Dana Point

[DanaPT]

Was pretty excited to get up and fish on Weds. Woke to a heavy fog so I put in a couple hours of work. I loaded up at 8:30, it was still foggy but what can I do? At the launch at 9 am. Low tide = bigger shore-break. No worries, just two rods and swim baits. launched w/o incident.

Figured to work the surfzone I don't think I ventured out deeper than 15 ft. I was only out for about 3 hours. In all 4 calico, on the uni-buttered war bait. Just the sandy was kept for food, all other released.

It's no 30lb + halibut but it is a fish and it's always fun.


ON the way back in, that shore-break can be no fun. The low tide and the uphill sand creates a big back wash. While my timing was okay (following a non set-wave in), the back wash immediately pulled me into another small shore-break wave. Enough to tilt the kayak and get everything wet (everything strapped/stowed). Only an old shoe lost and some sand in the gears of my two reels. Whoa, could have been a lot worse.

That return beach launch for sure is the most dangerous.

[mrJB]

Ah, and now you know...

You can always launch at BB with us old guys... The benefit there is that you can fish all the way back through the harbor and sometimes there is some nice scenery on the beach...

Just think positive - a few more beach launches and you'll be an expert at maintaining your reels

[Amish Ed]

Looks like a fun morning to me. Except for the landing. I hate it when I get sand in my reels, since I stink at cleaning them.

[sanjuancapokayak]

Went out yesterday (Wed) as well. Water was 60 degrees. That fog was thick in the morning. Finally got a headlamp, so I don't get my ass ran over. Was nice by the end of the trip though. 1:15pm. I caught two decent sized calico bass, one baby sized (funny how them little ones that are barely bigger than the plastics feel their so tough and eat something half their bodyweight).
Was nice to meet John for the second time. He told me he got hit hard over by Capistano Beach (where the bridge cross is) fishing halibut but the line was sawed off. He said he also got two sand bass.
Thinking about doing a project on the back of my kayak so that I can take my dog out there with me and I stay in or close to the harbor. Do dogs do well out on the water, bouncing around on a yak? She's a medium sized golden retriever. I think if I leave the bait tank and customize the back and open it up more where the back hatch is located she'd have enough room back there to lay down.
Thanks for the reports fellas. With my homemade kayak I don't think I'd try a surf launch. Would be brutal not to make it.
Whit-

[TJones]

with transducer in water? how does that work for you?

[DanaPT]

Originally Posted by TJones

with transducer in water? how does that work for you?

Well it's not really working for me. The water was reading 76 degrees in the photo. depth and imaging seem to work though.

an in-hull wet-mount is on my to do list.

[Biggameaddict]

To cool you caught some fish you dont need a 30lb hali to have a great day. Those low profiles are easy to do, go on alan tanis website and he has tutorials for both reels. First time i did a low profile it took 4 hours but now it takes me about 45 minutes with a bearing flush and all. Thanks for the report!