1St Cabrillo beach launch - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Anthony_R · 02-26-2018, 02:20 PM

Hi all,
New to this forum, so thank you in advance for any and all information. I'm originally from San Diego, but I'm
looking to launch out of Cabrillo Beach for the 1st time soon, and was hoping someone that has launched from here would be willing to share their experiences with me. What species abundant and which do you target on what bait and tackle?
Thank you

ful-rac · 02-26-2018, 02:40 PM

So your going to be fishing Cabrillo beach (aka "The Sewer") huh? Well contrary to what the nickname implies, it is actually a great place to fish. Many of us learned to fish off of our kayaks at Cabrillo, and it will always hold a special place in our hearts. With that being said, you can catch halibut, bass, rockfish, sculpin and a few other species regularly, year round there.

Drag a sardine around there with a dropper loop or a 3-way swivel type set up and you can catch pretty much everything. Better yet fish bigger baits like mackerel and keep the by-catch to a minimum and target bigger halibut.

What's great about Cabrillo is there is a variety of structure there to be fished and explored. High spots, drop off's, ledges, flats, channels, rocky structure, docks, sewer pipes, kelp, shallow water habitats, pilings etc. Also there is a bait barge there so you don't have to spend time trying to make bait if you don't want to....And not to mention that open water can also be accessed if needed or wanted.

Anthony_R · 02-26-2018, 03:04 PM

I was planning on launching outside of the breakwall and heading towards Palos Verdes. Is this still considered the sewer?! I've been trying to find an easy launch outside of the breakwall, that can produce bigger fish.
Being from San Diego, I would normally just load up and head south to the spots I know deliver, but that's not always an option. Are there other local launch spots I should be considering before Cabrillo?
Thank you

ful-rac · 02-26-2018, 03:30 PM

If your planning on launching from the beach on the outside...bring your expectations down a bit. Your not gonna find La Jolla type fishing here, that's for sure. That said, there can be good fishing here. You have rockfish available here within reasonable kayak range. You also have potentially great Calico Bass fishing, halibut fishing that can be good at certain times of the year. The occasional seabass can also be caught. Yellowtail are possible but it's nothing even close to la jolla.

If your goal is to catch large fish from your kayak in the LA/Orange county area, your going to have to set your sights on Halibut. Not that Large yellows and seabass can't be caught here...and we have caught our share, they are just not as readily available as they are down south.

As far as launch areas: Long beach, San Pedro, Redondo, Marina Del Rey are the usual launch areas here.

Saba Slayer · 02-26-2018, 04:28 PM

X2..."If your goal is to catch large fish from your kayak in the LA/Orange county area, your going to have to set your sights on Halibut. Not that Large yellows and seabass can't be caught here...and we have caught our share, they are just not as readily available as they are down south."

Anthony...Halibut is our Hero fish up here....occasionally you'll get a WSB or Yellow but don't bet your trip on it...

There have been plenty of 20 to 30#+ Halibut caught in "the sewer".
Yellows can be found outside by the green bouy on some years...It's only a couple of miles but it's some of the most traveled waters outside the Angels Gate lighthouse...tankers...cargo container ships...tugs...Catalina Express...and tons of private and commercial boats too...one of the busiest ports in the world.

And "the sewer" is a world class windsurfing spot on some days... so be careful...especially this time of year.

Anthony_R · 02-27-2018, 10:26 AM

Thank you for taking the time to respond. You've provided excellent information, and I know now how I will be spending my time at the sewer

. Now we just need some favorable weather! See you out there, thanks again.

