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:
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:
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:
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...:
Looking back at the powerplant during the day:
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:
YT collar and ribs on the grill...have you ever had the bacon of the fish...MMMMM
Until next time...Matt