GPS coordinates for the 'hot spots'?
 

I've done some searching and not really coming up with anything specific. Is their a website or a thread somewhere with a list and coordinates to all the hot spots along the coast and of course reachable by yak?

Here's a site that I have used before. I also recommend going to your local tackle store and pick up some of those laminated charts for the areas that you are interested in. They have GPS marks on them and they will give you some tips for finding the kind of fish you are looking for.

http://www.fishingnetwork.net/socal/gps3.htm

Same type of information but this resource has some historical data and some neat looking illustrations of the rock pile layouts. I used something like this awhile back to try and locate a reef in Santa Monica. It did not really do much for me although I did come away with a super fat sand bass by the end of the day.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/artificialreefs/index.asp

Thanks guys..
Stupid question though...how do you know what spots are realistic for yak fishing...reachable and all?
We ought to start a thread on this that is specific and that stays at the top of the forum. I gotta believe this is vital information for all. I know I don't want to take my first trip blindly.

Mark Wisch's "Between 2 and 20 Fathoms" has a bunch of GPS points

Spots
 

Get a copy of Captain Grabenstatter's book called...
the Fishing Spot Locator. It has GPS #s for most of the wrecks, and reefs (both artificial and natural). I also has drawings of the artifical reefs showing size and spacing of the rocks or debris.
Jeff Spira has a couple of books also with wrecks and reefs and hot spots.
Mark Wisch's books are out of print...but they are both great books.
Jim / Saba Slayer

I'll look for those books but...
All these yak fishermen here with FF's and GPS's, most of which fish from Lon Beach down to San Diego...we ought to be able to come up with quite a list right here....no?
Or, is this a 'trade secret' issue?

http://shipwrecks.slc.ca.gov/Shipwre...=x&frmOrderBy=[ship%27s+name]&frmOrderDirection=ASC

You can use google earth to see the coordinates.

People are not going to reveal their spots, because too many people will show up and take their fish away.

You are going to have to find your own hot spots. You can start by going to the artificial reefs.

Ummmm...all of these spots are plugged with lobster traps for almost half the year...

Ahh...so thats the one sacred thing that people won't share?
"Ask me anything but don't ask me for my 'fishing hole'."

Just look for the traps huh?
Got it.

I'm no world class fisherman but I think it matters "how" you fish a spot as much as "where" you are. Also, "when" you are there can be pretty crucial too. You just gotta get out and start piecing together the puzzle. Then you will be the guy with the secrets ;)

Good point...
I love the trivia...this is gonna be fun. So first I have to crack the riddle then go find the buried pirate map, follow that to the end of the rainbow and there I will find my answer.
AWESOME!

Momma always said; "It doesn't matter how good a fisherman you are, if you fish where their are no fish you will not catch fish."

Trust me if you go and find those Laminated Charts I was telling you about you will see all the spots many of us fish. You are correct though, some people have found spots that pay off for them and they are not likely to give those up. Those Charts I mentioned will show you all you want to know, depths, structures(sort of), and GPS marks.

Thanks Jimmyz....
Looks like plenty of info between the charts and the web link you provided.

Much appreciated!

Jump on the new seaforth with a handheld gps and mark the spots. if you're too broke to pay show up at the dock and tell them you want to pinhead with jackpot going to the crew. If you're too broke for a handheld, align yourself with fixed objects on land so you can remember the location. Listen for when they say the name of the spots and fathoms, and you got yourself a 3 our tour.

Is it pretty easy to get a pin head spot on a sport boat?

Yeah, I used to do it all the time. Just skip the Store/Check in area, go to the boat right after everyone boards and give the crew a good pitch about how'll you will help make their day easier by scrubbing decks etc. Better show up wearing brown boots, and ratty, fish-blood stained, old clothing. Make sure to throw a good tip / jackpot to crew AND capt so you get the invite back.

Yeah, I used to do it all the time. Just skip the Store/Check in area, go to the boat right after everyone boards and give the crew a good pitch about how'll you will help make their day easier by scrubbing decks etc. Better show up wearing brown boots, and ratty, fish-blood stained, old clothing. Make sure to throw a good tip / jackpot to crew AND capt so you get the invite back.

If your fishing, you're trying to find where the fish are now. A gps fix with tell you where someone caught a fish... then. The fish move around and may not be there when you are.

A chart has structures and terrain that attract fish, they do not move. But, the fish may not be there when you are.

Learning what fish do in different water conditions, and spending time on the water observing them is far more useful than a gps fix, if you want to catch fish.

Don't believe this? Then don't ever read the "Darkhorse" post, because to think he's just lucky.

The enviro wacko's are always looking to close area's where fish are caught, while they leave area's open where where no fish are caught. The say you're unreasonable because we are only protecting on 20% of the coastline. Why would we give them hand in taking away our ability to fish.

Just, get on the water you'll find your spot and catch fish. The pacific ocean is a big place and fish move.

That's the best advice on this thread, Walrus.
 

Quite frankly, a lot of the charts I see are ridiculous and silly. They tend to provide a false sense of confidence in a lot of fisherman from what I see---who think they're fishing a quote,"hot-spot". And as posted above, it's only a hot-spot, or potential hot-spot, if you really know what you're doing. Or, you happen to show up on the 1% of the time, WFO day, where the fish are chewing the paint off the boat!

In my opinion, these charts are most useful when fishing offshore banks, for obvious reasons I would think. Inshore fishing, though---not so much. I think you can get the same basic information from Google Earth that, you would find on most of those laminated charts (canyons, kelp/rock-reefs, sand patches etc). Once in these areas, it's up to you to use a variety of tools (quality sonar unit, bino's, polarized glasses, etc.:)).

Above anything else, if you are indeed in an area that's potentially holding fish---properly reading, the ever-changing conditions is paramount. It's just as important as using a hook when trying to catch a fish! Would you go fishing without a hook tied on?

This weekend for example: Saturday was epic, weather wise anyway (sunny, no wind, a nice current with clean water)---the right-kind was caught (don't tell anyone :eek:). Sunday was another story with, a building short-interval swell as I launched mid-day, sloppy swell that built up to 7'-9' in a couple of hours, with heavy wind and an ominous dark, cloudy sky threatening to rain with occasional thunder, not to mention messy overturned water---the right-kind was caught (don't tell anyone :eek:). Using a GPS, charts or luck---had absolutely nothing to do with it!

In short, It's all in reading the conditions properly. Even better, knowing how the current conditions, today, will effect your location choice tomorrow. And making the right adjustments is paramount, of course. I use my GPS about 2% of the time, or once every other trip for a split-second, if that!

Sounds fishy to me
 

Darkhorse has a secret pen out there, an x marked on the bottom of his boat. When hes out there a magnetic release on the pen gate activates. "the right kind come out to play" and they obediently return as he leaves the grounds.
Dont try this at home folks!:biggrinjester: