Dana Point 1/16/22: Epic Sunrise - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Salty · 01-20-2022, 02:59 PM

Ever have one of those mornings where you launch in the dark and can tell just by the shape of the clouds you can see through the stars that it was going to be a great sunrise? This was one of those days. Launched Baby Beach at 5am. Jeff at the bait dock explained most of their bait had died as a result of the tsunami surge the day prior and they only had anchovies. I got some anyway and made my way out to deep water. On the way, it seemed like every time I looked over my shoulder, the sky was a different color. Love mornings like this; cruising on calm, glassy water, drinking my hot coffee while I head to my first waypoint.

About the fishing: it was less amazing than the sunrise unfortunately. Was planning to fish deep water, but since the bait was small anchovies, I thought I would have to change my plan. Fortunately, the greenback bite was on fire throughout the water column and I was able to make some much healthier bait on the sabiki and jigs. So basically I paid $20+ tip to set free 2 netfuls of anchovies. Somebody tell Greenpeace!

Anyway, once I had larger baits, I was more comfortable drifting deeper water with what I had rigged up the night before. Wind and current were minimal, so I was mostly pedaling slowly North over the canyon ridges with an 8oz torpedo on a 3-way swivel setup. Meanwhile I was dropping heavier jigs on any interesting marks. Only downside was that the greenbacks were so hungry, I could hardly get my jig to the bottom without hooking one, even with 230g. Total catch ended up being: 1 Sandbass, 3 White Croaker, 20+ small Lizardfish, and 50+ Mackerel(mostly greenbacks, but a few Spanish mixed in with them too). Ended up keeping a handful of larger greenbacks to use as bait for lobster fishing on the boat the following Monday, which ended up being much more productive...

Hope you enjoy the pictures

01-20-2022, 02:59 PM	#1
Salty Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 433	Dana Point 1/16/22: Epic Sunrise Ever have one of those mornings where you launch in the dark and can tell just by the shape of the clouds you can see through the stars that it was going to be a great sunrise? This was one of those days. Launched Baby Beach at 5am. Jeff at the bait dock explained most of their bait had died as a result of the tsunami surge the day prior and they only had anchovies. I got some anyway and made my way out to deep water. On the way, it seemed like every time I looked over my shoulder, the sky was a different color. Love mornings like this; cruising on calm, glassy water, drinking my hot coffee while I head to my first waypoint. About the fishing: it was less amazing than the sunrise unfortunately. Was planning to fish deep water, but since the bait was small anchovies, I thought I would have to change my plan. Fortunately, the greenback bite was on fire throughout the water column and I was able to make some much healthier bait on the sabiki and jigs. So basically I paid $20+ tip to set free 2 netfuls of anchovies. Somebody tell Greenpeace! Anyway, once I had larger baits, I was more comfortable drifting deeper water with what I had rigged up the night before. Wind and current were minimal, so I was mostly pedaling slowly North over the canyon ridges with an 8oz torpedo on a 3-way swivel setup. Meanwhile I was dropping heavier jigs on any interesting marks. Only downside was that the greenbacks were so hungry, I could hardly get my jig to the bottom without hooking one, even with 230g. Total catch ended up being: 1 Sandbass, 3 White Croaker, 20+ small Lizardfish, and 50+ Mackerel(mostly greenbacks, but a few Spanish mixed in with them too). Ended up keeping a handful of larger greenbacks to use as bait for lobster fishing on the boat the following Monday, which ended up being much more productive... Hope you enjoy the pictures Attached Images