MDR - 6/24/17
 

Happy Monday everyone!

Hit the marina at 6am for an all day affair on Saturday. The tide chart was looking fairly flat with 8mph winds, so I figured it would be a relatively calm day. I planned to paddle straight out to the break wall and possibly venture to the outside of the wall if conditions looked ok. They did not. Not sure if its my nerves still or if its just my common sense kicking in (overcast skies, I was alone, seals were abundant, GWS sightings recently in the area...) but once I saw those 3-4' swells crash against the edge of the wall, I changed my mind. Oh well, plenty of water to fish within the safety of the walls.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...ooking_out.JPG

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...24_-_Swell.JPG

I decided to try my usual plan, but with switching up my primary bait to a 3/8oz underspin and 3" trailer. Ideal for cloudy/overcast days, but I think my cadence was too fast and I started the day with a lot of missed fish.

Inside of the main break wall was REALLY slow. I worked from north end to the south with only one Lizard, one short Hali, and a legal Calico to show for it. Dropshot with a 3" baitfish profile got 2 of the three fish, and the underspin got the Calico.

Moving to the N side of the channel, I started working the drift and the bite started to pickup. I trolled the underspin in the current and threw the dropshot to the usual spots of mine. For the next few hours I found the usual suspect (short) Spotties and Sandies when my underspin gets hung up. Releasing a hangup in a drift is no fun, especially when it starts to move. Oh wait, hookup! That underspin was choked by a Halibut. Bigger than the first, but still short. Man those fish are fun! So now that I'm noticing the Halis chasing small bait, I decided to switch gears and focus on them exclusively. Not more than 10 minutes in, I get hammered. It didn't feel like a bass, but it felt big. I fight the fish for a few minutes when I finally see color. Halibut! After a few strong runs, a few attempts to get her in my grips, and another 5-10 minutes in fight mode, she finally opens up and I lock her in. Personal best fight and landed with only my fish grips!

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall..._-_Halibut.JPG

What a fight and what a rush to get it into the boat safely. Awesome experience!

After hanging around the same area looking for the tanks friends, I moved to the east side of the marina and started to work the underspin around the docks and pilings. A few short strikes and a few more short fish, I decided to call it a day and head back to the ramp around 4:30.

Final fish count:
1 Lizard fish
1 short Calico
1 legal Calico
Multiple short Spots
1 short Sandie
2 short Halibut
1 legal Halibut

Rigs of the day:
7' MH Okuma Helios, Quantum Smoke Inshore, 8lbs Trilene 100% Gold Box with a 12-16" leader to weight dropshot.
7' MH Okuma Shadow Stalker, Daiwa Tatula HD, 10lbs Trilene 100% Gold Box with a 3/8oz underspin.

The more time on the water I get, the more I realize that you dont need to fish heavy gear in the salt. The big halibut I got was caught on a dropshot rig, with a light hook and 8lbs line. That fish was easily double the weight limit of that rig. Obviously if you're targeting big/open water fish you don't want to go ultra light, but I genuinely think that a lot of salt guys are over rigged for the water they are fishing. Patience, good terminal connection, and a properly set drag saved the day on this fish.

Also, this is the second time the G&F folks were at the ramp surveying incoming anglers. They really appreciate the data we provide and each time I've interacted with them, they have been helpful and kind. Also, each time I've seen them, they have asked if I was licensed but didn't ask to see it.

Did you launch from Mother's Beach?

Congrats on your hali!

The water doesn't look too bad. I would have gone out but you got rewarded for staying inside so I guess it's a moot point lol

Nope, I've been launching at the public boat ramp. It's a lot shorter paddle to my main areas and I've been happy with the results. The $10 parking kinda sucks though. I might want to investigate a monthly/annual pass situation...

Thanks! The pictures were taken at a point I felt comfortable pulling my phone out. That was definitely the better looking water of the day (small craft advisory went out around noon...)

Got it, I also just remembered how hard it is to take pictures of bad swell.
I've shown pictures to my gf and she tells me that it looks calm. :o

To be honest, because I'm still pretty green on the salt water, I'll only feel comfortable on my own if its glass calm, and even then I'm not leaving the immediate area of the break wall. Just too risky to do anything more than that solo.

I think u might have just talked me into fishing MDR. Hit me up next time you are getting out there. I wana target some butts.

not a bad result when you don't venture out! sweet

I see.

https://goo.gl/maps/Gr99jBQ39xj

I heard this is another launch spot closer to the breakwater.
I haven't been to MDR yet. Hope to kayak fish there soon.

I'll gladly return the favor. Plus I want someone to graph these areas for me. LOL


Yeah, I think these areas are pretty low pressure, so I've been getting fairly consistent results.

My work firewall doesn't like those google links, I'll check it out when I get home. I can't think of another "closer" launch in the Marina then where I put in. Unless you beach launch or are a UCLA / LAFD / LAPD / USCG guest.....

that spot is very steep and slippery once you get to the high tide line.

The closer launch is on Bellona Creek which is just south and parallel to the harbor channel. There's a small metered lot that fits about 10 cars and a 20' walk to the launch. The launch can get very slippery at low tide so sometimes it's not worth it. But it puts you in much closer to the breakwall and significantly cuts down on travel time. I've also seen some nice sized Calico pulled out of that creek.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4609400d0d.png

Ah, got it. My high producing spot is no where near that area. :D

For the record, that creek gets NASTY when the tides are moving. I've looked at going in there a few times and it was like rushing river. Considering I've been on fish without the extra hassle, I've continued to pass on it. Maybe eventually though. I'd love to see whats hiding in there...

Awesome report man! I notice I get a ton of short bites on the underspin baits too. Last time I went out it was probably a 10-1 bite to hookup ratio.
If you learn any tips or tricks to hookup more often, let me know :cheers1:

What was the weight or length of your halibut?

