dorado

[Iceman]

Com'on who is ready to claim the 1st from the yak this year!.......it should get just stupid good.

[Mr. NiceGuy]

Where and how would a kayak fisherman try targeting dorado out of La Jolla?

La Jolla Canyon Shelf?
6-Mile Bank?

Personal advice from experienced kayakers please :-)

------------------------------------
Unverified notes & snippets from reading:

Two dorado caught on the 3/4 day Sea Watch out of Seaforth Landing
http://www.seaforthlanding.com/pages/fishcount.php

Dorado Invasion 2.0
https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/...-20/?page=all#

Dorado are an open water species often associated with floating debris & loose floating kelp paddies.
Most dorado are caught trolling.
Mackerel and sardines work well.
Larger baits are not a deterrent.
When active, they eat anything, alive or dead. Aggressive eaters.
100' to 400' water depth with deeper water being better.
They tend to stay close to their food source around floating paddies or debris.
Watch for bird activity near debris.

San Diego Jigs & Live Bait Tips
https://sportfishsandiego.com/dorado...mahi-tips.html

[Iceman]

in years past guys have caught them as incidentals fishing for YT not far from the kelp edge and along the canyon. Any scrap of floating kelp can attract em as you get out deeper. I have chased them under diving terns too off Del Mar around 4-5 miles out in the skiff years ago.

[GTboosted]

Has anyone claimed the Tuna flag yet?

For either of these it is a given that you will need to put in a bunch of miles straight out with a high probability that you will not even find a paddy. Lots of work with very little chance of reward.

With that said, I'm down to try. lol

[alanw]

The Dana Point day boats are catching them right now. "All it takes is one lucky paddy"

[Denis_Ruso]

I was out looking for them yesterday on a boat. All I have to say is don't bother going for them on the weekend. Every patty had a boat on it after 9 am.

We covered 15 miles from la jolla to all over the 9 mile bank. We were first on the grounds and found a line of pattys north west of the 9 mile bank probably 10 miles offshore. Only one patty held a school of dorado.

The birds gave them away. Low flying birds 100 yards off the patty. Keep in mind that fish were off the patty and when the fish feed they sometimes chase the bait off the patty.

Best chance is launch in the dark. Slow troll baits once a few miles offshore and be first on the grounds. Try to find a floating patty and remember that where there's one patty there's usually more nearby. Floating kelp/ debris tends to line up on a current break.

The key to getting bit was a lively bait on the smaller size, and light line 15 lb flouro. Both small macs and baby sardines worked for us.