Gear for Mothership trip - San Clemente

[Uncle_Tomas]

Hey guys, I am new here.

Anyone on here is planning on going on Mothership trip to San Clemente Island in June? I have never fished San Clemente and had couple of questions regarding gear. I will be fishing from my 2019 Outback. I do have fish finder Simrad Go7 but don't have live well. I would assume that live well will be necessity when fishing for YT, Seabass or Halibut. I have only fished live bait fly lining on party boats, do not have a ton of experience trolling from kayak.

What is the preferred method of fishing San Clemente? What do you guys use and what did you have biggest success with for different species?

I like to use soft plastics and smaller flat fall and butterfly jigs.

I was thinking of bringing:
200 daiwa coastal set up with Californian rod
300 daiwa lexa HD (just ordered will prob put 30-40 lbs braid),
400 daiwa lexa HD with Daiwa Proteus rod(40 lbs braid),
Penn Squall (65 lbs braid)

I also have 2 speed Okuma Metaloid set up with 65lbs braid and med-heavy rod that I normally use for Yo-Yo from boat, not sure if this is not an overkill for Kayak fishing. I saw video on YT where guys where fishing directly from boat as well so if this was an option I might bring this as well.


Thanks,
Tomas

[f'nsabiki]

Is this on the Islander?? I thought they stopped doing kayak trips.

[Hunters Pa]

Looks like you have it covered. You won’t need to bring all rods each time you launch. You can leave them on the boat.

Try to get a bait tank. You are dropping some cash on the trip, don’t limit yourself by not being able to carry live bait. Borrow one if you have to

Bring a power strip. May come in handy when everyone is trying to charge their batteries. And make sure you have a 10-15 foot bowline for your kayak

[rustyhooks]

Bring some weights for dropper loop cod and sliding rig for halibut

[Uncle_Tomas]

Thanks guys. Just curious, do you guys run Hobie live wells or some other brands?

[Uncle_Tomas]

Originally Posted by f'nsabiki

Is this on the Islander?? I thought they stopped doing kayak trips.

Correct, it's on the Islander. I believe fish village has three trips in June.

[Hunters Pa]

Originally Posted by Uncle_Tomas

Thanks guys. Just curious, do you guys run Hobie live wells or some other brands?

A lot of us build our own

[DanaPT]

Have a fish finder and GPS for rock fishing. Squid jig just in case. For sure need bait well and radio to call chase boat.

[cris]

Where are you located? You can borrow my hobie live well it you want to drive to LA.

[Uncle_Tomas]

Thank you cris very much for the offer. I live in South OC. I think I am going to build my own using cooler and air pump.

[Hunters Pa]

Originally Posted by Uncle_Tomas

Thank you cris very much for the offer. I live in South OC. I think I am going to build my own using cooler and air pump.

You need water cycling in and out, not just aeration. I’m in Fullerton if you want to borrow one of mine

[stevie951]

Originally Posted by Hunters Pa

You need water cycling in and out, not just aeration.

X2.. I mean macs are pretty hardy.. when I don't have my tank running I take a small plastic storage container out, it sits in back perfect and the macs survive all day as long as I replenish with fresh water and keep protected from sun.. anything else will belly over and scale out in minutes

360 to 500 GPH is average, any bigger and your looking at boat pumps.. Good luck my friend..
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/attwo...4?recordNum=12

[Denis_Ruso]

By the way, I did this trip a few years ago. Get some super brigh tape and mark all your gear. They pile all the gear up on deck and it's tough when there are 15-20 hobie seats or mirage drives on deck to find which one is yours. Mark all your gear with tape. Also bring a small bin for all your loose stuff so it doesn't get lost.


Like the others said bait tank is a must, vhf radio is huge for calling in the small boat to bring you beer and bait.


Also keep in mind that if you like to fish all day they will bring you food to the kayak if you want.


Have Fun, If I didn't have Baja at the end of the month I would probably be on that trip as well.

[Bruntoj]

X2 on marking your gear for easy identification in a stack. I attached a bright red zip tie to my seat, livewell, mirage drive etc.


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[Bruntoj]

And wheels! When I did this a couple of years ago they stored all the carts/wheels in a van onshore. Bright red zip tie for easy ID. Worse than suitcases at the airport.


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[Denis_Ruso]

Originally Posted by Bruntoj

And wheels! When I did this a couple of years ago they stored all the carts/wheels in a van onshore. Bright red zip tie for easy ID. Worse than suitcases at the airport.


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Yep, clear markings will save you A LOT of frustration in getting ready and set-up quickly.

[rhyak]

Borrow a tank if you can for sure, Which trip are you on?



I will be on the 13-16th trip with a bunch of other buddies from the Central Coast.



The VHF radio is mandatory now as well.



Rods your looking good.

Think the above tips are also really good to follow.

[GregAndrew]

Here are a few basic mothership tips.

1) Keep it simple. Anything that is a creature comfort, you probably don't need.
2) Take only what you will use on the boat. Kayak cart can stay in the car.
3) Consolidate. Everything you bring needs to fit on the deck with everybody elses stuff. I try to keep it to a tackle bag, milk crate and bait tank.
4) Set up to get on and off the water quick. I put most of my loose stuff in my bait tank when getting on and off the water.
5) You don't need to be fully rigged before your kayak leaves the deck. Don't kill the crew lifting your rig.
6) You don't have to be fully rigged before leaving the swim step. Don't tie up the only launch site. Rods, gaffs, nets and bait can be handed to you over the rail after you have set up the rest of your gear.
7) Don't leave your waders or paddle jacket out overnight to dry. Anything that water can condense on will be wet in the morning.
8) If it doesn't float, leash it to something that does.
9) Like the others have said, mark your rods, gaff, bait tank and especially paddle for quick and easy ID.
10) It is very easy to go overboard on tackle. If you have not used something before, you are not likely to try it on the trip (unless fishing for a species you have not fished for before).

[Uncle_Tomas]

Originally Posted by rhyak

Borrow a tank if you can for sure, Which trip are you on?



I will be on the 13-16th trip with a bunch of other buddies from the Central Coast.



The VHF radio is mandatory now as well.



Rods your looking good.

Think the above tips are also really good to follow.

I am on the 6/27 trip. I think that’s the last one.

Thanks for all the tips! I really appreciate that.

[Uncle_Tomas]

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

Here are a few basic mothership tips.

1) Keep it simple. Anything that is a creature comfort, you probably don't need.
2) Take only what you will use on the boat. Kayak cart can stay in the car.
3) Consolidate. Everything you bring needs to fit on the deck with everybody elses stuff. I try to keep it to a tackle bag, milk crate and bait tank.
4) Set up to get on and off the water quick. I put most of my loose stuff in my bait tank when getting on and off the water.
5) You don't need to be fully rigged before your kayak leaves the deck. Don't kill the crew lifting your rig.
6) You don't have to be fully rigged before leaving the swim step. Don't tie up the only launch site. Rods, gaffs, nets and bait can be handed to you over the rail after you have set up the rest of your gear.
7) Don't leave your waders or paddle jacket out overnight to dry. Anything that water can condense on will be wet in the morning.
8) If it doesn't float, leash it to something that does.
9) Like the others have said, mark your rods, gaff, bait tank and especially paddle for quick and easy ID.
10) It is very easy to go overboard on tackle. If you have not used something before, you are not likely to try it on the trip (unless fishing for a species you have not fished for before).

Thank you Greg!