Kayak Tuesday 2-21-11

The predicted rain was avoided again and the Kayak Tuesday group launched their kayaks out of Dana Point in 41 degree weather under sunny skies. We peddled out of the harbor just before 8 am and split directions. Tim, Jack and I headed to the pipeline while the others fished closer inshore - not sure where as I couldn't see them.

I decided to fish the dropper loop with dead squid (thanks Tim for the bait). I was using my Revo Inshore spooled with 20 lb. Spiderwire Ultra Cast  with a short dropper loop made with Berkley 20 lb. fluorocarbon and a 6/0 circle hook. I put the reel on a 6' Berkley Cherrywood Premium Graphite rod rated 10 - 25 lbs. I started fishing in 70 feet of water. Tim went out to deeper water and Jack was fishing in 64 feet of water. Jack started with a 1.5 ounce leadhead with squid pinned on it.

Our water temperature was 59 degrees and we had a 4 to 5 knot off-shore breeze that felt like it was blowing off the snow capped mountains, however, the sun was bright with only the hint of clouds on the horizon. We were even able to see Catalina Island in the distance. There was a lot of life everywhere I looked - pelicans flying in formation, porpoise chasing bait schools and birds diving around the porpoise.

It wasn't even 30 minutes before I heard Jack yell. I looked over in time to see him land a nice 19 inch calico. He barely dropped his bait back in the water and he was hooked up again. He called over to me and said to come on over. I started peddling his way and before I could get there, I was nailed by a nice sandbass. I released it and was quickly nailed again. I decided I might as well keep this one for a lunch. I rebaited and dropped back down and was nailed again. These sandbass were ravenous - but then again, we were fishing with squid.

Jack kept hooking calicos and sandbass until he snagged something on the bottom and lost his leadhead. He switched to a 3/4 ounce leadhead and still hooked fish but it was a little slower as it took a little longer to reach the bottom. We were fishing in 64 to 67 feet of water at that point and the breeze was just right for a nice drift.

Around 9:30 am I was drifting over what appeared to be a hard bottom area watching a blank screen on my fish finder when I got nailed and my line started to peel out. I knew this wasn't a bass so I kept my kayak pointed towards the fish so I could follow if necessary. Then there was the occasional head shake and dead weight on my line. After a couple minutes of reeling and line going back out, there was the broad flat body of a halibut coming to the surface. I grabbed my gaff and brought the fish close to the boat and gaffed him. Jack peddled over and helped me get him on the game clip before I removed the hook (love those circle hooks). Jack helped me measure my halibut - just over 28 inches. Nice! Then I let the game clip slip back in the water being sure it was securely fastened to my kayak.

I rebaited and decided to call Mike. Just as I was telling him I caught dinner, I was bit again and told him I would call him back. My line was peeling off and I was trying to get my new iPhone into a waterproof pocket without dropping it. When I finally called Mike back, it was to tell him that it had been a small stingray on my line. It gave me a few minutes of fun until I had to cut it off to keep it from cutting the tether to my game clip.

I caught more sandbass, a cabazon and finally an 18 inch calico. Tim caught a couple nice calicos for his dinner (18 and 19 inches), plus sandbass and rockfish (released). One of the other guys caught a 24 inch halibut, another hooked a thresher shark but it busted off and Jack hooked into something that peeled off 200 yards of spectra before it busted off.

We headed back to dock around 2 pm. We were thoroughly satisfied with our day of fishing. The weather was cool but sunny, the seas were calm, the fish were biting and it was all shared with good friends. It was a spectacular day on the water.

I carefully filleted the halibut giving half to Tim (as he did provide the bait) and cleaned the calico and a couple sandbass (Princess and Willie want fresh fish too) .  The day wasn’t over yet as the best was yet to come – dinner.  We had fish and chips (halibut coated in Panko Flakes and fried potatoes) accompanied by sautéed zucchini with parmesan.  It was a thoroughly wonderful day!

