beats a skunk - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

William Novotny · 10-09-2013, 08:53 AM

Dropped hoops in DP monday night with a few guys from the board. Pickins were slow for me as haul after haul produced empty nets. Right about the time I found a good crawl, the bolts on my pro angler seat busted giving me a rocking chair to pedal in...not comfortable. In one pull I managed one bug whos carapace measured about an inch over the legal mark, on that could have been legal but too close to risk and 2 definite shorts. Well I caught my first California spiny lobster! Tried to stick around to find him a companion but the weird rocking peddling was super annoying so took it in around 9:30. Was home by 10:15 with a bottle of bubbly and had this guy cooked and served up for me and my wife by 11. Im hooked. Can't wait to get some more

DanaPT · 10-09-2013, 09:18 AM

Nice work, nice sized first.

Now that DP is out of bugs... where should we be hooping next? Kind of surprised to see so few reports.

LawDog · 10-09-2013, 11:08 AM

As past history indicates, no(or few) reports isnt necessarly a bad thing. People are a bit reluctant to tell about their honey hole untill they are done with it. Just do your thing and make good educated decisions.

makobob · 10-09-2013, 01:37 PM

I guess lobster blood counts!! Nice eats. Congratulations.

blitzburgh · 10-09-2013, 01:40 PM

Nice bug!

danjor · 10-09-2013, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LawDog

As past history indicates, no(or few) reports isnt necessarly a bad thing. People are a bit reluctant to tell about their honey hole untill they are done with it. Just do your thing and make good educated decisions.

Well I will agree DP is out of bugs, Monday yielded very few shorts and even few to no legals for the yaks out there, same story with every boat I talk to out on the water. I also noticed more commercial traps than last year out by the headlands.

Aaron&Julie · 10-09-2013, 01:49 PM

Congrats on breaking the ice. It only takes the first one to hook you on "bugging".

William Novotny · 10-09-2013, 02:05 PM

I think it's pretty obvious to most where the bugs are when the season opens. Didnt look to be a secret from the blinking lights every 5 feet down the breakwall. Just surprises me how fast the legal bugs get picked off and how many shorts are left to pick through in a few short weeks. My question is from all the bugs that are just short of being a keeper, how long until that same bug is big enough to take? How fast do these guys grow?

Mahigeer · 10-09-2013, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Novotny

How fast do these guys grow?

It takes about seven years for a bug to become large enough to be considered legal.

Thus, depending on the size of the particular "short", it maybe few years. With all of the shorts that are out there, if the poachers don't keep them, in few years we should have plenty of bugs to keep.

TJones · 10-10-2013, 11:27 AM

reaping the rewards . yes we love this sport for its exercise and the feeling of being on the water with all its serenity , let alone the closeness with the creator . but there is nothing like the rewards at the end of day and getting back some of what we put into it . what a special feeling . money well spent this trip .

.

DocHaole · 10-10-2013, 12:40 PM

That's right, Dana Point is officially out of bugs. Everyone can all go somewhere else because they are fresh out until October 2014.

However I will continue to go just to check on the stock. And I promise to report back just incase they show up again.

William Novotny · 10-10-2013, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJones

reaping the rewards . yes we love this sport for its exercise and the feeling of being on the water with all its serenity , let alone the closeness with the creator . but there is nothing like the rewards at the end of day and getting back some of what we put into it . what a special feeling . money well spent this trip .

.

