Dana 5-9 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

steveooo · 05-10-2009, 09:49 PM

Went to Dana with Steve F. yesterday (5-9) to try out some stuff on the new yak. Bad wind, confused swell, and mixed chop was pretty nasty, but it was nice to be out on the water regardless of the conditions.
Bait receiver was busy, so we paddled out to make bait. A few Spanish mixed in with about a million of these. Any fish I.D. experts out there? Queenfish? White Croaker?

While making bait I also hooked up big time on the sabiki rig mid-column. It was an immediate hard hit and sleigh ride that towed me for about 30 seconds. Solid pull, one long run. Unfortunately it broke off on my sabiki’s 15 lb branch line, and Steve got to see me cuss like a sailor. I’d like to think bat ray, but mid column makes me think otherwise.

I HATE losing fish! This will go down as the 5th big fish I have lost. I use pictures to remember all of the fish that I actually do catch, but my memory is pretty vivid about the ones I lose. Lots of shoulda’s & coulda’s.

Other than that, fishing was steady and slow. 4 small sand bass on the paddle in/ out of the harbor on the fire tiger rapalla. No pics but you all know what a undersize sandy looks like.
1 Decent size sandy outside the harbor.

1 barely short Hali

1 Checkerboard

And the best one, I got to see Steve farm a really good bite

I consider days like today a technical skunk. Yes Steve and I caught fish, none of the right kind. Very choppy, cold, & wet, and pretty slow fishing. Boat will be perfect with a few more mods, and any day out on the water is a good day in my book.

Also, here’s a bonus report for last weekend. Sorry for the delay. I thought it would be smarter to post this a week late, so the rivers in ATL are not hammered with fish-dope lurkers that would kill the bite.

Last weekend I had to fly to Atlanta for business. In these times, I’m not going to complain about working, but I did sneak a pack rod on carry-on to make the trip a little better.
I found my own spot of an empty river and caught about 20 of these little guys and two 3” lmb in about an hour. Nice way to relax and wind down after a stressful day. New species for me (I think).

If you like fishing, or reading fishing reports, I highly recommend getting involved in the MLPA process. Send letters, attend meetings, pay attention & do whatever you can. All of our best yak accessible spots are on the chopping block. We can make a difference. Check out the threads by PAL & Holy Mack for how you can get involved. Thanks guys

Tight Lines,
Steve

P.S.- 5 days to go… The first rule of ----------- is that you do not talk about -----------!

buttchaser · 05-11-2009, 06:00 AM

Queen Fish also Known as Herring ( brown Bait)

Whats going on in 5 days

Siebler · 05-11-2009, 08:16 AM

Queen Fish are

Candy.

steveooo · 05-11-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siebler

Queen Fish are

Candy.

Unfortunately thats what I was thinking too. I was pulling up the queenfish 4 at a time on the sabiki when I got my big hit.

forefrazier · 05-11-2009, 09:18 AM

Nice hitting up the slop with you Steve...The way I have been fishing as of late, I may need to borrow Farmer John's slogan: "farm-fresh and wholesome"....

If I actually start catching fish the government might take away my subsidies!

Iceman · 05-11-2009, 09:22 AM

probably just a red eared sunfish on the sabiki tow ride

isn't 4 days for most of us

Geoffkoop · 05-11-2009, 10:21 AM

Nice report. The bite was pretty wide open last week before this last swell.
Confused on the 5 days comment?

Zed · 05-11-2009, 11:29 AM

That's a Queen, Princess.
Couple trips ago I got queenfish mid column on the sabiki. I thought they were bottom dwellers.

Punkinseed on the artificial. Niiiice!

PS Also last couple times out there I've seen T's jumpin' and thrashin' around. Small 30-50's.

Cool report!

Zed · 05-11-2009, 11:31 AM

Oh and queenfish are not Pacific herring, which I have caught off Dana too.

Brownbait have always been white croakers in my mind.

Vikingj · 05-11-2009, 04:23 PM

Steve,

I was down by Dana (Capo reefs) a few days before you (Tues.,5/5) and also got a mystery bendo! on live bait. Reef/kelp habitat in 15-18'. It ran higher in the water column then shark or hali and gave me quite a sleigh ride- Great speed and power as he took off to the right and then quickly shifted left. Finally spun my yak 180* and then ran past my stern to bend my rod over my shoulder before snapping my (25#) line. Too fast to be a shark/ray - suspect it was a just legal wsb (or bsb?). We are catching alot of smaller (1 1/2 - 2') wsb in harbor and Doheny lately- could there be some bigger models hooking up with Steve and me? Any feed back or opinions welcomed!
Wayne

steveooo · 05-11-2009, 05:21 PM

My guesses

1- Thresher
2-

3- http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/in...ellowtail.html

Iceman · 05-11-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

gave me quite a sleigh ride- Great speed and power as he took off to the right and then quickly shifted left. Finally spun my yak 180* and then ran past my stern to bend my rod over my shoulder before snapping my (25#) line.

very characteristic of a WSB fight, but coulda been a little T as well.

The YT from the beach is CRAZY!

Geoffkoop · 05-12-2009, 12:23 PM

yeah WTF is that yellow from the beach all about? I hope that is a sign of things to come!

Siebler · 05-12-2009, 12:28 PM

Queenfish are known to catch WSB. And given the tome of year I wouldnt be surprised.

3 days. Got my new Yak and my new speargun all ready......

Vikingj · 05-12-2009, 10:01 PM

Thanks, guys for your input and thanks Steve for letting insert my question into your thread. Never thought about a T-shark and hadn't heard of any local Doho/Capo YT. Any thing is possible- gotta go get him this weekend and show you all a photo?
Wayne

mrJB · 05-13-2009, 08:28 AM

Wayne -
That would be "T-Shark", not Wee-Shark...