Congratulations!

I typically run 65# braid and 40# Blackwater fluorocarbon on a 3-way swivel rig for La Jolla. Typical weight is a 6 or 8 oz torpedo, depending on the waves, wind, current. The mackerel I caught on my way out that day were relatively large. On Sunday, I was experimenting with 25# fluoro and smaller hooks because lots of people advise to go lighter. I hooked something heavy on the bottom (felt like a halibut.) Got it about half way up with a couple of refusal runs in different directions before he/she chomped the line.

That was the end of that.

It was a clear bite through just above the top hook. I'm sure it was not a faulty knot. The top hook was a snell anyway and the bite was just above that. It was fresh 25# leader & my drag was set easy so it didn't break from pull. He was coming up heavy and graceful, then he shook his head a little and was gone. I didn't see any stealthy sea lions in the area at the time, but it could have been that too.

So now I feel conflicted with the trade-off between 25# and 40# leader in the ocean.

In San Diego Bay, I have been using 25# leader with a Carolina rig for shallower depths without problems. Weight might typically be a 2oz egg and my bait might typically be anchovies from the bait barge. In the bay, it seems my La Jolla weight gear gets hit less, but there are lots of other variables so I'm not entirely sure what the reasons might be.

Any advice from the pros would be appreciated.

Good to hear I'm not the only one.

One tip that helps, and it definitely did yesterday at the end of the day when I remembered it........take size off of the trailer. I bit about half of the body off the tail I was using and caught a few more Spotties after that. Seemed to help in the moment and gives me another option if the same situation happens next time.

I didnt get a chance to weigh it personally but looking at the picture and how its sitting on my lap/boat, I bet we could get a decent estimate. My calibrated eyeball and right arm says 35" and 18-19lbs. ;)

I am by no means a pro, but I fully understand how all of your gear, from rod to reel to terminal, impacts your ability to land fish.

Example: You can catch no bigger fish with a XH rod and ultra light hook, than you can with an ultralight rod and XH hook. Its how your rig is setup in total that makes the difference...

Ask Amish Ed, he fishes the underspins a lot and seems to do well with them

That's where i use to launch.
UCLA boat ramp i think.

Just paddle fast to get outta yuck water.

i drop off gear, and go park along street for free in neighborhood..

P

em
Pick your trip between sewage spills..

never had trouble with the flow, just whats in the flow
can be slippery

P

Gross. LOL Yeah, I'll just stick to the cleaner, more open water.

The inside breakwall was so clear this past weekend you could see small schools of Garibaldi handing around the vegetation. Beautiful fish!

I used to live right there on 63rd - my apartment building is just outside of Tom's shot. Unfortunately, this was before I got into kayak fishing or I probably never would have moved

Ballona Creek is freaking foul! Hypodermics, diapers, tampons, roadkill - all the stuff thrown into the gutters of the LA basin. Especially after the first big rain in the Fall.

Street parking in the neighborhood is scarce, and locals usually try to tie it up in the summer as they park their own cars on the street to open up their garages for visitors. Since there are no public facilities, or at least were not when I lived there, the beach south of the channel does not get a lot of use. GREAT eye candy on the bike path though.

Jetties can have some real sketchy characters fishing them, so I would not troll through the channel as you make your way outside. Might land later in the day to find a couple rough types with the perception that you took their fish. But not as bad as the gangsta parties at Dockweiler.

I always thought there would be some nice flats or uncharted rockpiles not too far from the harbor mouth, but I never got to look for them. be careful in the summer as there are frequent regattas where dozens of sailboats tack to get offshore then come barreling back with spinnakers flying. Cool to see, but I would not want to be in their path as they are busy mixing their fifth highball of the afternoon.

I think the short bites might actually be fish hitting the blade itself on occasion. I have the same problem with Warblades and spinner baits too. Downsizing the trailer helps the hook up ratio though, so I don't know..

That was my theory, too. I talked to the owner at Jig Stop and he said using the smaller underspins helps a bit. Recommended the 3/8 oz. Coolbaits (I was using a 5/8 oz.) so I'll give it a try next time.

One of the main reasons I havent bought into the Warblade is because of this exact idea.

The fish more than likely are going to attack the blade. If the blade is in parallel with the hook/meat of the lure, then your hookup ratio will be better. If the blade is BEHIND the hook, then you can imagine what that will do to your numbers. That's also why I think having a shorter trailer helps as well.....

Nice flattie!

Yeah, but when they want the warblade, they hit it good. I've had some excellent days with them.

There are some piles,
they are charted.
See the dfg website.

they get hit regularly though from the sporties
of course
look to north exit and bout 45degree angle heading

sail-boaters can be rather lame and thick
comes with the territory
head on a swivel

Great report. I live very near there and have actually never tried MDR, believing fishing to be better in Alamitos Bay and NPH. I've kayaked MDR several times with the mrs. on a non-fishing paddle and never see anyone fishing, but now I'm really tempted to give it a go.

Does anyone know if it's possible/practical to park at Dock 52 for free and cart your yak over to the ramp to launch?

Thanks! Its very quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite places to fish. :D

You might have to walk past the people running the gate, but if they don't say anything, then you're golden. Let me know how it goes because paying $10 every week to park at the ramp parking is becoming pretty expensive....

I've never seen humans running the gate, just the pay machine. But I will try it and report back!

Awesome post! I wish I read this sooner. I bought my first kayak on Saturday and headed straight to MDR. Even after all the research and youtube videos, I still didn't know what the hell I was doing..smh. I parked at the public launch..made my way towards, what I know now is, the break wall. I stopped well short of it when I saw all these sailboats doing laps. I may have only dropped my line in 10 times along the way. Now I can hit up MDR better prepared.