Whitefish and rockfish from La Jolla on Sunday - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

BenCantrell · 03-10-2020, 07:24 PM

Wrote up a blog post from Sunday's session. We caught about 10 ocean whitefish, 1 calico bass, 1 short sheephead, 3-4 kelp rockfish, 2-3 gopher rockfish, 1 calico rockfish, 1 rosy rockfish, 1 starry rockfish, 1 treefish, 1 flag rockfish, 1 honeycomb rockfish, and 2 longfin sanddabs.

http://bencantrellfish.blogspot.com/...h-brandon.html

Revoguys · 03-10-2020, 07:41 PM

Great blog man! Sorry to hear about your Subaru that sucks. Looked like a fun day on the water tho! What were you using for bait while fishing the bottom?

buckygoesfishing · 03-10-2020, 08:05 PM

Awesome post man! I always enjoy reading the blog because it helps a noob like me identify what those fish look like since those pictures are super nice

Salty · 03-11-2020, 12:22 AM

Great post! Love the pics and identification. Sucks about the Suby though. I had a '12 Outback that blew a head gasket at 80K miles... was a fun $4,000 repair out of warranty. Hope your clutch is much easier on the wallet!

BenCantrell · 03-11-2020, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty

Great post! Love the pics and identification. Sucks about the Suby though. I had a '12 Outback that blew a head gasket at 80K miles... was a fun $4,000 repair out of warranty. Hope your clutch is much easier on the wallet!

$2200 and counting for the clutch issues.

I still feel like they're good cars overall, but there have been several major issues with this one. The dealer swapped the entire engine at 60k.

cris · 03-11-2020, 09:10 AM

Nice write up - sorry about the clutch.

I had to replace it on my 2014 Outback at 70k... broke down 15 miles outside Denver on I-70. My wallet still hurts...

C. Cary · 03-11-2020, 09:11 AM

I was out on Sunday as well. All I caught was Whitefish. Used squid and gulp grub. double dropper loop and carolina rig. fished 80' to 120'

Didn't catch any mackeral for bait.

dsafety · 03-12-2020, 07:43 PM

Given the current fishing conditions, I plan to target bottom fish the next time I go out. The problem is that I always release fish that I do not plan to eat.

With that in mind, I would like to ask the question... are you able to effectively release most of these small fish, assuming that you want to?

I remember years ago fishing deep off LJ and having fish come up nearly exploded. I released most of them but I doubt that many survived.

Are there any guidelines about how to make sure a deep fish can returned home? I know that some people send them to the bottom lightly hooked and jerk them free at the appropriate time.

If someone has a tutorial to share on this subject, that would be welcome to me and probably others.

Oolie · 03-12-2020, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsafety

Given the current fishing conditions, I plan to target bottom fish the next time I go out. The problem is that I always release fish that I do not plan to eat.

With that in mind, I would like to ask the question... are you able to effectively release most of these small fish, assuming that you want to?

I remember years ago fishing deep off LJ and having fish come up nearly exploded. I released most of them but I doubt that many survived.

Are there any guidelines about how to make sure a deep fish can returned home? I know that some people send them to the bottom lightly hooked and jerk them free at the appropriate time.

If someone has a tutorial to share on this subject, that would be welcome to me and probably others.

Excellent question, and yes it is possible.

If the Fred Hall Show is not cancelled, there will be a booth there with experts on the subject, who can answer just about any question regarding barotrauma.

To extremely simplify, it is very possible to release fish successfully, the key is to minimize handling and return them to depth ASAP.

There are a number of methods which can do this, the best of which will all utilize weight to overcome the buoyant overinflated air bladder. By using weight to pull fish to deeper water, they are able to return to equilibrium and stay at depth, which is critical to their survival.

BenCantrell · 03-13-2020, 08:04 AM

It's pretty easy to descend fish with a homemade descending device and a heavy sinker. Here's the one I made for when I fish deeper than the allowable depth for rockfish. A 1+ lb sinker will have no problem taking small to medium fish back down. Bigger fish would probably require 2+ lb sinkers.

With that said, I think you can tell some of the fish aren't going to make it no matter how gently you handle them or how quickly you send them back down.

summers in kuwait · 03-13-2020, 08:28 AM

DIY Devices will work, as featured above.
The milk crate works well, but can be challenging on a kayak.

Also, you can request a free device here.

Consider donating to support this good organization.

FISH11 · 03-13-2020, 09:27 AM

I use a DIY set up as above using an old large jig head with the barb pinched closed a short line with swivel at the top and a snap clip at the bottom so I can change the weigh size depending on the size of the rock fish. I attach the upper swivel to any of my rod lines that have a snap clip to attach jigs or different leader normally. Holding the rock fish in my palm I put the jig head hook of the back of the gill plate going inside so the weight will pull the fish head first to the depths. Having the reel spool open and the rod in a rod holder or even under one of my legs. I put the weight in the water first and allow it to pull the fish out of my hand and down into the water. Once I think the weight has reached approx 50' or more I engage the reel and pull up fast on the rod to have the jig head come out of the gill plate and the fish is now free to head down the rest of the way down. Here is a Utube video from the Alaska Department of Fish and game showing the same basic procedure using a larger device. On a kayak I prefer the DIY hook or jig head, because it take almost no space and makes it easier to have with you at all times and utilize weights you provably already carry.