Hunters Pa · 02-27-2018, 12:51 PM

Watch out for the winds. I try to make sure to be on my way back to the launch by 11 a.m., but I am fishing inside the breakwall. also, when the weather gets nicer, the sailboat classes can get dicey. A bunch of learners in tiny sailboats bearing down on you while trying to figure out what they are doing.

fourtogo · 03-01-2018, 03:14 AM

Get a partner #1

02-26-2018, 02:40 PM	#2
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	So your going to be fishing Cabrillo beach (aka "The Sewer") huh? Well contrary to what the nickname implies, it is actually a great place to fish. Many of us learned to fish off of our kayaks at Cabrillo, and it will always hold a special place in our hearts. With that being said, you can catch halibut, bass, rockfish, sculpin and a few other species regularly, year round there. Drag a sardine around there with a dropper loop or a 3-way swivel type set up and you can catch pretty much everything. Better yet fish bigger baits like mackerel and keep the by-catch to a minimum and target bigger halibut. What's great about Cabrillo is there is a variety of structure there to be fished and explored. High spots, drop off's, ledges, flats, channels, rocky structure, docks, sewer pipes, kelp, shallow water habitats, pilings etc. Also there is a bait barge there so you don't have to spend time trying to make bait if you don't want to....And not to mention that open water can also be accessed if needed or wanted. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

02-26-2018, 03:30 PM	#4
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	If your planning on launching from the beach on the outside...bring your expectations down a bit. Your not gonna find La Jolla type fishing here, that's for sure. That said, there can be good fishing here. You have rockfish available here within reasonable kayak range. You also have potentially great Calico Bass fishing, halibut fishing that can be good at certain times of the year. The occasional seabass can also be caught. Yellowtail are possible but it's nothing even close to la jolla. If your goal is to catch large fish from your kayak in the LA/Orange county area, your going to have to set your sights on Halibut. Not that Large yellows and seabass can't be caught here...and we have caught our share, they are just not as readily available as they are down south. As far as launch areas: Long beach, San Pedro, Redondo, Marina Del Rey are the usual launch areas here. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

02-26-2018, 04:28 PM	#5
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,857	x2 X2..."If your goal is to catch large fish from your kayak in the LA/Orange county area, your going to have to set your sights on Halibut. Not that Large yellows and seabass can't be caught here...and we have caught our share, they are just not as readily available as they are down south." Anthony...Halibut is our Hero fish up here....occasionally you'll get a WSB or Yellow but don't bet your trip on it... There have been plenty of 20 to 30#+ Halibut caught in "the sewer". Yellows can be found outside by the green bouy on some years...It's only a couple of miles but it's some of the most traveled waters outside the Angels Gate lighthouse...tankers...cargo container ships...tugs...Catalina Express...and tons of private and commercial boats too...one of the busiest ports in the world. And "the sewer" is a world class windsurfing spot on some days... so be careful...especially this time of year. __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

03-01-2018, 03:14 AM	#8
fourtogo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 140	Fishing Get a partner #1

02-26-2018, 02:20 PM	#1
Anthony_R Junior Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: LBC Posts: 3	1St Cabrillo beach launch Hi all, New to this forum, so thank you in advance for any and all information. I'm originally from San Diego, but I'm looking to launch out of Cabrillo Beach for the 1st time soon, and was hoping someone that has launched from here would be willing to share their experiences with me. What species abundant and which do you target on what bait and tackle? Thank you

02-26-2018, 03:04 PM	#3
Anthony_R Junior Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: LBC Posts: 3	I was planning on launching outside of the breakwall and heading towards Palos Verdes. Is this still considered the sewer?! I've been trying to find an easy launch outside of the breakwall, that can produce bigger fish. Being from San Diego, I would normally just load up and head south to the spots I know deliver, but that's not always an option. Are there other local launch spots I should be considering before Cabrillo? Thank you

02-27-2018, 10:26 AM	#6
Anthony_R Junior Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: LBC Posts: 3	Thank you for taking the time to respond. You've provided excellent information, and I know now how I will be spending my time at the sewer . Now we just need some favorable weather! See you out there, thanks again.

02-27-2018, 12:51 PM	#7
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,360	Watch out for the winds. I try to make sure to be on my way back to the launch by 11 a.m., but I am fishing inside the breakwall. also, when the weather gets nicer, the sailboat classes can get dicey. A bunch of learners in tiny sailboats bearing down on you while trying to figure out what they are doing.