North County report - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Trout · 02-02-2009, 12:33 PM

Fished in my backyard on Saturday (North County) w/ buddy John and Grandpa B (my father-in-law). Dad had never kayak fished before and was tired of all the 2nd hand stories. He is a little prone to sea sickness, but Saturday was incredible - no problem there. 1 foot waves and glassy conditions, so out he went.

We launched at gray light and it was FREEZING. Yeah, I know I just moved back from Hawaii and all and am not quite back in the groove, but this was ridiculous. Even John said it was cold. The early offshores numbed all 10 fingers. Bait was a pain to make and it didn't work out. We were bombarded with smeltasauruses. These smelt were literally 14" long. We gave up and headed out... and before long it was 70 degrees and incredible.

Other than some calicos in the kelp with plastics and buzz baits, we fished the bottom with single and twin-tail rootbeer scampis with squid strips and it was easy pickings. Too bad rockfish are out of season because I think I released about 15. Although there wasn't a lot of size going on there was at least a lot of action and specie diversity. I pulled up calicos, sandies, sheepshead, vermillion, starries, treefish, gophers, sugars, and a few other weird little guys. I kept one decent bass to pan fry for the kids and released everything else.

Although he didn't catch a ton of fish, Grandpa B had a great time and will definitely do it again. Here are a few shots of his day... never too late to try something new!

MKNOTT · 02-02-2009, 02:00 PM

Awsome day...

I went out over at N. Island that day. Need to go out with you sometime up there. Everytime I go by myself I dont catch....

Glad Pops had a good time.

MKNOTT

dadandsonkayak · 02-02-2009, 02:32 PM

thats what i am all about is getting my stressed out dad to enjoy a great time on the water and not just catching fish.. its everything about it. the scenery, the life, and hopefully huge fish

Iceman · 02-02-2009, 02:43 PM

Gotta love those days when you can launch ANYWHERE. My dad is finally coming around to buying a yak to fish the lakes of east AZ.

Dan · 02-02-2009, 03:20 PM

Way to get pops-in-law out...that's the best. Perfect anywhere conditions this weekend.

dos ballenas · 02-02-2009, 03:34 PM

I thought that might be you outside... I launched around 9 with a friend and worked the inside for a few green backs (they were a little sabiki shy but a 2 in castmaster at the end worked for me on the slow troll)... also found some of those larger smelties.

Nice job on the diversity, plastics kill it some times... perfect day out there for sure... too bad the yellows weren't home this time!

These days its hard to say what I love more, no surf and fishing north county... or good surf and barrels in mex.

Trout · 02-02-2009, 04:15 PM

That's the great thing... when there are waves, we get barrels... when it's flat, we fish. How bad can it be??? My own dad fished with me last year and caught a few, too. So both are now in the mix. Even better, Niko is now 11 and has the bug... all we need now is a tandem (had to leave mine in Hawaii... too much to ship).

The crazy thing was that when we passed the kelp going back in, there was bait EVERYWHERE!!!

All kinds and all sizes... couldn't believe it. I'm almost thinking evening session next time... easy bait, bounce-ball, a Pacifico ballena and sunset.

Oh yeah, I did go over the YT spot and picked up some big marks on the bottom... unfortunately nobody home this time.

j mo · 02-03-2009, 07:40 AM

I surf w your Grandpa B at pipes from time to time..... we should fish sometime

Trout · 02-03-2009, 12:56 PM

Anytime... we have the Tres Generaciones out there (G'pa, me, and my son). Yeah... he's a little more "in his element" on the waves, but I think there's a YT in his future this summer!

j mo · 02-03-2009, 07:04 PM

Cool.....my son's still a few years away, but my dad is still holding it down in the water as well. Ive spear fished Nor County for years, but have kayaked mainly in LJ in hopes of taking down a larger model

in the yak. In retrospect I should have fished closer to home, I KNOW Id have more to show for it! Ill ping you next time I fish or hoop in the area

Best,
Josh

Trout · 02-03-2009, 07:45 PM

Superbowl Sunday, my buddy had a party (lives on 3rd & D)... my buddy JJ (visiting from LA) swam out looking for

and ended up plucking this tasty little morsel with his 3-prong.

