South LJ 3/3 and 3/4 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

blackcloud9 · 03-06-2007, 07:58 PM

Saturday and Sunday I launched near Big Rock in tiny surf and gin clear
water after fishing the beach for some halibut from the sand.

Saturday the rockfish deepwater bite was goin' on at 120 feet or so,
somewhere off Bird Rock. I released between 8 and 10 lingcod and
managed 4 vermillion, a couple sculpin and some bass, all on 2 oz plastics.
It was dead in my usual hardbottom haunts outside off of Marine St area.

Sunday was a beautiful day and I wanted to drift for halibut. Loaded the
tank with 10 smelt and some big macs on the inside and headed off Bird
Rock area to 60-80' of water. Water temp was showing 60+. Got a number
of sand bass and nice calicos on bait, before having 2 mutu lights
straightened out using smelt. Changed to bigger hooks with macks, and
got freight trained on 12" mack into the kelp which eventually broke off
and another something big came unbuttoned in the stringers.

Jeez

I need some practice. At 2 pm the wind kicked in strong from the North
and I was outta bait.

Free divers saw some wsb ... big ones out there.

Dennis · 03-07-2007, 02:20 AM

Very nice... Thanks for the report, Larry.

Slay Rider · 03-07-2007, 05:09 AM

I’m probably interpreting the regs wrong but it is worth discussing. As I read it RCG Complex (including all species of Rockfish as defined in Section 1.91) are closed to fishing from Mar-June in waters less than 180 ft and in waters deeper than 360 ft.

180 ft-360 ft = OK

steamroll · 03-07-2007, 05:47 AM

Nice report Larry.

Iceman · 03-07-2007, 06:20 AM

From the DFG site, no minumum depth of 180, just a max of 360.

[QUOTE]

Rockfish The recreational fishery for rockfish (Sebastes sp.) is open to boat-based anglers from March 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007. These species may only be taken or possessed4 in waters less that 360 feet (60 fathoms) deep (except in the Cowcod Conservation Areas – see below). The fishery for these species is open year-round to divers2 and shore-based anglers. The daily bag and possession limit is 10 fish in combination of all species within the RCG Complex (includes all species of Rockfish, Cabezon and Greenlings) per person, with a sub-limit on bocaccio (1 per person, minimum size limit of 10 inches total length, also included in the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit). Yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish and cowcod may not be retained (bag limit: zero). [/QUOTE]

Useful Idiot · 03-07-2007, 08:36 AM

When I was dealing with the MLPA kayaks and float tubes were considered shore based anglers. From what I can tell that would mean rockfish is open all year. Anybody got a contact at DFG to shoot an email?

Spinal Tap · 03-07-2007, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcloud9

... Water temp was showing 60+.

Can anyone that went out on Sat. and Sun. confirm Larry's temps?

I dove both days and my friend's boat's meter read 54 degrees while my dive watch registered 55. My numb hands said "too f'ing cold".

I also didn't see any kelp. But I didn't go as far as Bird Rock.

Not much to report. Since there was no kelp, I dove shallow for bugs and reef fish, but didn't stay long due to the cold water. I did see a small school of huge greenbacks in about 20'. These suckers were about 1' long and about 3' tall.

Nate

wavster · 03-07-2007, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinal Tap

Can anyone that went out on Sat. and Sun. confirm Larry's temps?

My transducer is mounted outside my yak and the highest surface temps I got this week
was around 56. I paddled as far south as North Windansea.

Is his transducer mounted in his hull? That would explain higher readings.

Holy Mackerel · 03-07-2007, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinal Tap

Can anyone that went out on Sat. and Sun. confirm Larry's temps?

I dove both days and my friend's boat's meter read 54 degrees while my dive watch registered 55. My numb hands said "too f'ing cold".

Nate

I dove both Sat & Sun Bird Rock area.... I also had 54 degs on my dive computer both days... maybe he found a temp break ?

chris

blackcloud9 · 03-07-2007, 12:49 PM

Wow, lots of replies. They're just rockfish. Yes, season is open, and
lings start April 1, not that anyone much cares. Rockfish taste bad,
those yellows are yummy.

My transducer is mounted inside the hull and the midday sun was out so
could've been reading a little warm. I believe I saw the 60 ish reading
sitting inside the kelp stringers, where its very calm with little no
current to stir the solar surface warming.

Nate, that's you that always swims in at Big Rock from the boat with your spear-dive gear, right?

Spinal Tap · 03-07-2007, 12:58 PM

Larry,

I don't know if it's always me. I have done it a couple times, but usually I'm north of that area.

Where did you talk to the freedivers? I'm going out again tomorrow. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Nate

nmbrinkman · 03-07-2007, 01:00 PM

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/show_plot.p...eas=wtmp&uom=E

Temps seem to fluctuate throughout the day... I've been using this for a year now and this seems to be a pretty standard thing.. Could be surface temps affected by the sun, tempbreaks, etc...

lamb · 03-07-2007, 01:52 PM

Nice going on reds Larry! On Sunday, we couldn’t find reds in 160 – 180ft, spots where we were casthing them last few years. We only found the tiny ones at the canyon edge…

We were really looking forward to eating a few.

I was reading 57ish on Sunday… Lil warmer yesterday. It’s getting there.

