2008 Islander Trips
 

2008 Kayak Mothership Trips aboard the Islander

Our most popular trips are now taking reservations! This year the Islander is back with more kayak fishing mothership trips and a new destination! Our San Clemente Island trips have been a huge success and this year the Islander has exclusive rights to run kayak fishing trips to the Todos Santos Islands / Punta Banda area of Mexico. This is a great way to experience the fantastic fishing that Mexico has to offer, without the danger or hassle of driving through Baja. Expect excellent fishing for yellowtail, white seabass, halibut and bass in this unique location as well as the amazing service offered by the Islander crew. And as always the San Clemente Island trips are an amazing experience as well. Sign up now, we expect these trips to fill very quickly.

Price: $285


SCHEDULE:

San Clemente Island

May 2-4
May 16-18

Todos Santos Islands

June 6-8
June 15-17

These trips are 1 ½ days. You will board the Islander and load up your kayak and gear the evening of departure. The trip will depart that evening and travel through the night. In the morning the boat will arrive at its destination and fishermen will be unloaded into the water first thing in the morning. The entire second day is available to fish, sunrise to sunset. The boat will usually re-position a few times throughout the day according to the wind/current and follow the kayaks down the coast. At the end of the day the kayaks are loaded back onto the boat and the Islander again travels overnight to arrive back in San Diego on the morning of the third day. All meals, bait and sleeping accommodations are included. Bring cash for tip and beverages.

TO SIGN UP CALL OEX AT (619) 758-9531. <O></O>

$100 DEPOSIT REQUIRED AT TIME OF RESERVATION. BALANCE DUE TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO TRIP.

Sign me up!:D............if I can get outa work.

That is so cool!

Very cool. Trips on the Islander are always one of the highlights of my fishing season.

Those Todos trips should be awesome. I can't wait.

Hell yeah I'm hitting a few. This boat rocks.

I'm in. I think it will be my fifth trip to San Clemente (starting on the Orion, now the Islander). Never been to Todos Santos - should be a blast.

San Clemente Island
May 16-18

Todos Santos Islands
June 6-8

The hardest part of these trips is getting into and out of the kayak!! lol

oooooooohhhhh......I think I can pull that off...:hmmmm:

I think the hardest part is:
stop for the bacon cheeseburger lunch or just keep fishing

I know from experience that they provide "paddle thru" service (and probably delivery if requested). Love those guys.:D

Dave Easton fished from 6AM to 6PM, they brought him his cheese burger via Zodiac, and replenished my cerveza needs! :p

Anyone know what the structure, fishing, etc is like around Todos Santos? Are there kelps?

This is a quality trip, it will be fun to get back on the Islander again! :cheers1:

I wish there was a boat that did these trips leaving outta the L.A. area! Since there's not, I'm gonna make the drive down south for it. Should be good!

:D I'm on for Todos Santos June 6-8.

Charles I am workin on it!.......Cat and the Channel Islands

That'll be sweet! For now I signed up for the second Santos trip.

Does the Todos Santos trip include Mexican fishing license?

Btw, do kayaks require Mex boat licenses or just motor-powered boats?

:paddleersmilie:

I'm in


:yt:

Kayak needs Mex boat license for sure, so does each kayaker. Last time I checked, every person on board vessel with fishing gear had to have a license - even if they don't fish. There are some other creative limitations such as only one line with a hook in the water at one time. That's the law, at least it was the last time I checked.

The chance anyone is enforcing it - slim. But it may happen... Watch out for their NAVY ships. :afraid: :)

Not sure if that arranged on these trips. Probably not. We all had to have Mex licenses for our boats and ourselves on San Carlos trips.

...though local crew was assuring us that as long as we have one license on board, we're fine. :D

I have fished the area extensively over the last 20 years but not in a yak. The north end of the island can be pretty good for tails, slim logs and bonita if the water conditions are favorable and the bait shows up, Lotsa lings and reds in shallow water too. The coast line over in Pta Banda can be very good also. There is an area called Tres Hermanas (3 sisters) that is ussually pretty reliable for size large sandies drifting plastics in about 100 ft and a small cove with a gravel beach that WSB patrol on occasion. The point is excellent for grumpys bouncing plastics off the boiler rocks but could be a little crazy trying to get in tight enough with the swells and white water washing through the rocks. The point also always has home guard mossbacks around that can be caught with iron.