05-10-2009, 09:49 PM	#1
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	Dana 5-9 Went to Dana with Steve F. yesterday (5-9) to try out some stuff on the new yak. Bad wind, confused swell, and mixed chop was pretty nasty, but it was nice to be out on the water regardless of the conditions. Bait receiver was busy, so we paddled out to make bait. A few Spanish mixed in with about a million of these. Any fish I.D. experts out there? Queenfish? White Croaker? While making bait I also hooked up big time on the sabiki rig mid-column. It was an immediate hard hit and sleigh ride that towed me for about 30 seconds. Solid pull, one long run. Unfortunately it broke off on my sabiki’s 15 lb branch line, and Steve got to see me cuss like a sailor. I’d like to think bat ray, but mid column makes me think otherwise. I HATE losing fish! This will go down as the 5th big fish I have lost. I use pictures to remember all of the fish that I actually do catch, but my memory is pretty vivid about the ones I lose. Lots of shoulda’s & coulda’s. Other than that, fishing was steady and slow. 4 small sand bass on the paddle in/ out of the harbor on the fire tiger rapalla. No pics but you all know what a undersize sandy looks like. 1 Decent size sandy outside the harbor. 1 barely short Hali 1 Checkerboard And the best one, I got to see Steve farm a really good bite I consider days like today a technical skunk. Yes Steve and I caught fish, none of the right kind. Very choppy, cold, & wet, and pretty slow fishing. Boat will be perfect with a few more mods, and any day out on the water is a good day in my book. Also, here’s a bonus report for last weekend. Sorry for the delay. I thought it would be smarter to post this a week late, so the rivers in ATL are not hammered with fish-dope lurkers that would kill the bite. Last weekend I had to fly to Atlanta for business. In these times, I’m not going to complain about working, but I did sneak a pack rod on carry-on to make the trip a little better. I found my own spot of an empty river and caught about 20 of these little guys and two 3” lmb in about an hour. Nice way to relax and wind down after a stressful day. New species for me (I think). If you like fishing, or reading fishing reports, I highly recommend getting involved in the MLPA process. Send letters, attend meetings, pay attention & do whatever you can. All of our best yak accessible spots are on the chopping block. We can make a difference. Check out the threads by PAL & Holy Mack for how you can get involved. Thanks guys Tight Lines, Steve P.S.- 5 days to go… The first rule of ----------- is that you do not talk about -----------!

05-11-2009, 08:16 AM	#3
Siebler Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richland Oregon Posts: 1,547	Queen Fish are Candy. __________________ CJ Siebler

05-11-2009, 09:22 AM	#6
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	probably just a red eared sunfish on the sabiki tow ride isn't 4 days for most of us __________________

05-11-2009, 11:29 AM	#8
Zed BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: W of 5 Posts: 1,265	That's a Queen, Princess. Couple trips ago I got queenfish mid column on the sabiki. I thought they were bottom dwellers. Punkinseed on the artificial. Niiiice! PS Also last couple times out there I've seen T's jumpin' and thrashin' around. Small 30-50's. Cool report! __________________ Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a week.

05-11-2009, 11:31 AM	#9
Zed BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: W of 5 Posts: 1,265	Oh and queenfish are not Pacific herring, which I have caught off Dana too. Brownbait have always been white croakers in my mind. __________________ Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a week.

05-11-2009, 06:00 AM	#2
buttchaser Float Tuber Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 243	Queen Fish also Known as Herring ( brown Bait) Whats going on in 5 days

05-11-2009, 09:18 AM	#5
forefrazier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: OC Posts: 397	Nice hitting up the slop with you Steve...The way I have been fishing as of late, I may need to borrow Farmer John's slogan: "farm-fresh and wholesome".... If I actually start catching fish the government might take away my subsidies!

05-11-2009, 10:21 AM	#7
Geoffkoop Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: So. Orange County Posts: 302	Nice report. The bite was pretty wide open last week before this last swell. Confused on the 5 days comment?

05-11-2009, 04:23 PM	#10
Vikingj Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dana Point area Posts: 438	Steve, I was down by Dana (Capo reefs) a few days before you (Tues.,5/5) and also got a mystery bendo! on live bait. Reef/kelp habitat in 15-18'. It ran higher in the water column then shark or hali and gave me quite a sleigh ride- Great speed and power as he took off to the right and then quickly shifted left. Finally spun my yak 180* and then ran past my stern to bend my rod over my shoulder before snapping my (25#) line. Too fast to be a shark/ray - suspect it was a just legal wsb (or bsb?). We are catching alot of smaller (1 1/2 - 2') wsb in harbor and Doheny lately- could there be some bigger models hooking up with Steve and me? Any feed back or opinions welcomed! Wayne

05-11-2009, 05:21 PM	#11
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	My guesses 1- Thresher 2- 3- http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/in...ellowtail.html

05-12-2009, 12:23 PM	#13
Geoffkoop Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: So. Orange County Posts: 302	yeah WTF is that yellow from the beach all about? I hope that is a sign of things to come!

05-12-2009, 12:28 PM	#14
Siebler Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richland Oregon Posts: 1,547	Queenfish are known to catch WSB. And given the tome of year I wouldnt be surprised. 3 days. Got my new Yak and my new speargun all ready...... __________________ CJ Siebler

05-12-2009, 10:01 PM	#15
Vikingj Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dana Point area Posts: 438	Thanks, guys for your input and thanks Steve for letting insert my question into your thread. Never thought about a T-shark and hadn't heard of any local Doho/Capo YT. Any thing is possible- gotta go get him this weekend and show you all a photo? Wayne

05-13-2009, 08:28 AM	#16
mrJB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: O.C. Posts: 352	Wayne - That would be "T-Shark", not Wee-Shark...