Landlover · 03-13-2020, 03:56 PM

light over hand knot threw the lip of a fish send it down to depth and the a little tug to slide the knot apart

deptrai · 03-13-2020, 09:28 PM

In Oregon, OCEAN provide these Shelton devices to us for free. They used to ship, but not sure they do anymore.

https://oceaned.org/request-devices/

Dave

matthew7! · 03-15-2020, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landlover

light over hand knot threw the lip of a fish send it down to depth and the a little tug to slide the knot apart

Do you have a picture? Not sure how to do that?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

baileybikes · 03-16-2020, 12:33 PM

A single sided shoe-lace knot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthew7!

Do you have a picture? Not sure how to do that?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

JohnMckroidJr · 03-18-2020, 08:24 AM

Nice Variety!

03-10-2020, 07:24 PM	#1
BenCantrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Sebastian, Florida Posts: 238	Whitefish and rockfish from La Jolla on Sunday Wrote up a blog post from Sunday's session. We caught about 10 ocean whitefish, 1 calico bass, 1 short sheephead, 3-4 kelp rockfish, 2-3 gopher rockfish, 1 calico rockfish, 1 rosy rockfish, 1 starry rockfish, 1 treefish, 1 flag rockfish, 1 honeycomb rockfish, and 2 longfin sanddabs. http://bencantrellfish.blogspot.com/...h-brandon.html

03-11-2020, 09:11 AM	#7
C. Cary Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Carmel Valley Posts: 105	I was out on Sunday as well. All I caught was Whitefish. Used squid and gulp grub. double dropper loop and carolina rig. fished 80' to 120' Didn't catch any mackeral for bait. __________________ Isn't this America? Let them fish

03-13-2020, 09:27 AM	#12
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	I use a DIY set up as above using an old large jig head with the barb pinched closed a short line with swivel at the top and a snap clip at the bottom so I can change the weigh size depending on the size of the rock fish. I attach the upper swivel to any of my rod lines that have a snap clip to attach jigs or different leader normally. Holding the rock fish in my palm I put the jig head hook of the back of the gill plate going inside so the weight will pull the fish head first to the depths. Having the reel spool open and the rod in a rod holder or even under one of my legs. I put the weight in the water first and allow it to pull the fish out of my hand and down into the water. Once I think the weight has reached approx 50' or more I engage the reel and pull up fast on the rod to have the jig head come out of the gill plate and the fish is now free to head down the rest of the way down. Here is a Utube video from the Alaska Department of Fish and game showing the same basic procedure using a larger device. On a kayak I prefer the DIY hook or jig head, because it take almost no space and makes it easier to have with you at all times and utilize weights you provably already carry. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

03-10-2020, 07:41 PM	#2
Revoguys Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: San Diego Posts: 60	Great blog man! Sorry to hear about your Subaru that sucks. Looked like a fun day on the water tho! What were you using for bait while fishing the bottom?

03-10-2020, 08:05 PM	#3
buckygoesfishing Junior Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 28	Awesome post man! I always enjoy reading the blog because it helps a noob like me identify what those fish look like since those pictures are super nice

03-11-2020, 12:22 AM	#4
Salty Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 434	Great post! Love the pics and identification. Sucks about the Suby though. I had a '12 Outback that blew a head gasket at 80K miles... was a fun $4,000 repair out of warranty. Hope your clutch is much easier on the wallet!

03-11-2020, 09:10 AM	#6
cris Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 254	Nice write up - sorry about the clutch. I had to replace it on my 2014 Outback at 70k... broke down 15 miles outside Denver on I-70. My wallet still hurts...

03-12-2020, 07:43 PM	#8
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,121	Given the current fishing conditions, I plan to target bottom fish the next time I go out. The problem is that I always release fish that I do not plan to eat. With that in mind, I would like to ask the question... are you able to effectively release most of these small fish, assuming that you want to? I remember years ago fishing deep off LJ and having fish come up nearly exploded. I released most of them but I doubt that many survived. Are there any guidelines about how to make sure a deep fish can returned home? I know that some people send them to the bottom lightly hooked and jerk them free at the appropriate time. If someone has a tutorial to share on this subject, that would be welcome to me and probably others.

03-13-2020, 08:04 AM	#10
BenCantrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Sebastian, Florida Posts: 238	It's pretty easy to descend fish with a homemade descending device and a heavy sinker. Here's the one I made for when I fish deeper than the allowable depth for rockfish. A 1+ lb sinker will have no problem taking small to medium fish back down. Bigger fish would probably require 2+ lb sinkers. With that said, I think you can tell some of the fish aren't going to make it no matter how gently you handle them or how quickly you send them back down.

03-13-2020, 08:28 AM	#11
summers in kuwait Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: East County San Diego Posts: 657	DIY Devices will work, as featured above. The milk crate works well, but can be challenging on a kayak. Also, you can request a free device here. Consider donating to support this good organization.

03-13-2020, 03:56 PM	#13
Landlover Junior Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 14	light over hand knot threw the lip of a fish send it down to depth and the a little tug to slide the knot apart

03-13-2020, 09:28 PM	#14
deptrai Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 54	In Oregon, OCEAN provide these Shelton devices to us for free. They used to ship, but not sure they do anymore. https://oceaned.org/request-devices/ Dave

03-18-2020, 08:24 AM	#17
JohnMckroidJr Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 1,945	Nice Variety!