j mo · 02-03-2009, 08:03 PM

Yup- many a flatty have been plucked between Cardiff Reef and Beacons. Biggest fish ive ever seen in these waters was a Hali off Traps. It was so large I couldnt figure out what I was seeing. Some weird fish I thought.
Turned out to be her gill plate! No joke upwards of 60# and at least 5' in length. I nearly shat myself and hesitated just long enough to watch the carpet sail away. Good thing im sure it would have drown me.

dos ballenas · 02-03-2009, 08:33 PM

Your not talking about "halibut land" are you, or is it "lobster land," I forget? The vis is epic right now, go dive, better yet, go dive from your kayak!

j mo · 07-01-2009, 06:50 AM

Surfed with this guy yesterday......

saw him tuck into a few good ones, have to keep your eye on him though as he'll jockey you for position right quick if you're not paying attention

blackcloud9 · 07-01-2009, 08:19 AM

"too bad rockfish are out of season"

I disagree.

It's open season until Jan 1, 2010.
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mapregs5.asp

Larry

j mo · 07-01-2009, 09:11 AM

forgot to mention that the kelp line was teaming yesterday. Most likely cudas but did see a couple of nice blowups 20ft inside.....

Temp has droped ~3-4 degrees.

PescadorPete · 07-01-2009, 09:52 AM

I fished it Sunday. Lots and lots of 'cudas and a few sandies. Need to get onto one of those 'blowups'.

02-02-2009, 12:33 PM	#1
Trout Looks are everything Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA Posts: 64	North County report Fished in my backyard on Saturday (North County) w/ buddy John and Grandpa B (my father-in-law). Dad had never kayak fished before and was tired of all the 2nd hand stories. He is a little prone to sea sickness, but Saturday was incredible - no problem there. 1 foot waves and glassy conditions, so out he went. We launched at gray light and it was FREEZING. Yeah, I know I just moved back from Hawaii and all and am not quite back in the groove, but this was ridiculous. Even John said it was cold. The early offshores numbed all 10 fingers. Bait was a pain to make and it didn't work out. We were bombarded with smeltasauruses. These smelt were literally 14" long. We gave up and headed out... and before long it was 70 degrees and incredible. Other than some calicos in the kelp with plastics and buzz baits, we fished the bottom with single and twin-tail rootbeer scampis with squid strips and it was easy pickings. Too bad rockfish are out of season because I think I released about 15. Although there wasn't a lot of size going on there was at least a lot of action and specie diversity. I pulled up calicos, sandies, sheepshead, vermillion, starries, treefish, gophers, sugars, and a few other weird little guys. I kept one decent bass to pan fry for the kids and released everything else. Although he didn't catch a ton of fish, Grandpa B had a great time and will definitely do it again. Here are a few shots of his day... never too late to try something new! __________________ Trout

02-02-2009, 02:00 PM	#2
MKNOTT Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Persian Gulf Posts: 263	Awsome day... I went out over at N. Island that day. Need to go out with you sometime up there. Everytime I go by myself I dont catch.... Glad Pops had a good time. MKNOTT __________________ When I grow up I want to be, One of the harvesters of the sea, <O I think before my days are done, I want to be a fisherman.

02-02-2009, 02:32 PM	#3
dadandsonkayak Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: near palm springs Posts: 82	thats what i am all about is getting my stressed out dad to enjoy a great time on the water and not just catching fish.. its everything about it. the scenery, the life, and hopefully huge fish __________________

02-02-2009, 02:43 PM	#4
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	Gotta love those days when you can launch ANYWHERE. My dad is finally coming around to buying a yak to fish the lakes of east AZ. __________________

02-02-2009, 03:34 PM	#6
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	I thought that might be you outside... I launched around 9 with a friend and worked the inside for a few green backs (they were a little sabiki shy but a 2 in castmaster at the end worked for me on the slow troll)... also found some of those larger smelties. Nice job on the diversity, plastics kill it some times... perfect day out there for sure... too bad the yellows weren't home this time! These days its hard to say what I love more, no surf and fishing north county... or good surf and barrels in mex. __________________ ____________________________________________

02-02-2009, 03:20 PM	#5
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	Way to get pops-in-law out...that's the best. Perfect anywhere conditions this weekend.

