a little Kayak Fishing this morning

[rvrfish]

Hello,

Today I paddled from Goleta Pier to the Santa Barbara Yacht Club. I had the perfect conditions and it was a great way to spend the morning.

I was planning on doing more fishing along the way but things didn’t work out that way the first half of the trip I just felt like paddling and the second half of the trip I spent most of my time just sitting and watching the bait fish chase my swim-bait.

My picture skills are pretty limited my excuse is that when the camera is in the waterproof case you can’t see the LCD screen and the eye piece is covered by an O-ring.

Cheers,

Matt W


Statistics:
Kayak Wilderness Systems 16’ Tarpon
Distance 8.2 miles (Goggle earth)
Launch 0810 landing 1115
Fish caught 1 Calico Bass
Species observed. Dolphins, Sea lions, lots of Jelly’s, and bait fish.
Birds, Brown pelicans, lots of Sea Gulls, (1 Heermann’s gull) Cormorants and Grebe’s

 

[HMR]

Too cool!

I've traveled a few places and can honestly say that you live in one of the most beautiful towns on earth (I lived there for 12+ years). I used to paddle from the Biltmore to Carpenteria and back every week. Sometimes on a calm morning with the dolphins playing a few feet away it would be hard to keep from breaking into tears.

That stretch of coast has a way of taking me from this -> to this -> :wings:

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Ursidae69]

Excellent. :wings: My kayak is currently frozen to the top of my Tacoma, we are both ready to get out of this cold weather. I'll be in Phoenix on Saturday, then on the Sea of Cortez the 25th. I can't wait, your pics really inspired me, thanks rvfish!

 

[rvrfish]

Cool,

I’m glad you guy’s liked the post. I was a little bummed out because I haven’t done any “big” trips lately. This was a great day on the water that totally made me realize (Again) what a great place I live in… (Saturday we hiked up Rattlesnake canyon)

It also got me thinking that since I can’t afford a new Dual Sport that this Kayak may be a great platform for some adventure….

Chuck,

I’m stoked to hear you’re off to the Sea of Cortez again. Have a great trip, take lots of pictures and post soon! (I like reading your reports!)

Best,

Matt

 

[navara-au]

8 miles is a fair old hike in a kayak matt, good work.

I loove fishing from a kayak, usually go out at least once a week, if not more.

So what do you catch when the fish are biting?

 

[rvrfish]

Hi Navara-au,

8 miles is the farthest I have paddled, the conditions were perfect flat water no breeze… and I feel great, I’m definitely planning on some longer trips and farther west of Santa Barbara like launching at Gaviota and paddling west (weather dependant)

this is so cool to talk to someone in Australia, the closest I have come to that is watching the America’s cup off Fremantle on TV.

The fishing on the central coast of California can be frustrating, if your looking for large sized species, Of course I could just suck at fishing . Here is the list of species I have caught off my Kayak.
Calico Bass (average 15”)
California Halibut, they must be 22” to take home. (I catch lots of short’s)
White Sea Bass, this is the best eating fish and must be 28” to legally take home.
Barracuda, 28” (only in the summer)
Mackerel, make good bait…
Bonito, (small tuna)
Cabazon (rock fish)

Actually maybe the fishing is pretty good…I know I enjoy it! It’s just that when I dream about FISHING it’s these locations,
San Diego long rage (Yellow Fin, Yellow tail, Albacore)
Mexico Zihuatanejo (Rooster Fish, Jacks Sailfish)
Mexico East Cape (Yellow fin, Yellowtail, Dorado)
Cape Cod Wellfleet (Blue Fish, Stripped Bass)
Monterey California (Albacore, Salmon)

What do you catch off of you Yak?

Best,
rvrfish

 

[navara-au]

G'day Matt
The Internet makes it a small world.

I usually dont travel too far to go fishing. I live on a peninsula (Redcliffe) in Moreton Bay just near Brisbane on the east coast. I'm sure if you do a Google earth thingy you'll find it.

I mainly target Snapper, but also catch Flathead, Bream, Tailor and other stuff. I have been towed around a few times by big fish but the biggest fish I've landed in the yak was a 67 cm (26") Snapper, great eating fish.

Some of the fish you have mentioned are caught here too, just depending where you live.

Here's a link to an Australian fishing kayak forum if you want to take a look around. There are already a couple of blokes from your neck of the woods who frequent it. http://www.akff.net/forum/

I hopefully will be going out in the morning again, let you know how I go :chowtime: .

Here are a few of the fish I have caught previously.

snapper

bream

estuary cod

flathead

catch ya later

Paul

 

[rvrfish]

cool,those are some toothy critters.

thanks for sharing!

rvrfish

 

[lqhikers]

another kayak fish story

setting here dreaming about doing some kayak fishing and had to share my wife out fishing me again,does not seem fair as i'm the one that keeps all the gear in shape.but changing to Hobie mirage tandem (the one with pedals) since we got it my wife is ready to go anytime plus is so much easier than 2 hard boats! it is great for trolling .we spend a lot of time in Idaho in the summer/fall and it is perfect for lake trout trolling! picture shows white sea bass on baja trip last year.i also found that it still is perfect for one person.also with 2 people pedaling and paddling you can sure get the speed up!picture shows our old camper set up which we replaced this year with 2008 trd 4xr tacoma access cab/fwc set up.drive slow and enjoy 'Its the journey"

 

[rvrfish]

Wow,

great fish! thanks for sharing

I hope to get down to Baja this year...

cheers,

Matt

 

[4cruzer]

Kayak Fish!!

me too!
RVR, you should check out http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php

great group, just like this one. There is just something (besides the cost of fuel) that makes fishing from the kayak so desirable...nice to see there are others on here as well. cheers then,
gb