FISH PORN FOR THE SHELTERED IN!
 

I think most of you on this site are like me and have a bad case of Cabin Fever right now. I'm sick of being stuck mostly around the house, but worse is not being able to get out to my favorite place La Jolla and spend most of any day out on the kayak chilling. Due to not being able to hit any of out launches there is a serious lack of fishing stories being posted and especially pictures or video of large game fish. So I thought I would share an edited video I made of a Catch and Release (yes release) from almost a couple years ago. I know it's not current, but it sure makes one remember what is instore when this is behind us. I think the lack of fishing pressure on all the fishing grounds can only improve the future fishing. I hope this video will help you guys enjoy and remember one of the reason we love Kayak Fishing. Enjoy!.......
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Oh great Mark, now everyone will know our secret radio channel! :eek::D

:kayak-surfer: :cheers1:

F.U. Greg!

You told me it was 16:eek::D

The Jewel is getting ready...

You got out the gaff.

You got out the game clip.

You released it.

Must have been the Tecate.

Yeah I was ready, then when I got it to the surface and estimated it to be just under 25lbs. I thought I don't really need the meat since I still had some in the freezer. It was fun just the fight and getting pictures. I've released quite a few in the last three years in that size range. If it was 30lbs or bigger it would have been harvested. Of course as soon as I decided that some time ago, I haven't been able to hook one 30lbs or bigger, figures.

you've been holding out?
 

on past fishing reports. :D. well done video, and timely release. hopefully, this will get us through the next few months. I think it might be awhile before any of us are back on the water? thanks for sharing. :cheers1:

San Diego - the big picture
 

Yeah, good to keep up the faith. However the last (really) good year for YT was 2017. Since then the inshore waters have seen less and less. To the point of relying practically on homeguards only...
Offshore is different story.

The later part of 2019 I caught and released 4 Yellowtail in the 22lb to 26lb range. Then hooked a couple larger ones early 2020 on the Rapala trolling but ended with them coming unhooked during the fight. I have not had as good results using lures with treble hooks as I have using Flat Falls with Assist Hooks.

Nice Yellowtail. We are suffering the same dilemma in Florida -- Beaches and Boat ramps closed. Many inshore areas are getting hit more frequently. For the offshore angler, it has become an arduous peddle that needs to be timed with the tides to go in or out of an inlet.

What time of year or what indicators do you guys go off for when to start targeting yellowtail. First year fishing LJ. Right now I just run off and find rockfish.


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This time of year is usually the best. For the last couple years things have not been the norm. I usually have had the best La Jolla fishing from September through May, then it's slower during the summer. Could be it started after the 2017 summer that the water got extra warm. We had more exotics coming in close to shore easily within kayak range. There was Tuna, Dorados, lots of Yellowtail and even several Hammerheads sharks. After that summer the kelp started to die off and even though in the last couple years some has come back, it is a tiny amount compared to what we had. It is an important factor for an environment for bait fish and structure that supports all the species necessary for healthy fish habitat. The result has been extremely slow fishing and days were you can't even make live bait. There are still fish in the area but not in the numbers and they tend to move around more. The huge numbers of red crabs have not helped, since the fish are constantly full or red crabs. It seems every Calico or rock fish I have pulled up pukes up nothing but red crabs. Many days it's been about being at the right place at the right time to get that lucky strike from a big trophy fish. One of my last trips I went into the shallow area of the kelp looking for bait and was shocked at how bare the kelp forest was when you go inside the edges. It used to be on the surface and it took some looking to find openings in the thick kelp. Could not find any thick kelp. Just like anything eventually thing will get back to what used to be the norm. I still go as much as I can because it's not just the fishing, It's about enjoying the time on the water and being able to see the wild life there, drink some beers and enjoy the time away from all the BS we all have in our lives and get a little exercise. Can't beat a day out on the ocean in front of La Jolla.

well said
 

thanks for reporting. long drive from LA for me. but nothing compares to a day on the water at LJ. or, being on the water when the sunsets over there.

Any easy way to catch the red crab? I'm curious if anyone has tried eating them.


I find the fish have a better idea of what's tasty than the supermarkets.