LJ Today 7/20 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Widgeon · 07-20-2014, 06:32 PM

Paddled out from big rock about 5:45. Nice morning. Got out to the far side of the kelp in about 30- 40 minutes and was the first one in the area. I swore I saw an otter?

Maybe a sea lion pup, but sure looked like a kelp weasel.

Anyhow, I Made some bait. Green macs.and began the slow troll, with occasional stops to throw iron. I was probably only fishing for 20 minutes when I suddenly saw a nice big YT swimming next to the boat. It must have gone right by my bait. I quickly reeled in my iron and tried to put it in his face, for nought. Oh well, seemed like a good sign anyway.
A while later, I caught a bonito. I decided to test my new stringer and keep it . Caught a few more and released them. A while after that, I feel a hard THUMP on the yak and see a huge, fat, dog swimming under my boat. Check the stringer... Empty.

Then the pest hung around for another 5 minutes or so, eyeballing my bait, which I had reeled in and was trying to keep alive.

That was about it, got super slow around slack tide, so I paddled in. On the beach just before noon and even though the surf was tiny, it was the closest I've come to a yard sale in a long time.
A nice day to be on the water.

h2ofishfo · 07-20-2014, 07:03 PM

Thanks for the report I would never do a stringer for that reason "kelp weasel ?" Ha nice pull

baerclaws · 07-20-2014, 09:24 PM

In case you were, I would not recommend hanging your catch on a stringer over the side, for your own mental and physical safety. I've heard some pretty scary stories.

Good luck

battleborn · 07-20-2014, 10:20 PM

seems the yellows been a bit tight lipped lately. thanks for the update.

Widgeon · 07-21-2014, 06:59 AM

Yes, I was hanging it over the side.

After the incident, I realized how badly it could have gone.
I won't be doing that again, in the ocean anyway.

straightrod · 07-21-2014, 09:50 AM

^Well if you do hang it over the side - secure the line with 10# kite string or something that will give way if a large beast wants it really bad.

bigbarrels · 07-21-2014, 09:10 PM

thanks for the report.....going to give it a go manana......I had a GW lured in one year after hanging a couple over the side.......did it once and never again

User name · 07-22-2014, 03:56 PM

Great report

I am definantly going to follow your lead and keep my stringer out of the water after hearing everyones input

RAYMO · 07-22-2014, 04:04 PM

Im gonna goou sunday but curious where do u launch at big rock??? any [problems with parking or getting down to surf??? not familiar with that area. any tips???

Widgeon · 07-22-2014, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAYMO

Im gonna goou sunday but curious where do u launch at big rock??? any [problems with parking or getting down to surf??? not familiar with that area. any tips???

Big rock is the next surf break south of Windansea. Basically you go to the bottom of Nautilus street and hang a left. When you get to where the road turns back away from the beach, park ( emergency blinkers on) and carry the yak down a flight of stairs to the beach.
Then I park the truck about a block away and carry my gear down.
Best launch area is the far southern portion of the beach.
This is right at the northern border of the MPA, closed area, so you have to paddle north and west. Plenty of kelp to fish calicos and such, or you can go all the way out for YT and the like.
Good times. I've been launching on Sunday mornings at the but crack. If you'd like to join me, let me know.

Dannowar · 07-22-2014, 06:08 PM

better hope its flat. between windansea and big rock is some serious shore break with random rock piles hidden under a few inches of water. timing is everything

heres a small summer day

Widgeon · 07-22-2014, 06:25 PM

It is about timing, but it's really not bad, unless you're worried about getting your panties and skirt wet. Especially, as I said, at the far south end. I have launched there the last 3 Sundays without bother or incident.
Though, I did have a yard sale there several years ago.

Amish Ed · 07-22-2014, 08:03 PM

Hey Dannowar, have you seen Clark Little's pictures of shorebreak?

Widgeon, I forgot to add something in that other thread. That is, when you turn side saddle brace with each hand on each side of the yak. Turn your legs outboard. Then turn your body.

