RockFishin' Redondo... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

ol'skool · 12-19-2016, 04:57 PM

I'm an old guy newbie that has spent most of his time getting acquainted with his kayak in the shelter of Cabrillo and Redondo where I usually fish since I live in Lomita. I've been venturing out more and about 4 weeks ago my buddy and I took our Outbacks a couple of miles out to the artificial reef off Redondo for nothing more than small whitefish and TONS of macks. My newbie question is, how do you find the rockfish? I assumed that finding the structure would produce the rockfish. Is there another way to find submerged structure other than wandering around until it shows up on the FF? Or just getting marks on the FF as you peddle around? BTW, we used a mix of jigs and squid strips on dropper loops. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!

King Saba · 12-19-2016, 06:04 PM

Man those are some toad Sand Bass! Love catching those things from the deep. The rolling is second to none!

Saba Slayer · 12-20-2016, 07:18 AM

My newbie question is, how do you find the rockfish? I assumed that finding the structure would produce the rockfish. Is there another way to find submerged structure other than wandering around until it shows up on the FF? Or just getting marks on the FF as you peddle around? BTW, we used a mix of jigs and squid strips on dropper loops. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!

[/QUOTE]

"Time on the water"...is the best advise I can give any fisherman.
Look for structure in water over 100' deep if you're looking for rockfish, and look for hard bottom areas...that would be a bottom on your fish finder that shows red or solid rocky ground...then look for scattered fish marks just off the bottom...these usually appear as smaller blue dots or specks littering the bottom and just off the bottom.
I use my breadcrumb feature on my GPS to back-track or remember the areas I've covered. and when you find fish just follow that track right back to the spot and watch your sonar as you get closer to where you caught the fish...I usually use a split screen and thats a good reason to go with the bigger screen on your electronics...4" just doesn't cut it.

Jigs work OK but a strip of squid on a shrimp fly with a larger hook will keep a lot of the little guys off the hook and it's easier to maintain the bottom without getting hung-up...especially for a newer fisherman.
"Rocks don't move" so don't expect anyone to give up some numbers very easily.
You'll just have to "wander around until it shows up on the FF?"...I've found many new spots while traveling to fishing spots or looking around while my lobster nets soak.
Sorry...youre just going to have to put some work in to get some fish tacos...

Hopefully Kevin Nakada and I will be doing Kayak GPS/Sonar seminars at the Hobie seminar stage at the Fred Hall Shows in March.
Good Luck

King Saba · 12-20-2016, 10:59 AM

I'd say finding the rockfish holes are half strategy and half luck. My last few trips have been mostly luck!

ol'skool · 12-20-2016, 03:53 PM

for the great advice and tips. I look forward to putting in the time on the water, I just love being out there. With a little luck and more knowledge maybe it'll be a little more productive as well! If you see a big 60 yr old redhead out there in a 2016 dune Outback swing by and say hi...I'll reserve an IPA for ya

Ol' Skool / Bruce

12-19-2016, 04:57 PM	#1
ol'skool Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lomita Posts: 77	Newbie Question I'm an old guy newbie that has spent most of his time getting acquainted with his kayak in the shelter of Cabrillo and Redondo where I usually fish since I live in Lomita. I've been venturing out more and about 4 weeks ago my buddy and I took our Outbacks a couple of miles out to the artificial reef off Redondo for nothing more than small whitefish and TONS of macks. My newbie question is, how do you find the rockfish? I assumed that finding the structure would produce the rockfish. Is there another way to find submerged structure other than wandering around until it shows up on the FF? Or just getting marks on the FF as you peddle around? BTW, we used a mix of jigs and squid strips on dropper loops. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!

12-20-2016, 07:18 AM	#3
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,847	Finding Rockfish My newbie question is, how do you find the rockfish? I assumed that finding the structure would produce the rockfish. Is there another way to find submerged structure other than wandering around until it shows up on the FF? Or just getting marks on the FF as you peddle around? BTW, we used a mix of jigs and squid strips on dropper loops. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated![/QUOTE] "Time on the water"...is the best advise I can give any fisherman. Look for structure in water over 100' deep if you're looking for rockfish, and look for hard bottom areas...that would be a bottom on your fish finder that shows red or solid rocky ground...then look for scattered fish marks just off the bottom...these usually appear as smaller blue dots or specks littering the bottom and just off the bottom. I use my breadcrumb feature on my GPS to back-track or remember the areas I've covered. and when you find fish just follow that track right back to the spot and watch your sonar as you get closer to where you caught the fish...I usually use a split screen and thats a good reason to go with the bigger screen on your electronics...4" just doesn't cut it. Jigs work OK but a strip of squid on a shrimp fly with a larger hook will keep a lot of the little guys off the hook and it's easier to maintain the bottom without getting hung-up...especially for a newer fisherman. "Rocks don't move" so don't expect anyone to give up some numbers very easily. You'll just have to "wander around until it shows up on the FF?"...I've found many new spots while traveling to fishing spots or looking around while my lobster nets soak. Sorry...youre just going to have to put some work in to get some fish tacos... Hopefully Kevin Nakada and I will be doing Kayak GPS/Sonar seminars at the Hobie seminar stage at the Fred Hall Shows in March. Good Luck __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer Last edited by Saba Slayer; 12-20-2016 at 07:23 AM.

12-20-2016, 03:53 PM	#5
ol'skool Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lomita Posts: 77	Many Thanks Jim... for the great advice and tips. I look forward to putting in the time on the water, I just love being out there. With a little luck and more knowledge maybe it'll be a little more productive as well! If you see a big 60 yr old redhead out there in a 2016 dune Outback swing by and say hi...I'll reserve an IPA for ya Ol' Skool / Bruce

12-19-2016, 06:04 PM	#2
King Saba Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: SGV Posts: 848	Man those are some toad Sand Bass! Love catching those things from the deep. The rolling is second to none!

12-20-2016, 10:59 AM	#4
King Saba Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: SGV Posts: 848	I'd say finding the rockfish holes are half strategy and half luck. My last few trips have been mostly luck!