I also found those buoy readings to be right on the ball last 1+ year I've been watching… The LJ one shows what the temp is outside the kelp.

La Jolla Buoy

Torrey Pines temps more to get an idea what’s coming our way with downhill current from the canyon…

Torrey Pines Buoy

Both we can thank NOAA for... They have an awesome site going with a lot of data... Pick your buoy and drill down - http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/maps/Southwest_inset.shtml

03-06-2007, 07:58 PM	#1
blackcloud9 Kayaker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Big Rock, WindanSea, La Jolla Posts: 413	South LJ 3/3 and 3/4 Saturday and Sunday I launched near Big Rock in tiny surf and gin clear water after fishing the beach for some halibut from the sand. Saturday the rockfish deepwater bite was goin' on at 120 feet or so, somewhere off Bird Rock. I released between 8 and 10 lingcod and managed 4 vermillion, a couple sculpin and some bass, all on 2 oz plastics. It was dead in my usual hardbottom haunts outside off of Marine St area. Sunday was a beautiful day and I wanted to drift for halibut. Loaded the tank with 10 smelt and some big macs on the inside and headed off Bird Rock area to 60-80' of water. Water temp was showing 60+. Got a number of sand bass and nice calicos on bait, before having 2 mutu lights straightened out using smelt. Changed to bigger hooks with macks, and got freight trained on 12" mack into the kelp which eventually broke off and another something big came unbuttoned in the stringers. Jeez I need some practice. At 2 pm the wind kicked in strong from the North and I was outta bait. Free divers saw some wsb ... big ones out there. __________________ Larry. Hobie Revolution 13. 25 years of kayak fishing La Jolla. https://larryl.com/photos

03-07-2007, 02:20 AM	#2
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South of La Jolla... Posts: 1,193	Very nice... Thanks for the report, Larry. __________________ Hmmmm.....

03-07-2007, 05:09 AM	#3
Slay Rider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1 Posts: 108	I’m probably interpreting the regs wrong but it is worth discussing. As I read it RCG Complex (including all species of Rockfish as defined in Section 1.91) are closed to fishing from Mar-June in waters less than 180 ft and in waters deeper than 360 ft. 180 ft-360 ft = OK __________________

03-07-2007, 05:47 AM	#4
steamroll Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 385	Nice report Larry. __________________

03-07-2007, 06:20 AM	#5
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	From the DFG site, no minumum depth of 180, just a max of 360. [QUOTE] Rockfish The recreational fishery for rockfish (Sebastes sp.) is open to boat-based anglers from March 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007. These species may only be taken or possessed4 in waters less that 360 feet (60 fathoms) deep (except in the Cowcod Conservation Areas – see below). The fishery for these species is open year-round to divers2 and shore-based anglers. The daily bag and possession limit is 10 fish in combination of all species within the RCG Complex (includes all species of Rockfish, Cabezon and Greenlings) per person, with a sub-limit on bocaccio (1 per person, minimum size limit of 10 inches total length, also included in the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit). Yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish and cowcod may not be retained (bag limit: zero). [/QUOTE] __________________

03-07-2007, 08:36 AM	#6
Useful Idiot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 286	When I was dealing with the MLPA kayaks and float tubes were considered shore based anglers. From what I can tell that would mean rockfish is open all year. Anybody got a contact at DFG to shoot an email? __________________

03-07-2007, 12:49 PM	#10
blackcloud9 Kayaker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Big Rock, WindanSea, La Jolla Posts: 413	Wow, lots of replies. They're just rockfish. Yes, season is open, and lings start April 1, not that anyone much cares. Rockfish taste bad, those yellows are yummy. My transducer is mounted inside the hull and the midday sun was out so could've been reading a little warm. I believe I saw the 60 ish reading sitting inside the kelp stringers, where its very calm with little no current to stir the solar surface warming. Nate, that's you that always swims in at Big Rock from the boat with your spear-dive gear, right? __________________ Larry. Hobie Revolution 13. 25 years of kayak fishing La Jolla. https://larryl.com/photos

03-07-2007, 12:58 PM	#11
Spinal Tap Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 132	Larry, I don't know if it's always me. I have done it a couple times, but usually I'm north of that area. Where did you talk to the freedivers? I'm going out again tomorrow. Any help would be greatly appreciated Nate

03-07-2007, 01:00 PM	#12
nmbrinkman Work Sucks! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 559	http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/show_plot.p...eas=wtmp&uom=E Temps seem to fluctuate throughout the day... I've been using this for a year now and this seems to be a pretty standard thing.. Could be surface temps affected by the sun, tempbreaks, etc...

03-07-2007, 01:52 PM	#13
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,563	Nice going on reds Larry! On Sunday, we couldn’t find reds in 160 – 180ft, spots where we were casthing them last few years. We only found the tiny ones at the canyon edge… We were really looking forward to eating a few. I was reading 57ish on Sunday… Lil warmer yesterday. It’s getting there. I also found those buoy readings to be right on the ball last 1+ year I've been watching… The LJ one shows what the temp is outside the kelp. La Jolla Buoy Torrey Pines temps more to get an idea what’s coming our way with downhill current from the canyon… Torrey Pines Buoy Both we can thank NOAA for... They have an awesome site going with a lot of data... Pick your buoy and drill down - http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/maps/Southwest_inset.shtml __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a