Plus, you can park basically 10 feet from the launch.

04-11-2011, 11:14 AM	#3
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,121	Cardiff is a good place but be careful of the launch conditions. The surf is almost always larger there than at the shores and things can change dramatically based on the tidal conditions. I have embarrassed myself on both launches and landings a number of times at Cardiff. Parking can be challenging at this location. You can pay to park in the State lot or park for free along the highway. Finding a parking place after about 9:00 on a nice day can be a real problem. Weekends are worse. Bob

04-11-2011, 03:04 PM	#8
wms,Jr Junior Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 24	now we're talkin, thats some good info. right now my son and i are fishin off of sup's, i hope that dosent get me kicked off the site!! eventually i will move to one of the fancy kayaks i see on this site, but thats after he gets his butt outta the house, i wanna keep it fun for him now so i can enjoy his company as long as possible, a lil surf a lil fish, so the kelp beds along the shore are the best for us. The reef, pipes and swamis sound good, thanks for the oside info. dont know how it feels to be on an sup way out in the ocean, freaks me a lil thinkin about it, but if thats what i have to do to catch fish, so be it. any tips on bait, tactics, and what is PM?