Islander San Clemente Island Trip

[Will B.]

I went on the Islander kayak trip to San Clemente Island this last weekend. The Islander is a very clean spacious boat with a homey feel and much attention to detail. I got my own cozy stateroom with 3 bunks, a wash basin, a mirror and air conditioning. I tried all three bunks but could sleep best on the bottom one.

They only gave us a light dinner of cheese quesadillas Friday night so I recommend a pizza from Pizza Nouva or fish and chips from Hudson Bay Company at the docks.

I couldnt sleep very well Friday night and spent a lot of time on the bow looking at the moon through the fog.

We arrived at San Clemente at dawn and anchored near China Point.



It took me a while to get oriented and I was the last kayaker to launch. I went to the kelp and got spanish mackeral and started trolling. Out near the corner I hooked up a small yellow which took me into the kelp. I spent about 30 minutes trying to get him up as a seal danced around me.
I thought the seal got him or he came off but as i looked down I saw a silver sparkle and a forked tail sticking out of the kelp so i kept pulling.


I ended up calling the boat for help and the Capt said he would come on the zodiac and dive for the fish. But by the time he got there I had the fish and a pile of kelp in my net. The Capt had to use a knife to cut all the kelp off the fish. There were only two yellows caught and this was the biggest so i won $50 jackpot and a free return trip on the Islander



I continued trolling along the kelp line out to the point. There was lots of spanish mackeral and schools of blacksmith perch. There were a few seals but they didnt steal my bait.

The Capts were free diving and speared a 30 lb white sea bass and said they saw several yellows. I also saw some yellows swimming about 30 feet below me.

When it looked like there would be no more big game action I went into the kelp to fish for calicos.



It was really good fishing with plenty of 2-4 lb fish.



I stopped trying for calicos and switched to trying for halibut after 36 bass, which was one more than the Lawman caught there last year. If I had fished only for calico all day i could of caught 100 fish. My big fish was 5 lb 13 oz, which won the Big Bass jackpot-- a free entry to the next Steve Moyer tournament and a guided trip with Matt Moyer.



In the late morning the wind came up really bad. After lunch the Capt moved the boat around the corner to Pyramid Cove which was calm and flat.

I worked the sandy beaches and kelp edges with a crankbait, swimbaits, and live bait almost all the way to where the boat had moved to at Pyramid Point but couldnt find any halibut or big game fish. By the late afternoon the current had died and it effected fishing negatively. But definately try live bait near the cove closest to Pyramid Rock for halibut. We probably paddled over 6 miles for the day.



You guys going next weekend are going to have a great time This would be a perfect opportunity for Brad and Andy to try for a big calico for the contest they are in, after the morning big game run, if they can fish the inside of the stringers or the boilers. San Clemente is a classic calico spot.

Wish I was going with you.

I think this next trip is filled up but the Islander has a 2 day to Mexico and 2 day to San Clemente and Catalina. I think you will be happy if you go.