Widgeon · 07-22-2014, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amish Ed

Hey Dannowar, have you seen Clark Little's pictures of shorebreak?

Widgeon, I forgot to add something in that other thread. That is, when you turn side saddle brace with each hand on each side of the yak. Turn your legs outboard. Then turn your body.

That makes sense. I may actually give it a try on the way in next weekend.

07-20-2014, 06:32 PM	#1
Widgeon Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Clairemont Posts: 175	LJ Today 7/20 Paddled out from big rock about 5:45. Nice morning. Got out to the far side of the kelp in about 30- 40 minutes and was the first one in the area. I swore I saw an otter? Maybe a sea lion pup, but sure looked like a kelp weasel. Anyhow, I Made some bait. Green macs.and began the slow troll, with occasional stops to throw iron. I was probably only fishing for 20 minutes when I suddenly saw a nice big YT swimming next to the boat. It must have gone right by my bait. I quickly reeled in my iron and tried to put it in his face, for nought. Oh well, seemed like a good sign anyway. A while later, I caught a bonito. I decided to test my new stringer and keep it . Caught a few more and released them. A while after that, I feel a hard THUMP on the yak and see a huge, fat, dog swimming under my boat. Check the stringer... Empty. Then the pest hung around for another 5 minutes or so, eyeballing my bait, which I had reeled in and was trying to keep alive. That was about it, got super slow around slack tide, so I paddled in. On the beach just before noon and even though the surf was tiny, it was the closest I've come to a yard sale in a long time. A nice day to be on the water.

07-21-2014, 09:10 PM	#7
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	thanks for the report.....going to give it a go manana......I had a GW lured in one year after hanging a couple over the side.......did it once and never again __________________ The shorter you are, the bigger your fish appear

07-22-2014, 04:04 PM	#9
RAYMO new YAKER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: SD Posts: 60	big rock?? Im gonna goou sunday but curious where do u launch at big rock??? any [problems with parking or getting down to surf??? not familiar with that area. any tips???

07-22-2014, 06:08 PM	#11
Dannowar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,823	better hope its flat. between windansea and big rock is some serious shore break with random rock piles hidden under a few inches of water. timing is everything heres a small summer day __________________ "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever." — Brian Wilson

07-22-2014, 08:03 PM	#13
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,906	Hey Dannowar, have you seen Clark Little's pictures of shorebreak? Widgeon, I forgot to add something in that other thread. That is, when you turn side saddle brace with each hand on each side of the yak. Turn your legs outboard. Then turn your body. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead! Last edited by Amish Ed; 07-22-2014 at 08:12 PM.

07-20-2014, 07:03 PM	#2
h2ofishfo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santee Posts: 821	Thanks for the report I would never do a stringer for that reason "kelp weasel ?" Ha nice pull

07-20-2014, 09:24 PM	#3
baerclaws Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 72	In case you were, I would not recommend hanging your catch on a stringer over the side, for your own mental and physical safety. I've heard some pretty scary stories. Good luck

07-20-2014, 10:20 PM	#4
battleborn Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 221	seems the yellows been a bit tight lipped lately. thanks for the update.

07-21-2014, 06:59 AM	#5
Widgeon Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Clairemont Posts: 175	Yes, I was hanging it over the side. After the incident, I realized how badly it could have gone. I won't be doing that again, in the ocean anyway.

07-21-2014, 09:50 AM	#6
straightrod Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 48	^Well if you do hang it over the side - secure the line with 10# kite string or something that will give way if a large beast wants it really bad.

07-22-2014, 03:56 PM	#8
User name Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 42	Great report I am definantly going to follow your lead and keep my stringer out of the water after hearing everyones input

07-22-2014, 06:25 PM	#12
Widgeon Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Clairemont Posts: 175	It is about timing, but it's really not bad, unless you're worried about getting your panties and skirt wet. Especially, as I said, at the far south end. I have launched there the last 3 Sundays without bother or incident. Though, I did have a yard sale there several years ago.