Moving to San Diego need advice

[Oxbeast1210]

Hi everyone My name is Oscar and Im a fishaholic...

Anyway Im moving to Sand Diego from Pensacola FL. Im a vey active member at http://www.pensacolafishingforum.com If any of you ever visit the area and need anything I have a lot of friends that can help you out.

I have sold all my fishing stuff and will be starting from scratch. I had a good fleet of kayaks and have tried or owned most the big name kayaks except the pro angler 12.

Currently I only have my ocean kayak trident 13.


Here are my questions

*where is the best place to learn the regs and FIsh ID's

* what 4 rod and reels combos should I own?

* where can i find out about baits and lures to use ?

*Is a wetsuit a must?

* what kayak is best for the area will my ocean kayak trident 13 be ok or should I sell it and go for the pro angler 12 or the new 14?

thank you in advance

[steveooo]

Hi everyone My name is Oscar and Im a fishaholic...

Anyway Im moving to Sand Diego from Pensacola FL. Im a vey active member at http://www.pensacolafishingforum.com If any of you ever visit the area and need anything I have a lot of friends that can help you out.

I have sold all my fishing stuff and will be starting from scratch. I had a good fleet of kayaks and have tried or owned most the big name kayaks except the pro angler 12.

Currently I only have my ocean kayak trident 13.


Here are my questions

*where is the best place to learn the regs and FIsh ID's

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/fishing_map.asp

* what 4 rod and reels combos should I own?

A few rods in the 20-50lb class would be good. If you are fishing near kelp, you will probably want to fill one or 2 reels with 65 lb spectra.

* where can i find out about baits and lures to use ?

This site is a good start. For big game fish (yellowtail, white seabass, halibut), most guys here use live bait (Mackrel, sardines, squid). Some harbors will have a bait barge, where you can buy a scoop of bait. Some areas, like La Jolla, you need to make your own bait. A sabiki rig and a live bait tank are almost required.

*Is a wetsuit a must?

Not during summer usually. Water is going to be colder here than in florida. Most guys here skip the wetsuit and get a cheap pair of breathable waders for year round. They keep you warm and dry in the winter, and keep the sun off you in the summer.

* what kayak is best for the area will my ocean kayak trident 13 be ok or should I sell it and go for the pro angler 12 or the new 14?

Your OK 13 will be fine, but the new PA's are pretty awesome.

thank you in advance

Welcome to BWE :cheers1:

[Amish Ed]

Steve's got it right, but I disagree slightly on the rod selection. YOu need to decide on what you want to target. Bass or the big boys like White Sea Bass, Yellowtail and Halibut. If you're a bass guy then a variety of bass rods is the way to go. If you want to target the big boys then go Steve's direction. Or get a couple bass setups and a couple bigger ones.

[mtnbykr2]

Welcome to the crew of BWE, there will be no lack of experience and knowledge in this forum, opinions too...lol, I would get a couple varied rigs until you decide what it is you are going to fish most, but just sit back relax and
check out the scenery, good luck out there and we will see ya OTW sometime
:reeling:

[Oxbeast1210]

Thank you all for the quick response

I will mostly be going after the big fellas

but ill get a couple setups for the bass

What are a couple examples of the setups you use for the big boys?

I made the mistake of buying tons of cheap rods and reels here In FL

I dont what to make the same mistake there Id rather spend a little more and have 4 go to set ups for the big fish . I figure bass fishing is pretty much the same everywhere so I got what I need for that.

Ive always wanted to catch a big halibut hope I can get me one while i'm
there!

thanks again for the response if anyone hare more advice for a noob please don't hesitate even if its something simple.

Are there certain requirements to post reports on this site??

thanks
Oscar

[Oxbeast1210]

Holy cow MTNBYKR2 that halibut in pic would work for me !

:reeling:

[seriola_killer]

Pro Angler for sure! Assuming you are wanting to go for the bigger stuff in La Jolla, get yourself a few Sealines from Daiwa. They're a great reel for the $$$. Load up with 65# Power Pro. Since you're a right coaster are you more well-versed in spinning reels? It seems to be the order of the day over there.