02-02-2009, 04:15 PM	#7
Trout Looks are everything Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA Posts: 64	That's the great thing... when there are waves, we get barrels... when it's flat, we fish. How bad can it be??? My own dad fished with me last year and caught a few, too. So both are now in the mix. Even better, Niko is now 11 and has the bug... all we need now is a tandem (had to leave mine in Hawaii... too much to ship). The crazy thing was that when we passed the kelp going back in, there was bait EVERYWHERE!!! All kinds and all sizes... couldn't believe it. I'm almost thinking evening session next time... easy bait, bounce-ball, a Pacifico ballena and sunset. Oh yeah, I did go over the YT spot and picked up some big marks on the bottom... unfortunately nobody home this time. __________________ Trout

02-03-2009, 07:40 AM	#8
j mo Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Encinitas Posts: 600	I surf w your Grandpa B at pipes from time to time..... we should fish sometime Last edited by j mo; 02-03-2009 at 08:14 AM.

02-03-2009, 12:56 PM	#9
Trout Looks are everything Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA Posts: 64	Anytime... we have the Tres Generaciones out there (G'pa, me, and my son). Yeah... he's a little more "in his element" on the waves, but I think there's a YT in his future this summer! __________________ Trout

02-03-2009, 07:04 PM	#10
j mo Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Encinitas Posts: 600	Cool.....my son's still a few years away, but my dad is still holding it down in the water as well. Ive spear fished Nor County for years, but have kayaked mainly in LJ in hopes of taking down a larger model in the yak. In retrospect I should have fished closer to home, I KNOW Id have more to show for it! Ill ping you next time I fish or hoop in the area Best, Josh

02-03-2009, 07:45 PM	#11
Trout Looks are everything Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA Posts: 64	Superbowl Sunday, my buddy had a party (lives on 3rd & D)... my buddy JJ (visiting from LA) swam out looking for and ended up plucking this tasty little morsel with his 3-prong. __________________ Trout

02-03-2009, 08:03 PM	#12
j mo Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Encinitas Posts: 600	Yup- many a flatty have been plucked between Cardiff Reef and Beacons. Biggest fish ive ever seen in these waters was a Hali off Traps. It was so large I couldnt figure out what I was seeing. Some weird fish I thought. Turned out to be her gill plate! No joke upwards of 60# and at least 5' in length. I nearly shat myself and hesitated just long enough to watch the carpet sail away. Good thing im sure it would have drown me. Last edited by j mo; 02-03-2009 at 08:16 PM.

02-03-2009, 08:33 PM	#13
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	Your not talking about "halibut land" are you, or is it "lobster land," I forget? The vis is epic right now, go dive, better yet, go dive from your kayak! __________________ ____________________________________________

07-01-2009, 06:50 AM	#14
j mo Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Encinitas Posts: 600	Bruce Surfed with this guy yesterday...... saw him tuck into a few good ones, have to keep your eye on him though as he'll jockey you for position right quick if you're not paying attention Attached Images

07-01-2009, 08:19 AM	#15
blackcloud9 Kayaker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Big Rock, WindanSea, La Jolla Posts: 413	"too bad rockfish are out of season" I disagree. It's open season until Jan 1, 2010. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/mapregs5.asp Larry __________________ Larry. Hobie Revolution 13. 25 years of kayak fishing La Jolla. https://larryl.com/photos

07-01-2009, 09:11 AM	#16
j mo Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Encinitas Posts: 600	forgot to mention that the kelp line was teaming yesterday. Most likely cudas but did see a couple of nice blowups 20ft inside..... Temp has droped ~3-4 degrees.

07-01-2009, 09:52 AM	#17
PescadorPete Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Leucadia, CA Posts: 261	I fished it Sunday. Lots and lots of 'cudas and a few sandies. Need to get onto one of those 'blowups'.