Well said

Vikingj · 10-10-2013, 08:45 PM

Hey WN,
Very nice bug! Thanks for sharing. Didn't know there were any that size left in DP. My 3 buds and I were out about an hour before you and got an earlier start to score an average of 3 just-legal bugs each. Dozens & dozens of shorts but few keepers. All of our nets came up empty about 8:30 so we went home.
Otherwise, it was an exceptional night!.. colorful sunset, calm as a lake, little wind, twinkling blue/yellow/red/green lights reflecting off the water, bright stars overhead, plenty of company and lively/friendly chatter (I counted 11-12 yaks + several pb's). A real change from the usual choppy, windy. and overcast nights last week.
Wayne

10-09-2013, 08:53 AM	#1
William Novotny The carpetbagger Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: tha newps Posts: 1,474	beats a skunk Dropped hoops in DP monday night with a few guys from the board. Pickins were slow for me as haul after haul produced empty nets. Right about the time I found a good crawl, the bolts on my pro angler seat busted giving me a rocking chair to pedal in...not comfortable. In one pull I managed one bug whos carapace measured about an inch over the legal mark, on that could have been legal but too close to risk and 2 definite shorts. Well I caught my first California spiny lobster! Tried to stick around to find him a companion but the weird rocking peddling was super annoying so took it in around 9:30. Was home by 10:15 with a bottle of bubbly and had this guy cooked and served up for me and my wife by 11. Im hooked. Can't wait to get some more __________________ "The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." http://www.badinfluencetattoo.com/gallery.php?artist=21

10-09-2013, 01:37 PM	#4
makobob Baitless on Baja Join Date: May 2013 Location: Vista California, Gonzaga, San Quintin, Asuncion, Mag Bay Posts: 4,250	I guess lobster blood counts!! Nice eats. Congratulations. __________________ http://www.mako-ville.com Home 760-630-4470 Cell 760-520-2514 YES YOU CAN

10-09-2013, 01:40 PM	#5
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Nice bug! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

10-09-2013, 01:49 PM	#7
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	Congrats on breaking the ice. It only takes the first one to hook you on "bugging". __________________ "Never say die"

10-09-2013, 02:05 PM	#8
William Novotny The carpetbagger Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: tha newps Posts: 1,474	I think it's pretty obvious to most where the bugs are when the season opens. Didnt look to be a secret from the blinking lights every 5 feet down the breakwall. Just surprises me how fast the legal bugs get picked off and how many shorts are left to pick through in a few short weeks. My question is from all the bugs that are just short of being a keeper, how long until that same bug is big enough to take? How fast do these guys grow? __________________ "The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." http://www.badinfluencetattoo.com/gallery.php?artist=21

10-09-2013, 09:18 AM	#2
DanaPT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South OC Posts: 1,606	Nice work, nice sized first. Now that DP is out of bugs... where should we be hooping next? Kind of surprised to see so few reports.

10-09-2013, 11:08 AM	#3
LawDog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 143	As past history indicates, no(or few) reports isnt necessarly a bad thing. People are a bit reluctant to tell about their honey hole untill they are done with it. Just do your thing and make good educated decisions.

10-10-2013, 11:27 AM	#10
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,526	shiznit reaping the rewards . yes we love this sport for its exercise and the feeling of being on the water with all its serenity , let alone the closeness with the creator . but there is nothing like the rewards at the end of day and getting back some of what we put into it . what a special feeling . money well spent this trip . .

10-10-2013, 12:40 PM	#11
DocHaole Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lake Forest Posts: 59	DP out of bugs That's right, Dana Point is officially out of bugs. Everyone can all go somewhere else because they are fresh out until October 2014. However I will continue to go just to check on the stock. And I promise to report back just incase they show up again.

10-10-2013, 08:45 PM	#13
Vikingj Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dana Point area Posts: 438	Hey WN, Very nice bug! Thanks for sharing. Didn't know there were any that size left in DP. My 3 buds and I were out about an hour before you and got an earlier start to score an average of 3 just-legal bugs each. Dozens & dozens of shorts but few keepers. All of our nets came up empty about 8:30 so we went home. Otherwise, it was an exceptional night!.. colorful sunset, calm as a lake, little wind, twinkling blue/yellow/red/green lights reflecting off the water, bright stars overhead, plenty of company and lively/friendly chatter (I counted 11-12 yaks + several pb's). A real change from the usual choppy, windy. and overcast nights last week. Wayne