I've never been a fan of the coffee grinder, but recently I got to experience the virtues of the new Penn Battle spinning reels. GREAT REEL and perfect for loading up spectra and sawing through the kelp. And since you will be adding throwing the iron to your arsenal soon, the Battles can flat out throw the iron even when casting into the wind (no birds nests!!).

I see people out on the water with (don't flame me please) an insane amount of gear, too much, i.m.o. One bait rig, one iron rig, and a sabiki / candy catcher rig and you're good to go.

A bait tank is a must, and if money is no object, get yourself a nice FF with a big screen and learn to use it in manual mode.

[finyak]

Welcome aboard!! I just picked up a Hobie Outback about 2 months ago and just about everything I've learned was from this site and fishing with people from this site.Let us know when you get into town so we can post a trip on this board and maybe have a BBQ:cheers1:.

Frank,aka finyak

[Oxbeast1210]

awesome just what i'm looking for I guess I should have posted on here before selling some of my gear.. What size battle do you think I would need? Would a 7000 work? I have a GPS/ Fish finder but have yet to rig it up. ill do a search for bait tanks on here but if someone knows one they can recommend please let me know.

Im with you on not taking too much gear I used to take tons but realized I only used 2 or three a bait catcher , something to troll with and something to deep drop.

Ive been looking and there doesn't seem to be a sticky for us noobs.
Would be cool if one of you pros made a thread for just that . I did learn a bit by search other threads from noobies but a sticky would be ideal . Eitherway im new here so if im asking to much or already annoying people please ignore me! :linesnap:

[Oxbeast1210]

Thank you Frank looking forward too it!!

There are are at least two other people on this forum that I know from my local forum so hoping we can learn together .

[tacmik]

For your rod and reel set ups, I would go to a place out here called Squidco. They are extremely knowledgeable on all aspects of fishing. Let them know you are fishing from a yak and what you want to catch and where you plan on going, and what you can afford to pay. They will not steer you wrong and they have the best prices. And no, I do not work for them but I do patronize them.

[Oxbeast1210]

THanks Tacmik ill be sure to stop by.

I hear the license is sold by calendar year?
Might have to wait till Jan to start fishing lol

[Drake]

get yourself a few Sealines from Daiwa. They're a great reel for the $$$. Load up with 65# Power Pro.



Don't get power pro, there are a lot better braids on the market.


Straight from Charkbaits website

Power Pro - We are discontinuing this line based upon several factors. First, customer feedback which has been increasingly negative - probably more a factor of recognition that there are better products now on the market. Secondly, Power Pro has not kept up with newer innovations, contrast that with Cortland and Jerry Brown. And, finally, these guys are now owned by a nameless bike company which we don't support. To further understanding, we now have been led to understand that Power Pro will now move production overseas, using an inferior Spectra copy. They'll try to belatedly jump on Jerry Brown's innovations of hollow core, with a knock-off product. No innovation, just parasitic marketing. Nope, we won't stock the stuff, and suggest to our clients that their money is better spent with those firms that offer true innovation.

[roadx]

hey ox glad you made it over and getting ready for the transition.

steveooo knows his stuff as well as a lot of other members on here. a lot of it is personal preference but his recommendations seem spot on.
i have mostly cheap rigs and it wont hurt as much if you dump in the surf and either loose or break gear.

if you hire a guide like josh pruitt or kevin nakada it will help a lot with the learning curve.

in the mean time read through the forum, lots of great info

get your ass out here and lets go fishing :D

[roadx]

bait tanks

if you dont buy a hobie tank most people build there own, i use a vittles vault with a tsunami pump using a 6 volt battery. let me know and a can post up a picture if you like?

CA fishing license is dec - dec sucks i know

squidco is the place

[Oxbeast1210]

If you get get a chance post the picture of the bait well I don't think ill go the Hobie well route.. how are you liking the Pa 12?

Been reading a lot on here seems like the trophy fish are

yellow tail
white sea bass
and halibut
correct??

are there smaller species of fish that are good table fare and possibly easier to catch? lol

do most people fish in la Jolla and the bay ? Does one catch the same fish offshore?

Thanks you all for the help I feel very welcome on this forum.

I will take a charter with Mr. Pruitt shortly after I get there


Drake thanks for the heads up on the Power Pro

Oscar

[seriola_killer]

awesome just what i'm looking for I guess I should have posted on here before selling some of my gear.. What size battle do you think I would need? Would a 7000 work? I have a GPS/ Fish finder but have yet to rig it up. ill do a search for bait tanks on here but if someone knows one they can recommend please let me know.

Im with you on not taking too much gear I used to take tons but realized I only used 2 or three a bait catcher , something to troll with and something to deep drop.

Ive been looking and there doesn't seem to be a sticky for us noobs.
Would be cool if one of you pros made a thread for just that . I did learn a bit by search other threads from noobies but a sticky would be ideal . Eitherway im new here so if im asking to much or already annoying people please ignore me! :linesnap:

I fished the Battle 6000 a couple weeks ago for some good sized yellows near the kelp on my buddy's tin boat. Plenty of power and plenty of spectra capacity for inshore yellows and wsb.

As far as bait tanks go, you can call OEX and they'll hook you up, or simply search through these forums. There's some guys with serious skills. Check the "Innovations" thread.

As far as a DIY bait tank the Vittles Vault bait tank people are making is a helluva invention.

[seriola_killer]

Don't get power pro, there are a lot better braids on the market.


Straight from Charkbaits website

Power Pro - We are discontinuing this line based upon several factors. First, customer feedback which has been increasingly negative - probably more a factor of recognition that there are better products now on the market. Secondly, Power Pro has not kept up with newer innovations, contrast that with Cortland and Jerry Brown. And, finally, these guys are now owned by a nameless bike company which we don't support. To further understanding, we now have been led to understand that Power Pro will now move production overseas, using an inferior Spectra copy. They'll try to belatedly jump on Jerry Brown's innovations of hollow core, with a knock-off product. No innovation, just parasitic marketing. Nope, we won't stock the stuff, and suggest to our clients that their money is better spent with those firms that offer true innovation.


All due respect those who disagree, but Power Pro is certainly one of the best spectras out there for 99% of the type of fishing we do. I'll take a flat spectra over a round one any day for cutting through the lettuce.

In my humble opinion, and at the risk of both threadjacking and opening a can of worms, this hit piece from Charkbait seems reeking of venom. Instead of, "We will no longer be stocking PowerPro." They go out of their way to slam them repeatedly. Overseas??? Well then, are they going to keep stocking other "overseas" company's products? Kinda hypocritical, is it not? Let's be honest for a second, since we are talking about "knock offs" and "overseas"...

Shouldn't they be talking about how Okuma (an overseas company) straight up incorporated everything in the Tiburon reels so that they could finally make a reel worth a shit? Where's the outrage from Charkbait on that? Oh, yes, I get it... Charkbait makes more money selling those reels than shitty old Power Pro. Oh, let's not forget all the Chinese Penns that they sell as well.

And the whole JB spectra comment? Hmmm, hasn't pretty much everyone copied JB's hollow to a certain degree? Don't get me wrong, JB is about the best overall spectra money can buy, but PowerPro does have it's place, whether Charkbait likes it or quite venomously doesn't. And that place is in the kelp, sawing through stringers more effortlessly than anything else currently on the market.

Will PowerPro keep making a decent (in my opinion) product or not? That remains to be seen. But for Charkbait to go out of their way to flame them in this manner I guess most of us will never know.

[roadx]

If you get get a chance post the picture of the bait well I don't think ill go the Hobie well route.. how are you liking the Pa 12?

Been reading a lot on here seems like the trophy fish are

yellow tail
white sea bass
and halibut
correct??

are there smaller species of fish that are good table fare and possibly easier to catch? lol

do most people fish in la Jolla and the bay ? Does one catch the same fish offshore?

Thanks you all for the help I feel very welcome on this forum.

I will take a charter with Mr. Pruitt shortly after I get there


Drake thanks for the heads up on the Power Pro

Oscar

yep those are the big three for me. there are a variety of rock fish that make good table fare.
the bays are mostly bass and halibut, i will keep some sand bass (wife loves them) out of the bigger bays/ocean but most bay fishing is catch and release for me.
the PA 12 has it's advantages and disadvantages. i like the room, dont like the steering. like the speed but dont like getting in it while surf launching. the weight is better than i thought but standing up is not as stable as i hoped. the high seat rocks but dont even think about paddling it.
i will say, i wouldnt/cant go back to the outback. im spoiled

[roadx]

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad353/xroadx/imagejpeg_24.jpg

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad353/xroadx/imagejpeg_23.jpg

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad353/xroadx/imagejpeg_22.jpg

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad353/xroadx/imagejpeg_21.jpg

sorry crappy cell pictures

[mrJB]

Powerpro is now owned by Shimano. Charkbait has a long standing gripe with Shimano because Shimano has pricing policies that Charkbait did not follow and, consequently, lost thier dealership as a result.

Ever see Shimano stuff on sale? Probably not unless it will be a discontinued item and not without corporate permission.

"Suggested retail price"... that's how they spell "price fixing" in the U.S. Most all do it, I guess Charkbait learned a hard lesson, and now trys to undercut that lowest price (e.g. Avet) by adding extra goodies like free line, free reel cover, etc.

[roadx]

custom tank on my old outback

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad353/xroadx/P82A0050.jpg

http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad353/xroadx/P82A0049.jpg
http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad353/xroadx/P82A0051.jpg

[Oxbeast1210]

Sweet thanks everyone!

[Vikingj]

Bait tanks are best but a bait tube will hold 5-6 macs and can be made for about $10. Other LJ table fare? T-shark, rockfishes, bonita, and (surprisingly good) barracuda. A buddy swears by leopard shark but I'm not interested!

[Oxbeast1210]

Good point ill probably start with a tube until i get comfortable with the area
I see you all talking about macks what they ? Im familiar with spanish mackerel and king mackerel when I google it those are the ones that seem to come up am I missing something? thank you!

I was wondering if anyone can share some good areas to launch from and some tips on that. REading past posts I can see it gets crowded quick what days are better to fish? Or all they all pretty much busy? I know getting there early will help but any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

Oscar
:reel:

[roadx]

Good point ill probably start with a tube until i get comfortable with the area
I see you all talking about macks what they ? Im familiar with spanish mackerel and king mackerel when I google it those are the ones that seem to come up am I missing something? thank you!

I was wondering if anyone can share some good areas to launch from and some tips on that. REading past posts I can see it gets crowded quick what days are better to fish? Or all they all pretty much busy? I know getting there early will help but any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

Oscar
:reel:


mac's is short for mackerel, we have two varieties we use for bait, jack mac's http://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/attachments/fishing-chit-chat/70057d1185249003-jack-mackerel-any-good-bait-img_1238.jpg

and pacific mac's or greenback's, greenies
http://www.sea-ex.com/fishphotos/images/slimey-mackerel.jpg
most people prefer the greenies, they are heartier

there is a public launch at la jolla where you can drive on the beach and unload/load your yak. it's also a prime fishing grounds once you get past the no take zone( MLPA), which is from the beach to about 3/4 mile off the beach. up top is a link to the web cam at LJ
http://www.bigwatersedge.com/index.php?page=lajollashoreswebcam

it gets crowded during the summer but it will be slowing down soon

[Oxbeast1210]

Cool thanks ill be sure to go with you so you can teach me what to do and not to .

What reels and rods do you use road x?

[roadx]

i use saber strokers, there cheap and have a parabolic bend like the old school glass rods, i have a 6'6 20-50 and an 8' pro 20-40 that i cut the butt down to 7' that has carbon and glass. you can get them at big 5
i have those matched to sealines and penns. my favorite reel is a shimano 1000 charter special, lever drag, level wind and graphite body, holds up well in the salt and is a great size for a jig stick.
for bass i go with either shimano rods or ugly stiks and baitcaster type reel.

im sure most of the gear you have will work.

[Oxbeast1210]

got rid of most of it so once I see your gear we need to go shop haha

[Oxbeast1210]

30 days to go
I just picked up two Diawa slatist a 40 and a 50 they should work pretty well out there right?

What affordable reel do you recommend for throwing iron? I think thats the right term.. still learning? also what irons do you recommend?
thank you again for all the help.:reel::reel:

[maui jim]

Welcome to Hobieholics Anonymous.
Only you will know if you have a problem. They meet on a regular basis and are always upgrading at a whim.
Like all good addicts they will help you spend all your money in order to fulfill there dreams.
They are a good bunch and will be glad help you through those fishless days and always lend a hand.

So welcome brotherand you could have not picked a nicer city on the west coast to move to.

And remember.... NEW GUY BRINGS THE BEER..!! :cool:

[lowprofile]

oh man. getting into rods and reels can get confusing and expensive.

this is just for YT and WSB. nothing set up for halibut or bass.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i214/katguy/Kayaking/100_0309.jpg

[Drake]

oh man. getting into rods and reels can get confusing and expensive.

this is just for YT and WSB. nothing set up for halibut or bass.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i214/katguy/Kayaking/100_0309.jpg

You're thinking too much into it. I've caught multiple YT, WSB and Halibut on an identical rig. I used to obsess over gear, but when you see people land 35# trophies on Penn 500 and ugly sticks, you start to wonder if all the money spent was worth it.

I have
Sabiki Stick
Squid maker/Surface Iron stick
Bait stick
Bait/yoyo stick
light weight fun bass stick

Lately people at the launch have been asking me "How do you get by with only two rods"

I say "I need one to make bait, one to catch fish" I could theoretically use one, but I like making bait with a line out :D

[roadx]

are you going to be interested in hooping (lobster netting)? if you are? i have some old hoops nets you can use, hell might give them to you if you like doing it. hooping is at night and usually in shallower waters. let me know and i'll keep them so you can try it out. lobster tags are $8 for the last half of the season, then $8 for the whole next year.

30 days to go
I just picked up two Diawa slatist a 40 and a 50 they should work pretty well out there right?

What affordable reel do you recommend for throwing iron? I think thats the right term.. still learning? also what irons do you recommend?
thank you again for all the help.:reeling::reeling:

those will work fine

[Badtaste2k]

I love my OK Trident 13l. Works great in the California waters and is pretty quick. They weight is good for me and easy to move around. Those damn PA's look real nice though...:drool5:


Dan

[Oxbeast1210]

Awesome thanks everyone
and roadx i'm very interested in Hooping

I see in all the pictures most the fish are attached to a large clip
out here I use a big fishbag . WIll either one work or should I buy some clips?

I want to get back on a Hobie but i'm hessitant because of my knee surgeries I had a Pa and an outback but because of my injury they were to painful to peddle. This surgery has me feeling better but im not confident yet

[seriola_killer]

Awesome thanks everyone
and roadx i'm very interested in Hooping

I see in all the pictures most the fish are attached to a large clip
out here I use a big fishbag . WIll either one work or should I buy some clips?

I want to get back on a Hobie but i'm hessitant because of my knee surgeries I had a Pa and an outback but because of my injury they were to painful to peddle. This surgery has me feeling better but im not confident yet

Think of it as "rehabbing" your injury. Gameclips!

[roadx]

fish bags are a nice! i use wet burlap bags to keep the fish fresh. game clips are good for securing, bleeding and then dragging them on board and into the fish bag, especially halibut that can freak out when brought out of the water .
handle the fish the way your used to, you'll be fine

[Oxbeast1210]

Think of it as "rehabbing" your injury. Gameclips!

Lol tried that its what lead to my third surgery but I think it was more of the loading and unloading of the PA?..

thanks for the heads up on the clips ill be sure to get some.

I cant wait to catch a Halibut!