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08-13-2008, 12:20 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seven minutes from the launch!
Posts: 987
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Giving the Yellowtail a rest.......
I recently had a helping hand in putting a fellow kayak angler (Smokey) on his first Yellowtail, and an hour later his second (afternoon bite). He was pretty pumped (remember your first?), and since then you can see the fire in his eyes. While doing his first happy pedal back to the launch we spoke a little about offshore fishing from a kayak. He told me to keep him in mind if I ever find myself without a partner, and one week later I gave him a call. We planned to launch from the south mission jetty at 4:00a.m., buy sardines, and head 20 miles straight off the jetty, in search of exotics. His voice took a slightly higher tone when he repeated back to me "20 miles" ? Nine miles off the jetty the bottom drops out to 1,500' and the water has a good 40' of vis. We are searching for that paddy holding fish, maybe even one with birds. After keeping a good pace, for close to six hours, we are 17.5 miles off the tip of the mission jetty. Not one group of birds, breaking fish, free swimmers, or a decent paddy to show. Plenty of smaller paddies holding tons of micro-bait, but no proper signs. We decide to troll a couple of the horse sardines to atleast make it seem like a fishing trip. Notice La Jolla on the left, and Point loma on the right, with mission beach disappearing with every mile. (mid sleigh ride) My first sardine is slammed within ten seconds of running in free-spool, and I was excited for a minute. The fish ripped drag straight down, but the sharky feeling became more and more pronounced. Soon after I have a 80lb Blue Shark, all lit up with purple hues below the kayak, beautiful. After donating a pack of Owner ringed hooks, the beauty faded, and bait conservation kicked in. I decided to save the bait for our shot, a paddy, birds, breaking fish, something. We came across a few pods of whales, Rissos, and acres of porps, but never found a paddy that was holding. Around 1:30 p.m we started to do the math, and had concerns of making it back by dark. We were fortunate, that the current had taken us on a northwest track, heading toward La Jolla, and had a good west wind at our back. The trip home was much faster, and I kept my eyes open the whole way. Hoping we would maybe find something closer to home, but no luck. Back at the launch, even without a fish to show, it was hard to keep from pounding my chest like Tarzan. Our pedal range was bigger than I thought, and I still had plenty in the tank for more. The most humbling part of the experience, wasn't the giant whales, or the fading land in the distance, it was the fact that a 56 year old kayak newbie (fresh off his first Yellowtail) kept up with me (my new hero).
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Last edited by THE DARKHORSE; 08-13-2008 at 07:41 PM. |
08-13-2008, 12:42 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 385
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Insane! That is a long trip!!
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08-13-2008, 01:01 PM | #3 |
skunk
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 61
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Nice tails smokey!
Sounds like some trip! (even for a Hobie) You guy's will get them next time.
Paul |
08-13-2008, 01:06 PM | #4 |
The Good Clone
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clairemont
Posts: 520
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Another nature trip, oh well. Are you going to try the sail next time?
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08-13-2008, 01:20 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: 2 inches above sea level
Posts: 503
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Same results I had on Sunday. Those blue sharks do put up a decent battle. Good effort. Try dragging a bait tube for makos!
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08-13-2008, 02:53 PM | #6 |
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CARLSBAD
Posts: 34
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You guys are surely supermen! Sounds like a good time,testing the limits
and then beyond. Thanks for the post. |
08-13-2008, 05:15 PM | #7 |
BANNED
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: W of 5
Posts: 1,265
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Don't call 'em whale tours or you'll have to pay a fee at the launch.
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08-13-2008, 06:28 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Riverside, calif
Posts: 130
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Darkhorse, I am impressed. I am thinking of a long paddle to the 14 mile bank. Your paddle(or peddle) was vary inspirational. A friend and I last Tue. Paddled out 6 miles from Dana(15 miles over all)in search of exotics that had been sighted as close as 3 miles for not. I am interested in how your sail works out. I was thinking of getting one to take some pressure off my shoulders. Your my new idol.
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08-13-2008, 06:56 PM | #9 |
bing!
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: socal
Posts: 246
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I'm totally impressed. If you got out 17.5 miles one way, then a Catalina crossing would be no prob. Great adventure! /bing
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08-13-2008, 07:06 PM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seven minutes from the launch!
Posts: 987
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Quote:
lollollol Sad, but true. I'm thinking of starting an "instant fisherman" (as seen on T.V.) guide service. I could have a full set of eight "Instant Fisherman" rod and reel pop ups, Just "let's(click 1) go(click 2) fish(click 3)" (two payments of $19.95, includes waterproof fishing tips ) in one backpack, and save $500 a month. Probably the fishing rod of choice, when the MLPA is finished butchering the coast.
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Last edited by THE DARKHORSE; 08-14-2008 at 03:15 PM. |
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08-13-2008, 07:11 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seven minutes from the launch!
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I agree.....
I know a guy that did it on a Hobie, and I thought he was crazy. After my trip on monday, I think it would be a piece of cake, really. The wind was up at 4:00 a.m out of the west, with a crossed up swell, and we made great time, even with the conditions.
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08-13-2008, 07:30 PM | #12 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seven minutes from the launch!
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I'm going to hold off.
Quote:
With out a doubt, the sail would come in handy, especially for the ride home. With proper wind conditions, you could easily double your range, and pull a spread of jigs at proper speed. In this case though, I have way more interest in the "unassisted fish" ,and my goal is a Tuna before summer is over.
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Last edited by THE DARKHORSE; 08-14-2008 at 05:56 PM. |
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08-13-2008, 08:23 PM | #13 |
bing!
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: socal
Posts: 246
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08-13-2008, 08:27 PM | #14 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South Park, San Diego
Posts: 49
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Best of luck, I'd love to see you do it! With that range and conditions going the way they are I have no doubts you'll pull it off.
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08-13-2008, 08:30 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
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Location: SD, CA
Posts: 173
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Good try Josh, maybe next time.
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08-14-2008, 10:56 AM | #16 |
Administrator
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: 1-2 miles off the point
Posts: 6,948
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Definitely gotta go the minute you hear it is on, in close. Too unstable. That is a helluva peddle. I paddled out 6 miles off Newport yesterday solo. Pretty lifeless. Couple paddies at 3 and 4 miles. Boats were going much further west. None stopping long within eyeball of me. I trolled a swimbait the first couple miles, then slow trolled a pair of dines, hoping for a breezer between paddies.
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08-14-2008, 11:12 AM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seven minutes from the launch!
Posts: 987
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Thanks for the report Andy.
Good information is priceless when it comes to man powered trips. I was considering lanching out of Newport, as I feel most of the life has moved up the line, so thanks for the look. I'm watching the strong onshore flow with ample cloud cover of the past couple days, and expecting a slight drop in water temps, but optamistic that some new paddies will slide into range. When the next push of life (if there is one) swings in, I will drop what I'm doing and go (damn squid bites ).
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08-14-2008, 12:33 PM | #18 |
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Join Date: Aug 2008
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you da man:ador e:
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08-14-2008, 12:58 PM | #19 |
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Posts: 1,053
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Nice work guys. I heard of two Mahimahi's taken by kayak yesterday straight off Cbad powerplant about 4 miles.
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08-14-2008, 01:14 PM | #20 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seven minutes from the launch!
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Mucho thanks Dan.....
Quote:
I now have a couple green pins on the map off Carlsbad, so thanks. My little map with pins of success from the last week looks ridiculous, it looks like I'm playing the game "Risk" by myself, it's war.
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