Dana Point - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

fishsouthcounty · 05-10-2011, 05:07 PM

Went out of DP today....Took my time this morning and found myself in the Dana Point Jet Ski parking lot by a little after 7. Not a soul around. Apparently their Tuesday group decided not this tuesday. Then someone rolled in and it was Sea Slug. Not sure if hes on here or just Kayakfishingmafia....anyway didnt get out till about 8 grabbed some bait and headed north towards the headlands. Conditions werent to bad, just a bit of wind chop and small swell. Fished outside inside and all around the kelp from the south point of strands to just outside the big rock. Started with flylined chovie which made me realize that my Tension Knob for the spool must not be working cause the damn things couldnt even take any line on their own. Switched to a 1/2ounce sliding sinker dropping into pockets which resulted in a few short calicos around the 10-11 inch mark. One even came up with about 5-6 chasers all the way to the boat. Had bass boiling on the surface occasionaly in the heavy kelp. Tried the WarBaits heads i bought at FHS with BH swimbaits and even a little Uni-Butter....once again though the Freespool just wasnt falling quick enough to be fished well. Although did have 1 hit and 1 chaser to the surface in the few drops i tried.

By the time i made it to the rock about 11 the wind chop had picked up pretty good so decided to start heading back to the harbor. Once i rounded the corner threw on a chovie to drab the bottom for halibut. Had two hits and two misses leaving two raked baits. 3rd bait crossing the channel got slammed and hooked up a flattie about 18-20 inches. First time catchin one on a kayak and now i understand what everyone means when they talk about them freaking out once they come out of the water.

My stupid ass made the mistake of setting my camera on my lap after taking a picture of the halibut between my legs on top of the center hatch....Anybody with dive gear find a blue Olympia camera on the bottom of the harbor please return to me. haha. oh well. besides the loss of the camera it was a beautiful day and fairly productive...

o ya and probably would have caught several more bass but im still gettin used to this whole Spectra thing. Pulled the hook on quite a few fish on the hook set with the whole no stretch thing. Ill have to get used to that.

Probably try and get out again saturday if the weather permits and anyone would like to join

05-10-2011, 05:07 PM	#1
fishsouthcounty Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Juan Capistrano, Ca Posts: 518	Dana Point Went out of DP today....Took my time this morning and found myself in the Dana Point Jet Ski parking lot by a little after 7. Not a soul around. Apparently their Tuesday group decided not this tuesday. Then someone rolled in and it was Sea Slug. Not sure if hes on here or just Kayakfishingmafia....anyway didnt get out till about 8 grabbed some bait and headed north towards the headlands. Conditions werent to bad, just a bit of wind chop and small swell. Fished outside inside and all around the kelp from the south point of strands to just outside the big rock. Started with flylined chovie which made me realize that my Tension Knob for the spool must not be working cause the damn things couldnt even take any line on their own. Switched to a 1/2ounce sliding sinker dropping into pockets which resulted in a few short calicos around the 10-11 inch mark. One even came up with about 5-6 chasers all the way to the boat. Had bass boiling on the surface occasionaly in the heavy kelp. Tried the WarBaits heads i bought at FHS with BH swimbaits and even a little Uni-Butter....once again though the Freespool just wasnt falling quick enough to be fished well. Although did have 1 hit and 1 chaser to the surface in the few drops i tried. By the time i made it to the rock about 11 the wind chop had picked up pretty good so decided to start heading back to the harbor. Once i rounded the corner threw on a chovie to drab the bottom for halibut. Had two hits and two misses leaving two raked baits. 3rd bait crossing the channel got slammed and hooked up a flattie about 18-20 inches. First time catchin one on a kayak and now i understand what everyone means when they talk about them freaking out once they come out of the water. My stupid ass made the mistake of setting my camera on my lap after taking a picture of the halibut between my legs on top of the center hatch....Anybody with dive gear find a blue Olympia camera on the bottom of the harbor please return to me. haha. oh well. besides the loss of the camera it was a beautiful day and fairly productive... o ya and probably would have caught several more bass but im still gettin used to this whole Spectra thing. Pulled the hook on quite a few fish on the hook set with the whole no stretch thing. Ill have to get used to that. Probably try and get out again saturday if the weather permits and anyone would like to join