...and kids love 'em
 

This is a kayak fishing report from Carlsbad CA on 7/24/2015.

The executive summary is:
Catch: Yellowtail
Where: Carlsbad Canyon (Near Top)
Legnth: 37-inches to tip of tail (not fork)
Weight: 14-lbs (thinner than my last version)
Depth: I don't know FF crapped out at 330-feet
Water Temp: 72-degrees
Kids on the beach: Love mysterious man from the ocean with big fish!

Carlsbad YT:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5o28eyzk.jpg

Full Story:
I launched here due to a prediction of low-surf. There were still a few larger sets that came through and the launch saw my bathtub get full and my hat get knocked-off! This area can provide a testosterone boosting surf experience despite any predictions.

Immediately after launching in front of the lagoon, I went to 20-feet of water and turned north. The terain below changed to craggly and grassy as I move towards the area in front of the jetties. Also has some debth changes with as low as 8-feet being reported. Good structure and kind of a reef thing going on here.

At "the reef" I could see Greenback Mackerels (GBMs) around the yak but the Baracuda and Calico bite was so dominant that that the greenies eluded me.

Micro-Cuda was first catch of the day with several larger versions to fiollow:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...pswfcbth1r.jpg

Calicos joined the mix at "the reef" as well. This was the first of them and another was probably 18-inches but shook the kastmaster off at the yak:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3zk5j97z.jpg

I decided to let the reef distract me no more and headed out to 60-feet of water where I finally pulled two GBMs. Turned out this is all I would need.

I originally wanted to come here to the deep Carlsbad Canyon area and see if anything interesting exists in the area. Along the way I snapped some photos of the glassy conditions.

Heading deeper over glass...what a great ride...:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psep5skjrv.jpg

Looking back at the powerplant during the day:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3mo917tz.jpg

I trolled the GBM out over the canyon and circled around that area seeig nothing on the bottomless FF for a few hours. I took a break, ate my breakfast, trolled some more then thought about heading back in. At this point I'm at least 3.5 miles off-shore and have no idea of my debth. No sooner than I have the thought....click...click...click...zoom! I'm on!

After a short sleighride and short up & down battle I pull the YT to the YAK. No gaff...just a gill grab. I decided to tow this guy alive back to the beach for maximum freshness.

The return voyage saw the galssy conditions turn to micro-white caps. The wind from the north picked-up. A current was running from north to south. I was suprised how far south I had drifted. Pulling a live fish plus fighting the conditions meant 1.5mph steady or 2.0mph with olympic effort. The voyage took well over an hour.

Near the launch/landing, I slit the YT's gills and head-in. I caught a nice wave (larger variety for the day) and slid onto the sand. My fish (being towed about 10-feet behind then slides up beside me.

The beach being crowded with kids of all ages quickly erupts into a scene of facination. Of course I get to answer the famous question " Is that a Tuna?". I thoroughly enjoy the entertainment and educational segments of my kayak fishing adventures on bigwatersedge.com!

YT on the yak:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psaykok8vf.jpg


YT collar and ribs on the grill...have you ever had the bacon of the fish...MMMMM
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...pssynau9hc.jpg

Until next time...Matt

Oh yeah the best part! :luxhello:

I'm glad you didn't throw the collars and the ribs away!

Holy smokes that is glassy! I love that area, so fun for a quick session if the waves aren't up.

Killer job and report!

Congrats. Are you launching from Tamarack or a bit farther north where the surf kayaks go out?

X2 id love to know where as well, but I'm a sissy and big waves scare me

Congrats on the catch and the collar on the plate is only just waiting to hit the grill.

Nice fish and fantastic report and photo. Loved the kid pic and the story it told. You ought to seriously consider publishing this in a sports magazine. I have published photos and stories and none of them were as good as yours.

AO Shared
 

Locations indicated are approximate:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psjao1yboe.png

Thanks man. I appreciate you taking the time to pass along that info. I see the surf kayak guys launch there and it looks do able on the right day. I went to Tamarack with my kayak and gear a few weeks ago and chickened out. I think the beach is a lot steeper there. I'll try farther south sometime this summer.

Nice map! Thanks for the report, I was thinking about giving Carlsbad Canyon a run next week.