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iethinker
07-24-2015, 06:17 PM
This is a kayak fishing report from Carlsbad CA on 7/24/2015.

The executive summary is:
Catch: Yellowtail
Where: Carlsbad Canyon (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Carlsbad,+CA/@33.1285819,-117.3484392,6559m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x80dc73453f3bee59:0xa4cb5 592fcf65d2f!6m1!1e1) (Near Top)
Legnth: 37-inches to tip of tail (not fork)
Weight: 14-lbs (thinner than my last version (http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/showthread.php?t=25788))
Depth: I don't know FF crapped out at 330-feet
Water Temp: 72-degrees
Kids on the beach: Love mysterious man from the ocean with big fish!

Carlsbad YT:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u425/mmillhiser/_20150724_182349_zps5o28eyzk.jpg (http://s1067.photobucket.com/user/mmillhiser/media/_20150724_182349_zps5o28eyzk.jpg.html)

Full Story:
I launched here due to a prediction of low-surf. There were still a few larger sets that came through and the launch saw my bathtub get full and my hat get knocked-off! This area can provide a testosterone boosting surf experience despite any predictions.

Immediately after launching in front of the lagoon, I went to 20-feet of water and turned north. The terain below changed to craggly and grassy as I move towards the area in front of the jetties. Also has some debth changes with as low as 8-feet being reported. Good structure and kind of a reef thing going on here.

At "the reef" I could see Greenback Mackerels (GBMs) around the yak but the Baracuda and Calico bite was so dominant that that the greenies eluded me.

Micro-Cuda was first catch of the day with several larger versions to fiollow:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u425/mmillhiser/IMG_20150724_072222146_zpswfcbth1r.jpg (http://s1067.photobucket.com/user/mmillhiser/media/IMG_20150724_072222146_zpswfcbth1r.jpg.html)

Calicos joined the mix at "the reef" as well. This was the first of them and another was probably 18-inches but shook the kastmaster off at the yak:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u425/mmillhiser/IMG_20150724_071442522_zps3zk5j97z.jpg (http://s1067.photobucket.com/user/mmillhiser/media/IMG_20150724_071442522_zps3zk5j97z.jpg.html)

I decided to let the reef distract me no more and headed out to 60-feet of water where I finally pulled two GBMs. Turned out this is all I would need.

I originally wanted to come here to the deep Carlsbad Canyon area and see if anything interesting exists in the area. Along the way I snapped some photos of the glassy conditions.

Heading deeper over glass...what a great ride...:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u425/mmillhiser/IMG_20150724_095446924_zpsep5skjrv.jpg (http://s1067.photobucket.com/user/mmillhiser/media/IMG_20150724_095446924_zpsep5skjrv.jpg.html)

Looking back at the powerplant during the day:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u425/mmillhiser/IMG_20150724_092909769_HDR_zps3mo917tz.jpg (http://s1067.photobucket.com/user/mmillhiser/media/IMG_20150724_092909769_HDR_zps3mo917tz.jpg.html)

I trolled the GBM out over the canyon and circled around that area seeig nothing on the bottomless FF for a few hours. I took a break, ate my breakfast, trolled some more then thought about heading back in. At this point I'm at least 3.5 miles off-shore and have no idea of my debth. No sooner than I have the thought....click...click...click...zoom! I'm on!

After a short sleighride and short up & down battle I pull the YT to the YAK. No gaff...just a gill grab. I decided to tow this guy alive back to the beach for maximum freshness.

The return voyage saw the galssy conditions turn to micro-white caps. The wind from the north picked-up. A current was running from north to south. I was suprised how far south I had drifted. Pulling a live fish plus fighting the conditions meant 1.5mph steady or 2.0mph with olympic effort. The voyage took well over an hour.

Near the launch/landing, I slit the YT's gills and head-in. I caught a nice wave (larger variety for the day) and slid onto the sand. My fish (being towed about 10-feet behind then slides up beside me.

The beach being crowded with kids of all ages quickly erupts into a scene of facination. Of course I get to answer the famous question " Is that a Tuna?". I thoroughly enjoy the entertainment and educational segments of my kayak fishing adventures on bigwatersedge.com!

YT on the yak:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u425/mmillhiser/IMG_20150724_110135813_HDR_zpsaykok8vf.jpg (http://s1067.photobucket.com/user/mmillhiser/media/IMG_20150724_110135813_HDR_zpsaykok8vf.jpg.html)


YT collar and ribs on the grill...have you ever had the bacon of the fish...MMMMM
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u425/mmillhiser/IMG_20150724_171952820_zpssynau9hc.jpg (http://s1067.photobucket.com/user/mmillhiser/media/IMG_20150724_171952820_zpssynau9hc.jpg.html)

Until next time...Matt

ful-rac
07-24-2015, 06:23 PM
Oh yeah the best part! :luxhello:

I'm glad you didn't throw the collars and the ribs away!

surfisher
07-24-2015, 06:31 PM
Holy smokes that is glassy! I love that area, so fun for a quick session if the waves aren't up.

Matt_Magnone
07-24-2015, 07:33 PM
Killer job and report!

mpc
07-24-2015, 09:26 PM
Congrats. Are you launching from Tamarack or a bit farther north where the surf kayaks go out?

supaboy1981
07-24-2015, 09:42 PM
Congrats. Are you launching from Tamarack or a bit farther north where the surf kayaks go out?
X2 id love to know where as well, but I'm a sissy and big waves scare me

FISH11
07-25-2015, 07:35 AM
Congrats on the catch and the collar on the plate is only just waiting to hit the grill.

Vikingj
07-25-2015, 08:05 AM
Nice fish and fantastic report and photo. Loved the kid pic and the story it told. You ought to seriously consider publishing this in a sports magazine. I have published photos and stories and none of them were as good as yours.

iethinker
07-26-2015, 08:35 AM
Congrats. Are you launching from Tamarack or a bit farther north where the surf kayaks go out?


Locations indicated are approximate:
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u425/mmillhiser/Carlsbad%20Fishing%20Trip%20Map_zpsjao1yboe.png (http://s1067.photobucket.com/user/mmillhiser/media/Carlsbad%20Fishing%20Trip%20Map_zpsjao1yboe.png.ht ml)

mpc
07-27-2015, 03:46 PM
Thanks man. I appreciate you taking the time to pass along that info. I see the surf kayak guys launch there and it looks do able on the right day. I went to Tamarack with my kayak and gear a few weeks ago and chickened out. I think the beach is a lot steeper there. I'll try farther south sometime this summer.

SeaDog
07-27-2015, 04:10 PM
Nice map! Thanks for the report, I was thinking about giving Carlsbad Canyon a run next week.