Not much to report for LJ for 8/23/13

[PE.rider]

Thanks for the report.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. To some degree, I think we've all seen better days in past years. Optimistically, I do believe things will always swing back around to the right direction of progress and improve with time.

To be out in nature in a kayak is a communion in and of itself. Count your blessings... you guys are sure to come into your bounty of fish if you get out on the water more. After all, it is as they say... a numbers game. Fish more often, catch more fish .

[Deamon]

Wondered what happened to you two. Welcome back to the madness! Jim

[FISH11]

I went out yesterday (Sat. 24th.), got started a little late 7 AM. As I paddled towards the kelp to try and make bait, I passed by some kayaks fishing just north of the kelp. I noticed one guy fighting something so I hung out nearby to watch and saw him land a good size yellowtail. That got my hopes up since most of my recent trip there I had only heard of not seen the action. I continued on to the far out kelp and spent the next 1 1/2 hours trying to make bait I could see then but would not go for the sabiki. Finally I thought I'll just use the Irons or old squid I brought, then out north of the kelp I see bait jumping and I finally landed a few 7" to 9" bonitos. So I hook up the live bait and spend the next 7+ hours fly lining, bottom drifting, etc., with no results. Just had one bonito when I when to change it, it had some gashes on the belly. Saw the one catch and a couple of others on a boat and another kayak, otherwise it was a slow day. I did find out for another kayaker that the boundaries for the reserve where changed at the start of the year and it seems a lot of kayak fishermen are unaware and fish inside the new boundaries. I tried the link for android but it won't superimpose it on the map app. It would be nice if DFG would relocate or add buoys to mark the area better. I don't see Fish and Game out enforcing or educating anyone. If anyone is within the new area it seems it would be mostly DFG's fault. The water temp was not too low 69 to 72. I'll keep on trying I want to catch one of those 3' + yellowtail. Does anyone have any info on the La Jolla ans Scripps protected areas other than Iphone app. for those of us who don't own one.

[Aaron&Julie]

Thanks, Jim and PE.rider for your kind words of encouragement. PE.rider, we do know all about the "numbers" game. We're closing in on 10 years of ocean kayak fishing, with the last 8 mostly off of LJ, and both there and Dana Point we've had our fair share of good timing, and whoppers. We never expect, but only hope we'll catch something nice, and bring back some good eats. We're old school all the way, still paddle, homemade bait tanks (which work great), no electronics. We do have a quality hand-held Garmin GPS, but rarely use it.

When you fish La Jolla often enough, you usually know where to go, not that a fish finder wouldn't help immensely. Down the road as we get into our 60s, we'll probably finally convert to more modern techniques.

[beef78]

When I was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina my friends and I would fish off a pier down there and I was surprised at the amount of anti-fishing comments I would get from people walking up and down the pier. Not nearly as bad here, but I do get some digs sometimes.

[taggermike]

Aaron, I hear you. LJ hasn't been good to me this year. I haven't been able to fish quite often enough to get a feel or see many patterns. The almost continuous influx of squid may have changed the feeding habits of the local fish. It's August, we should be throwing surface irons not fishing 6 oz on the bottom. Mike

[beef78]

Originally Posted by taggermike

Aaron, I hear you. LJ hasn't been good to me this year. I haven't been able to fish quite often enough to get a feel or see many patterns. The almost continuous influx of squid may have changed the feeding habits of the local fish. It's August, we should be throwing surface irons not fishing 6 oz on the bottom. Mike

I saw a few boats throwing irons on Sunday. Didn't see them catching. I heard that someone caught a YT, but I don't know the details only that I did not catch one on my fly lined mac or Iron.