Can anyone comment on San Clemente vs. Todos Santos? I've never fished either, but just signed up for the TS trip on June 6-8. The Mexican licenses and only one line in the water sound like a hassle.... Is it worth it (over SC, I mean)? I'm assuming less fishing pressure down there, which is one reason I picked it.

Thanks

-Brent
Santa Barbara, CA

Kayaks launched of a vessel with a mex permit do not need a boat permit. If they were launched off of baja coast you would need a permit. As for mex fishing permits, the boat will usually take care of that before disembarking. Sounds like a blast, might jump on one of those.

mother ship?
 

First off is there any spots left on either trips and second "i can't answer till i know if theres spots left?:D

If the 2008 schedule is up to date, it looks as if there is room on all the trips except for the trip departing on May 16th.

I went by yesterday... The Todos Santos trip (June 6) is also full.

I may have to sell my spot on the May 16 - 18 San Clemente trip. However I won't know until one week prior to departure. If one weeks notice works for you and I can't go I would be willing to sell you my spot. This also goes for the Todos santos trip June 15 - 17. PM me.......

Islander Trip

May 2nd SCI 12 spots left

May 16th Full

June 6th Full

June 15th Todos 6 spots left

OEX

The Islander and crew are Great!:notworthy: But had to opt out of the day and a half's, felt I wasn't getting the bang for the buck. Instead settling for the 105's 3 day. Too bad they dont have 2-3 day trips too. And I wish anyone would mothersip June, July or August.:paddleersmilie: Stupid Tuna lol.

Todos!!!!
 

I have been in on the June 15th trip for a while now. Just counting the days!

Equipment/Gear recommendations
 

So I am starting my planning for the Todos Santos trip in early June, and wondering what I need to bring for the trip. Can anyone with experience help me put together my "kit"?

Here's my stick choices:

Quantum M-H 7' spinning combo (usually use it for drop-shotting or throwing plastics). Spooled with 12# Stren mono

Torium on a 7' Sabre Stroker Pro (the $49 Big 5 special) wound with 20# braid and 12# flouro leader

Avet MXL on a Calstar 190 6' MH rod wound with 50# braid and 30# flouro leader

Teeny-tiny shimano Sedona spinner with Shimano 7' rod (my sabiki unit). wound with 10# Ande mono

Abu 6600CX with a7' Abu rod (medium-light) wound with 15# Ande mono line

My tackle consists mostly of live bait gear (1/0, 2/0, and 3/0 circle and octopus hooks, egg sinkers, etc). I have a pretty good collection of Big Hammers in browns and blue/silvers. Also have about a dozen "Trix Jetty Worms" with the big heads and weedless hooks.

I'm pretty light on irons and such - a couple of big krocs and a "buzzbomb" or two. Should I load up on more of this sort of thing?

What is the type of fishing most likely to be? Live bait, plastics, all of the above? What about typical depths and current?

Also, what about clothing - paddle pants and a nylon fishing shirt (with paddle jacket as backup) or full-on waders and paddle jacket? (neoprene or breathable?)

Thanks for any advice!

Brent

Brent. I think you need to define what you're after. I guess the choices are Calico Bass, bottom critters, or big fish such as WSB and YT.

Bring your Hammers and spin or bait casters with light 15-20 for the bass.

If you're going for the biguns, the torium/sabre and the avet will work for ya. Although I'd put braid or heavier line on the Tor.

Bring a sabiki for catching macs, the sardines the boat will provide are great, but not always the best for kayak trolling. 2/0 and 3/0 (by owner sizing) hooks will be good.

As for what you want to throw, iron, spoon, swimmies, whatever you're confident with. If you're not used to throwing iron, a Salas 7X or Tady 45 in blue and white is a good place to start.

