Salt Creek Beach

[Devildawgjj]

Anyone ever try to launch from here? It is popular for surfers, so I'm a little hesitant in tackleing 4ft+ waves. I'm too lazy (out of shape) to row from DPH up there. It's like 1.5 NM or about an hour and a half for me.:(

Is there better places south of Laguna?

[taggermike]

When I lived in OC I launched out of Salt Creek once. Even with a good kayak cart it's a LONG way up and down that access road. When I reached the beach a life guard told me that "I don't have to let you launch here". He did let me launch but I suppose he could have sent me back up the road dry. Surf launch was tough but doable. Paddled to the kelp and didn't get a bite as I recall. Dicey landing and a long ass trek back up the hill. I'll try about any thing once but I never did go back. There are places to launch in Laguna but most involve going down a bluff or stair case and parking can be a drag. Mike

[Devildawgjj]

Thank you sir! I will take heed from your experiance, and find another northern location to launch from.

[yani]

We all get out of shape. I'm trying to shed 30lbs
now. There's no better way than to paddle from the
marina. Leave in the am, and the wind will push you
home in the pm.

You can launch from Salt Creek, but only when the
surf is small, and at the very north end of the beach.
However, that's a long walk.

but common on, don't you want to look like that stud
in your avatar?

[Darkstar]

Fishermans Cove

:cheers1:

[Iceman]

Fishermans Cove

thinking that one manana.

Salt Creek is such a long paddle from baby beach.

[Mr. Adventure]

Do you go south out of fishermans cove or North along the coast? I've launched out of Crescent Bay and headed North to Crystal Cove, either way good fishing? Thanks!

[Iceman]

Do you go south out of fishermans cove or North along the coast?

Yes :D

thinking north manana......and west to see if the squid are still thick. :jig:

[Devildawgjj]

but common on, don't you want to look like that stud
in your avatar?

That guy hasn't been seen for 2 1/2 years....:)


Salt Creek is such a long paddle from baby beach.

Tell me about it! I only made it San Juan Rock before my arms fell off. Then I realized I had to paddle back:eek:

I was looking at the bassyak motor, but cannot rationalize spending what I paid for my yak for everything I have.

[Mr. Adventure]

Cool maybe I'll see you out there iceman. Think I'll paddle up to crystal cove and drift back. I'll be the guy in the busted tandem clearly not knowing what he's doing hah hah

[lowprofile]

That guy hasn't been seen for 2 1/2 years....:)



Tell me about it! I only made it San Juan Rock before my arms fell off. Then I realized I had to paddle back:eek:

I was looking at the bassyak motor, but cannot rationalize spending what I paid for my yak for everything I have.

just suck it up and paddle. think about how many strokes it takes to equivilate one pullup. you'll be gettin that 20 again in no time.

[Matar]

Fishermans Cove
How is the launch there?
How is the parking? Anything to watch out for?

[Mr. Adventure]

I think you have to carry down stairs, I've used crescent bay one cove over because it has a paved hill leading down to the beach that I can roll it down

[Amish Ed]

Try Divers cove. There's a walkway to the beach. Steep drop, but not too long and no stairs. If you turn off PCH onto Cliff Dr (at the Laguna Beach Art Museum) and head north. It's the last cove on the left before the road cuts inland. There's some free parking there too. I'm probably going to launch there next monday.

Devildawgjj get an iPod. Makes all the difference on the long paddles. I know what you mean though, that's a long ass paddle when you're lazy like me.

[Mr. Adventure]

Sweet I'll give divers cove a go tomorrow. I have trail running in the morning so I'll probably launch around 2 or so. I'll bring two hoop nets with me just incase.

[GregAndrew]

Launch from the boat ramp at Dana to cut down at least 1/2 mile paddle on the round trip. Costs $10 but you also get free wash down there, just bring your own hose and the correct change for the toll.

[coxtanker421]

:gnorsi:

[Amish Ed]

Good thing I'm not a marine. Our country would be screwed.:D

[Devildawgjj]

I'm going to ask the War Dept. (wife) if it's a go for me on Thursday morning :D.
I'll just recon the area and see what's practical for me to launch from.

For those that don't know....Marine is always capitalized.;)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAbLl3y4-1E/TimqlXSnCXI/AAAAAAAAAJg/FScjzn6fnlQ/s1600/Army+Fat.jpg

[lowprofile]

:gnorsi:
just tired ones. ;)

[taggermike]

Great photo devildog. Talk about an "army of one". I used to launch out of fisherman's cove to give kayak tours. We went down the bluff on the north side of the cove but there is a faily easy stair case on the south side. I never caught oo much in OC, but then I didn't give it my best efforts either. Mostly bass and few short halibut. I did have a fun shallow water sculpin bite just south of fisherman's cove. If you find them be EXTREAMLY careful. Sculpin in your lap = no bueno. They all get a "hair cut" befor the come aboard. Mike

[Mr. Adventure]

First time I went kayaking my buddy and I were floating on the kelp by Seal Rock and two BIG WSB swim right by the kayak just a foot or two under the surface. That was when I knew I needed to start fishing hah hah.

I'm going to try to check out Dead mans reef today, 200 yrd straight out from seal rock. or I'll try. I really need to get a gps to home in on stuff like this but I'll have some fun regardless

[Iceman]

Fishermans cove today at 7:30ish

lots of beat up squid looking to hide out under the yak from the mackerel attack. Slow fishing other than the relentless mackerel. Killer conditions, fished until 2:00

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/500/IMG_0020_copy.jpg

[bus kid]

Is that Mr Green with you?

Fishermans cove today at 7:30ish lots of beat up squid looking to hide out under the yak from the mackerel attack. Slow fishing other than the relentless mackerel. Killer conditions, fished until 2:00

[kobra]

Is that Mr Green with you?

Good eyes David. Hard to miss a landwhale sighting.

[Vikingj]

Personally, I agree with Yani-the easiest way is to paddle from Doho or Dana harbor in the AM. I make the trip about 3x/month and it takes about 45-50 min going and a little less to return.
Further north the Montage in s. Laguna has public parking and a cement ramp that goes down to a semi-protected cove. A little easier and more launchable than Salt Creek.

[Mr. Adventure]

I had stuff with my mortgage modification come up so i didn't get down to the beach till almost four. I packed the kayak and all my equipment and set it up on the beach and looking at the sunset beneath storm clouds and the wind picking up I packed it all back up the hill and down to Dana Point.

Conditions outside the bay were pretty gnarly and no moon at all, couldn't make any bait for the hoops so I went back in and practiced casting for a few hours around the boats because I'm still new to fishing. Let's just say I need a lot of work.

[mrJB]

Fold up your kayak and gear and take the funicular....
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Seriously, I don't know anyone that did the round trip walk, with a kayak, down to Salt Creek twice. Before kayak fishing, I used to do it carrying surf fishing gear and that was bad enough.

Do the paddle/peddle from DP harbor and don't be a GIRLY-MAN :rolleyes:

[WahooUSMA]

I'm going to ask the War Dept. (wife) if it's a go for me on Thursday morning :D.
I'll just recon the area and see what's practical for me to launch from.

For those that don't know....Marine is always capitalized.;)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAbLl3y4-1E/TimqlXSnCXI/AAAAAAAAAJg/FScjzn6fnlQ/s1600/Army+Fat.jpg

LMAO....Got to be photo shopped!

[Mr. Adventure]

I went to crescent Bay one cove up from fishermans cove just because I knew the terrain and could find my way back in the dark. an intense hill to drag the kayak up and down, I dunno how it compares to salt creek

[PAL]

Nice one Devil Dog. I remember when you guys got to watch from offshore while VII Corps US Army did the heavy lifting. All but the Tiger Brigade - 'ol Uncle Sam loaned you a few tanks named after - that's right - an Army general. Hand it to you though, the Marines knew where to aim the pointy end. Born fighters! Marines are great to secure a flank - just be sure to speak in small words. ;)

[Montesdad]

I've launched a couple of times from the Salt Creek area to get to the kelp beds. One needs to roll down towards the west end of the beach and launch / land there. It is one miserable trip back up that steep hill to the parking lot and you probably should take a few breaks or have a friend help you up.

I was stopped last time by a newer female ranger who indicated I should not be launching and landing there. Told her I've launched and landed at San Clemente pier, Doheny, Crystal Cove etc. and could not find anything preventing a launch and landing there. Mentioned that I went way out of the way of any potential watergoers. She pulled out her book of regs and could not located anything specific preventing a kayak (as it's not a boat) from launching and since it's not an SUP, (as I mentioned to her) is classed like a surfboard.

Anyway, got down and launched early before the lifeguards even set up and you gotta land somewhere. After a couple of times doing that, now I take the long way around from the marina.

[taggermike]

X2 with Montesdad. I've dealt with the "Authority" mind set around there too. YOU CAN'T, oh wait maybe you can. At fisherman"s Cove I had an 18 year old, very young any way, life guard demanded to see my fishing license. I'm sure she had zero authority to do that but I figured if I refused she'd get on the radio to some one who did and have them grill me for a while. I paddled out at 1 foot Doho and after landing through the "pounding" ankle high waves I got a lecture from the life guard that I was unsafe and could have lost control of my kayak and injured some one. I even stayed as far to the jetty side and as far away from the surfers as possible and I still got the authority lecture. I had some real trouble keeping a civil tonge in my head. Mike

[MVC]

Fished Dana Point today. Reset the trip meter on my GPS and launched from Baby Beach to the bait barge and out to the kelp about 1 mile north of the red marker. The round trip mileage was 9 miles. Not too hard on a Hobie. The trip paid off with a 34 inch halibut. I will post a pic once I get them downloaded. Did not see any other kayakers out.