Ventura harbor 12-6

[Soggybottom]

Fished the harbor from about 8-11 this morning. Tried to catch some bait but no luck. Decided to throw some hammers around the break wall and caught a couple calico bass.





Nothing too exciting, but a nice morning to be on the water.

[2-Stix]

Unfortunately Ventura county doesn't fish well. LA or SB countries are better.

[Soggybottom]

That's what I've been hearing, and so far it's been my experience. But it's the shortest drive for me, and I don't do too terrible. I haven't been skunked yet (knock on wood)

[2-Stix]

You wont get skunked. Buts its not often you will get a catch worth taking home. 1 in 4 trips maybe. Go north and south and you will have much better odds.

[Mr. NiceGuy]

It's always nice to see Calico's around. Maybe those fisheries will come back to more than they are now.

Can you join Motherships to take your kayak to Ana Capa and the Chanel Islands? Is it allowed to go camping there and stay for a few days of kayak fishing?

If you choose your times, you can get to La Jolla in 3.5 hours. That's reasonable for a nice weekend of fishing.

[2-Stix]

Originally Posted by Mr. NiceGuy

It's always nice to see Calico's around. Maybe those fisheries will come back to more than they are now.

Can you join Motherships to take your kayak to Ana Capa and the Chanel Islands? Is it allowed to go camping there and stay for a few days of kayak fishing?

If you choose your times, you can get to La Jolla in 3.5 hours. That's reasonable for a nice weekend of fishing.

I have fished this area for 25+ years and its always been this way. Lack of structure or holding areas. Fish just don't hold here often. Mid 2000's the Ventura flats had a big WSB bite, but its just not often.

Yes mother ships can take you to Anacapa and Santa Cruz. Yes you can camp on Santa Cruz.

I was camping on a boat out there last weekend for 2 days, and 5 day prior to that I was out on a charter fishing the islands.

[JJ]

I've fished Ventura and Oxnard areas many times, as they're only 30-45 minutes from home.
However, it's always hit or mis.
Those areas are subject to heavy boat traffic and don't fish as well as Malibu, and certainly not as well as Dana or LJ.
Rincon/ARCO area fish a lot better.
Time it right, and you'll get into some great WSB and Barracuda action.

There are several spot on Santa Cruz where you can camp.
In fact, I think Yanni, Iceman and a few others had a camping trip there a year ago.
Perhaps someone can dig up the writeup from that trip.
Doing a weekend trip to Santa Cruz and fish the coastline is a great way to go.
There are also spots on Santa Rosa and San Miguel.
However, those spots are tougher to get to and subject to weather.

Personally, making the 2.5-3 hr trek to LJ is well worth it for me.
Unfortunately, those trips are too few and too far in between.
And, I never seem to be there when the bite is hot.
It's so frustrating for me to see the SD/LJ locals bag quality YT and other fish, then I get skunked and can't seem to even buy a bite when, by some miracle, I'm able to make it down there a week or less later.
What's more frustrating is that factoring in prep time and clean up, it's a day and a half commitment. Still, well worth it!
I wish I could hit up LJ for half a day and still be at the office like many here do.

Anyhow, rant over. Back to work.

Cheers!

-JJ-

[fishthebreak]

Ventura flats can also produces nice halibut catches, but it varies year to year

[2-Stix]

Originally Posted by JJ

I've fished Ventura and Oxnard areas many times, as they're only 30-45 minutes from home.
However, it's always hit or mis.
Those areas are subject to heavy boat traffic and don't fish as well as Malibu, and certainly not as well as Dana or LJ.
Rincon/ARCO area fish a lot better.
Time it right, and you'll get into some great WSB and Barracuda action.

There are several spot on Santa Cruz where you can camp.
In fact, I think Yanni, Iceman and a few others had a camping trip there a year ago.
Perhaps someone can dig up the writeup from that trip.
Doing a weekend trip to Santa Cruz and fish the coastline is a great way to go.
There are also spots on Santa Rosa and San Miguel.
However, those spots are tougher to get to and subject to weather.

Personally, making the 2.5-3 hr trek to LJ is well worth it for me.
Unfortunately, those trips are too few and too far in between.
And, I never seem to be there when the bite is hot.
It's so frustrating for me to see the SD/LJ locals bag quality YT and other fish, then I get skunked and can't seem to even buy a bite when, by some miracle, I'm able to make it down there a week or less later.
What's more frustrating is that factoring in prep time and clean up, it's a day and a half commitment. Still, well worth it!
I wish I could hit up LJ for half a day and still be at the office like many here do.

Anyhow, rant over. Back to work.

Cheers!

-JJ-

I feel your pain. Did 2, 4 day trips this year to LJ to get 0 pelagics.