Thanks Dan - your comment is a good one ("it depends what you're after") and guess that strikes at the heart of the question I should have asked. - what will we be after in those waters? :o

I think I'm pretty well set for calicos (unless the average catch will be a lot bigger than up here in SB, which is about 12-16", but nothing lately...) I have never fished for YT, and never caught a legal hali (gotten shorties casting along shore with Krocs, that's it). The whole "trolling a mac" thing is a mystery to me, as we don't fish for YT or other big, fast pelagics up here.

So I guess the real question is "what species are we likely to be targeting, and in what kind of water?" That's probably the question I should have asked. :-)

Brent

Who knows. Be prepared for anything from yt and wsb, to bass and bottom critters. We all hope to slam the wsb and yt, but if they just aren't there be prepared to fish bass or bottom critters. May as well bring 4-5 rods and reels and cover all bases. I think Todos is a mystery to most if not all of us on that trip. Shouldn't be too much different that fishing SCI or the coronados, but I don't know for sure.

Rode the Islander this weekend. I am recently retired Navy and looking for second career back on the water. For many of us in the Navy, the longer you stay in, the more you drive desks and computers vice ships and boats.

Learned about Islander on this web site and thought they might be a natural fit touching on my water interests of kayaking, fishing, diving, surfing, etc. Rode them this weekend to see if the “fit” might be too good to be true. If this were poker I’d be all in! If it were before day passes, Islander would be an E-ticket ride for me.

24-26 April SCI trip report: Weather was beautiful, water temp was about 61 and the water was clear and glassy. 18 kayakers on the trip, first one deployed at 6 AM vicinity of China Point and last one picked up about 8 PM vicinity just West of Pyramid Head Light.
<O:p</O:p
Fish take included 3 or 4 Halibut (largest was 40 inches and about 21 lbs), numerous Calico Bass with four or five in the 6 lbs range, numerous Sheepshead, a couple of White Fish and a Sculpin.
<O:p</O:p
Saw some excellent opportunities for kayak free diving and spear fishing.
<O:p</O:p
I think I heard there were about 8 spots open for the 2-4 May SCI Trip. This may be an excellent chance to go on a light loaded trip ….. and support a Veteran (me going back to work).
<O:p</O:p
<O:pTake care, see you on the water, </O:p>Chris

Anyone going this weekend on the Todos Santos trip?
 

I'm driving down from Santa Barbara for the trip and might need to ask a favor from someone that is going on the Todos Santos trip this weekend (June 6th)

Apparently we need Mexican fishing permits, and I *might* not make it to San Diego before the tackle shops close for the night. If anyone lives near (or is planning to stop by) Squidco and can pick stuff up for me, I'd be grateful (good for a couple of beers on the boat, at least!). I'll pre-pay over the phone so you won't have to worry about that.

Thanks!

Brent
bpchristensen @ gmail . com

Call the info into the landing Fisherman's (i think) - they sell them there. You may need to fax DL and passport copies and have one of the crew pick it up. That way you are sure to have it on the boat.

let me know what you need
 

Hi Brent,
Sent you an email. Let me know if I can help out. I was planning a Squidco lunchtime run tomorrow or Friday. Give me a call.
Fisherman's Landing was open while we were boarding the San Clemente trip. But if you want serious hardware, Squidco is the place to go.
See you Friday night
~~~pete~~~

Brent, I picked up your stuff today. The rod is a 706 (not a 708). Is that correct?

Pete

Hmm... yea I think that's the one, but now I'm confused. :-) I was looking for a casting rod that would handle the bigger boys like legal-sized halibut and WSB when throwing plastics, but the 706 is the lighter one... No worries if I got it wrong - I have another Daiwa Sealine-X 20SHA that I can throw on the 706 and then pick up a 708 or something like that for the bigger boys. :-)

Thanks for getting it for me!

I can't wait to sit around tomorrow night and learn how to use some of the stuff! :-)

The beers are on me tomorrow night.

-Brent

You have no idea how dangerous a comment that is with the crew we'll have tomorrow. :cheers1:

BTW, watch out for Corey, he gets "handsy" after a few.:D

Tight lines guys!

Be safe and knock 'em dead!!!!!!!!!!:cheers1::yt::cheers1: