North County report - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Trout · 02-02-2009, 01:33 PM

Fished in my backyard on Saturday (North County) w/ buddy John and Grandpa B (my father-in-law). Dad had never kayak fished before and was tired of all the 2nd hand stories. He is a little prone to sea sickness, but Saturday was incredible - no problem there. 1 foot waves and glassy conditions, so out he went.

We launched at gray light and it was FREEZING. Yeah, I know I just moved back from Hawaii and all and am not quite back in the groove, but this was ridiculous. Even John said it was cold. The early offshores numbed all 10 fingers. Bait was a pain to make and it didn't work out. We were bombarded with smeltasauruses. These smelt were literally 14" long. We gave up and headed out... and before long it was 70 degrees and incredible.

Other than some calicos in the kelp with plastics and buzz baits, we fished the bottom with single and twin-tail rootbeer scampis with squid strips and it was easy pickings. Too bad rockfish are out of season because I think I released about 15. Although there wasn't a lot of size going on there was at least a lot of action and specie diversity. I pulled up calicos, sandies, sheepshead, vermillion, starries, treefish, gophers, sugars, and a few other weird little guys. I kept one decent bass to pan fry for the kids and released everything else.

Although he didn't catch a ton of fish, Grandpa B had a great time and will definitely do it again. Here are a few shots of his day... never too late to try something new!

MKNOTT · 02-02-2009, 03:00 PM

Awsome day...

I went out over at N. Island that day. Need to go out with you sometime up there. Everytime I go by myself I dont catch....

Glad Pops had a good time.

MKNOTT

dadandsonkayak · 02-02-2009, 03:32 PM

thats what i am all about is getting my stressed out dad to enjoy a great time on the water and not just catching fish.. its everything about it. the scenery, the life, and hopefully huge fish

Iceman · 02-02-2009, 03:43 PM

Gotta love those days when you can launch ANYWHERE. My dad is finally coming around to buying a yak to fish the lakes of east AZ.

Dan · 02-02-2009, 04:20 PM

Way to get pops-in-law out...that's the best. Perfect anywhere conditions this weekend.

dos ballenas · 02-02-2009, 04:34 PM

I thought that might be you outside... I launched around 9 with a friend and worked the inside for a few green backs (they were a little sabiki shy but a 2 in castmaster at the end worked for me on the slow troll)... also found some of those larger smelties.

Nice job on the diversity, plastics kill it some times... perfect day out there for sure... too bad the yellows weren't home this time!

These days its hard to say what I love more, no surf and fishing north county... or good surf and barrels in mex.

blackcloud9 · 07-01-2009, 09:19 AM

"too bad rockfish are out of season"

I disagree.

It's open season until Jan 1, 2010.
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mapregs5.asp

Larry

j mo · 07-01-2009, 10:11 AM

forgot to mention that the kelp line was teaming yesterday. Most likely cudas but did see a couple of nice blowups 20ft inside.....

Temp has droped ~3-4 degrees.

PescadorPete · 07-01-2009, 10:52 AM

I fished it Sunday. Lots and lots of 'cudas and a few sandies. Need to get onto one of those 'blowups'.

02-02-2009, 01:33 PM	#1
Trout Looks are everything Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA Posts: 64	North County report Fished in my backyard on Saturday (North County) w/ buddy John and Grandpa B (my father-in-law). Dad had never kayak fished before and was tired of all the 2nd hand stories. He is a little prone to sea sickness, but Saturday was incredible - no problem there. 1 foot waves and glassy conditions, so out he went. We launched at gray light and it was FREEZING. Yeah, I know I just moved back from Hawaii and all and am not quite back in the groove, but this was ridiculous. Even John said it was cold. The early offshores numbed all 10 fingers. Bait was a pain to make and it didn't work out. We were bombarded with smeltasauruses. These smelt were literally 14" long. We gave up and headed out... and before long it was 70 degrees and incredible. Other than some calicos in the kelp with plastics and buzz baits, we fished the bottom with single and twin-tail rootbeer scampis with squid strips and it was easy pickings. Too bad rockfish are out of season because I think I released about 15. Although there wasn't a lot of size going on there was at least a lot of action and specie diversity. I pulled up calicos, sandies, sheepshead, vermillion, starries, treefish, gophers, sugars, and a few other weird little guys. I kept one decent bass to pan fry for the kids and released everything else. Although he didn't catch a ton of fish, Grandpa B had a great time and will definitely do it again. Here are a few shots of his day... never too late to try something new! __________________ Trout

02-02-2009, 03:00 PM	#2
MKNOTT Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Persian Gulf Posts: 263	Awsome day... I went out over at N. Island that day. Need to go out with you sometime up there. Everytime I go by myself I dont catch.... Glad Pops had a good time. MKNOTT __________________ When I grow up I want to be, One of the harvesters of the sea, <O I think before my days are done, I want to be a fisherman.

02-02-2009, 03:32 PM	#3
dadandsonkayak Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: near palm springs Posts: 82	thats what i am all about is getting my stressed out dad to enjoy a great time on the water and not just catching fish.. its everything about it. the scenery, the life, and hopefully huge fish __________________

02-02-2009, 03:43 PM	#4
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	Gotta love those days when you can launch ANYWHERE. My dad is finally coming around to buying a yak to fish the lakes of east AZ. __________________

02-02-2009, 04:34 PM	#6
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	I thought that might be you outside... I launched around 9 with a friend and worked the inside for a few green backs (they were a little sabiki shy but a 2 in castmaster at the end worked for me on the slow troll)... also found some of those larger smelties. Nice job on the diversity, plastics kill it some times... perfect day out there for sure... too bad the yellows weren't home this time! These days its hard to say what I love more, no surf and fishing north county... or good surf and barrels in mex. __________________ ____________________________________________

02-02-2009, 04:20 PM	#5
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	Way to get pops-in-law out...that's the best. Perfect anywhere conditions this weekend.

07-01-2009, 09:19 AM	#7
blackcloud9 Kayaker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Big Rock, WindanSea, La Jolla Posts: 413	"too bad rockfish are out of season" I disagree. It's open season until Jan 1, 2010. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mapregs5.asp Larry __________________ Larry. Hobie Revolution 13. 25 years of kayak fishing La Jolla. https://larryl.com/photos

07-01-2009, 10:11 AM	#8
j mo Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Encinitas Posts: 600	forgot to mention that the kelp line was teaming yesterday. Most likely cudas but did see a couple of nice blowups 20ft inside..... Temp has droped ~3-4 degrees.

07-01-2009, 10:52 AM	#9
PescadorPete Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Leucadia, CA Posts: 261	I fished it Sunday. Lots and lots of 'cudas and a few sandies. Need to get onto one of those 'blowups'.