wtf is with this - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

griffsd06 · 10-17-2010, 09:33 AM

I was out last Sunday (off LaJolla) and got 25 in 2 nets and a couple pulls.
Disappointing

on one level, but I'd hate to get the fine that goes along with keeping even 1 short.

The bioluminescensce thing was incredible! It actually made the trip, as I've never seen it before and the thousands of fish making the swirls under the waters surface were too cool.

Any suggestions from anyone on an area with bigger bugs, and a manageable paddle? I have a fish-n-dive and love the stability, but realize the yak has it's limitations efficiency wise.

Lastly, I appreciate the feedback from you guys regarding the various questions other members have. I'm going to try to make one of the meetings this week. Does anyone know how long they typically last?
Not sure my boss will o.k. it and I've got lots of responsibilities at work.

h2ofishfo · 10-17-2010, 05:59 PM

[QUOTE=griffsd06;67355]
Any suggestions from anyone on an area with bigger bugs, and a manageable paddle? QUOTE] GUYS WILL TELL U THERE HONEY HOLES IF U CAN SPEAK LOBSTER & ASK THEM RIGHT WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO CRAWL

blackcloud9 · 10-18-2010, 02:19 PM

Last Thursday we had 4 kayakers pulling on 13 nets for four hours actively, and, got one legal total.

A dozen shorts in the standard 3 and 7/32" size. Was the same story for a couple of other 5 hour nights I spent last week out there.

Just .... brutally slow right now.

Had a decent limit on the opener though. And now I've got all my nets and gear dialed in perfectly with all the pulling practice. Just waiting for them to get hungry ...

m1k3midg3 · 10-18-2010, 02:24 PM

and where were yall hoopin at

Willy · 10-18-2010, 02:41 PM

I know for a couple of days after the opener the commercial guys cant pull their pots.

That gives a few days with no competition, and a shot at the biggest bugs.

Imagine now, with all of the commercial pots you see, and those you don't see, going up on deck every night, taking all of the legal bugs and tossing the shorts.
What does that leave? The seafloor crawling with shorts.

< rant>

This is the same issue I have with the stupidity of the MLPAs.
It's not the guys in yaks and skiffs making an impact on any species. It's the commercial guys. To lump us ALL together and call us 'Consumptives' is beyond ignorant.

< /rant>

What to do?
Go where they can't.

That's the blessing of a yak. You don't need to be in 100' of water to get bugs. Any diver will tell you that.
I've been gearing up in waist deep water, dropped my head into the water and seen a legal bug walking by my feet. All you need is rocks on the seafloor. Go find somewhere there are sandy spots near rocks where a commercial guy wouldn't take his boat.

Good luck and be safe.

Willy

blackcloud9 · 10-18-2010, 07:52 PM

Willy, they can't even bait their traps until Wednesday after the opener,
though many hoopers reported a slow "opener", so think about the logic
around that. Sometimes they crawl and feed, sometimes not. The
commercial guys do not get the big ones either - big ones can't even get
into the traps.

While it's staggering to realize that the annual commercial take here is
more than 300 metric tons of lobster, or, more than 660,000 pounds ...
per year, we are not OUT of legal sized lobster in the ocean. As they
(and we) will continue to get them all year, when they come out to feed.

Just my take on things.

Tight lines, and ropes!

flydigital · 10-19-2010, 11:20 AM

Last year's lobster report card numbers showed that 20% of recreational lobster fishermen caught 49% of the total commercial catch. Only 20% turned in the cards! Doing the math, recreational is taking more than TWICE the amount of lobster than commercial.

10-17-2010, 09:33 AM	#1
griffsd06 Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Poway Posts: 33	lobster questions and woes I was out last Sunday (off LaJolla) and got 25 in 2 nets and a couple pulls. Disappointing on one level, but I'd hate to get the fine that goes along with keeping even 1 short. The bioluminescensce thing was incredible! It actually made the trip, as I've never seen it before and the thousands of fish making the swirls under the waters surface were too cool. Any suggestions from anyone on an area with bigger bugs, and a manageable paddle? I have a fish-n-dive and love the stability, but realize the yak has it's limitations efficiency wise. Lastly, I appreciate the feedback from you guys regarding the various questions other members have. I'm going to try to make one of the meetings this week. Does anyone know how long they typically last? Not sure my boss will o.k. it and I've got lots of responsibilities at work.

10-17-2010, 05:59 PM	#2
h2ofishfo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santee Posts: 821	[QUOTE=griffsd06;67355] Any suggestions from anyone on an area with bigger bugs, and a manageable paddle? QUOTE] GUYS WILL TELL U THERE HONEY HOLES IF U CAN SPEAK LOBSTER & ASK THEM RIGHT WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO CRAWL

10-18-2010, 02:19 PM	#3
blackcloud9 Kayaker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Big Rock, WindanSea, La Jolla Posts: 413	Last Thursday we had 4 kayakers pulling on 13 nets for four hours actively, and, got one legal total. A dozen shorts in the standard 3 and 7/32" size. Was the same story for a couple of other 5 hour nights I spent last week out there. Just .... brutally slow right now. Had a decent limit on the opener though. And now I've got all my nets and gear dialed in perfectly with all the pulling practice. Just waiting for them to get hungry ...

10-18-2010, 02:24 PM	#4
m1k3midg3 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 108	and where were yall hoopin at

10-18-2010, 02:41 PM	#5
Willy Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: La Jolla Posts: 189	I know for a couple of days after the opener the commercial guys cant pull their pots. That gives a few days with no competition, and a shot at the biggest bugs. Imagine now, with all of the commercial pots you see, and those you don't see, going up on deck every night, taking all of the legal bugs and tossing the shorts. What does that leave? The seafloor crawling with shorts. < rant> This is the same issue I have with the stupidity of the MLPAs. It's not the guys in yaks and skiffs making an impact on any species. It's the commercial guys. To lump us ALL together and call us 'Consumptives' is beyond ignorant. < /rant> What to do? Go where they can't. That's the blessing of a yak. You don't need to be in 100' of water to get bugs. Any diver will tell you that. I've been gearing up in waist deep water, dropped my head into the water and seen a legal bug walking by my feet. All you need is rocks on the seafloor. Go find somewhere there are sandy spots near rocks where a commercial guy wouldn't take his boat. Good luck and be safe. Willy

10-18-2010, 07:52 PM	#6
blackcloud9 Kayaker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Big Rock, WindanSea, La Jolla Posts: 413	Willy, they can't even bait their traps until Wednesday after the opener, though many hoopers reported a slow "opener", so think about the logic around that. Sometimes they crawl and feed, sometimes not. The commercial guys do not get the big ones either - big ones can't even get into the traps. While it's staggering to realize that the annual commercial take here is more than 300 metric tons of lobster, or, more than 660,000 pounds ... per year, we are not OUT of legal sized lobster in the ocean. As they (and we) will continue to get them all year, when they come out to feed. Just my take on things. Tight lines, and ropes!

10-19-2010, 11:20 AM	#7
flydigital Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 192	Last year's lobster report card numbers showed that 20% of recreational lobster fishermen caught 49% of the total commercial catch. Only 20% turned in the cards! Doing the math, recreational is taking more than TWICE the amount of lobster than commercial.