976-KayakJan 2-16-11

Tuesday's fishing group met at DP Kayak Center to set up gear and launch our kayaks. There were six of us this week even though rain was predicted for the day. It usually takes me about 45 minutes to an hour to get everything set up and in the water.

I store my kayak at the Kayak Center and store all my gear at home. Once I get my kayak off its rack, everything needs to be secured or tethered to the kayak (i.e. fish finder, install battery below deck, rod holders, bait tank, nets, gaff, paddle, peddles, seat, tackle, rods) then I get dressed (waterproof top, waders, PFD, jacket, hat, sunglasses, marine radio, Spot Satellite messenger, and camera) - whew! Then I slide the kayak in the water, install the peddles, lower the rudder, turn on the fish finder, zero out the trip calculator, start the bait tank then I climb in. I have to peddle around a couple minutes to prime the bait tank then I'm ready to go buy bait at the receiver.

Today was different as Tim Boyer had some live squid in his receiver that he shared with all of us. I peddled over to Tim's receiver and he put a scoop of squid in my tank. This was the first time I fished out of my kayak using live squid for bait. What a special treat this was.

Candy Bait

It was around 8 am by the time we peddled out of the harbor. We passed two Customs and Immigration boats coming into the harbor. Curious - until I read the paper the next day and learned they apprehended 18 illegals on a boat 5 miles outside of the harbor.

I followed Tim out to the pipeline a couple miles off shore. It was cloudy and cool but the water was glassy calm and 59 degrees.

We decided to fish deeper than last week. We started in 75 feet of water venturing out to 95 feet deep. I fished a dropper loop using 20# fluorocarbon with 2 ounces of lead and a Mustad 92677 3/0 hook.

Everything loves squid - even critters too small to swallow a whole squid. I pulled up lizard fish, baby octopus and small perch.

Finally I was slammed hard and brought up a 14 inch calico bass. Tim and Jack both caught calico bass that measured 18 inches but I was still happy with mine.

We fished until 1:30 pm. By that time I had traveled 7 miles in 5 1/2 hours on the water. As I was cleaning up my gear, it began raining. By the time I finished cleaning up, the sun was out. I filleted my fish then called Mike to tell him we were having fresh Calico Bass for dinner!

Nice day on the water!

976-KayakJan 2-8-11

Yes, I finally got back out on my kayak. Why did I wait a year - it's called "safety." My schedule just didn't mesh with my kayak fishing friends last year. We fish outside of the harbor and usually a few miles from the harbor. I feel it is important from a safety perspective to fish with a friend in case something goes wrong. So rather than go out alone, I just didn't go out fishing on my kayak.

What was great about this kayak fishing trip is that it was with a regular Tuesday Retirees Kayak Fishing Group that was started by Tim Boyer, owner of Dana Point Jet Ski and Kayak Center. There were 9 kayakers on the water and this was a cool day, misting rain, with water conditions a little rough and a water temperature of 59º!

We were all on the water by 8 am and on our way to an area referred to as the pipeline (because there is a pipeline running along the coast off-shore). Apparently there have been big bass caught there. It is a mile or so southwest of the entrance to Dana Point Harbor. It took a half hour to get to the area traveling at 3 mph.

Kayak Fishing the Pipeline in February

Fishing was slow (I only had two short bites) fishing a Gulp Jerk Shad. Tim caught a short sculpin and Jack caught a short calico both on dead squid. I heard that a legal sand bass and a legal calico were also caught by one of the anglers but I didn't actually see them. The current was pulling north at 1.5 mph which required constant peddling to stay in the area.

I called it a day around 1 pm. My fish finder said I had traveled 6 miles during the day. I cleaned up my kayak and put it back on its rack and was home by 2 pm. Nice!

This was the first time I wore my waders and Hobie waterproof top that I purchased a year ago for just these conditions. Sure glad I did because they kept me dry and warm.

I'm already looking forward to next week. Weather forecasters are predicting rain for next Tuesday, but I'm hoping they are wrong.