So-Cal Grand Slam?
 

I am relatively new to San Diego and oceanic kayak fishing. Normally, when in a new area, I pick a few species to target. Deciding points are normally how they are as game fish (fight, endurance, etc) and rarity. I am having trouble deciding on what fish to target and wandering if there has been any discussion on what fish define Southern California ocean kayak fishing. Maybe we can call it the So-Cal Kayak Grand slam. Any inputs?

Which fish to target is completely up to you, they're all challenging and fun to catch. As far as which fish define southern california kayak fishing...it depends who you ask. There are bass guys that chase Huge Calicos and spotties, and couldn't give a crap about anything else. And there's the big game dues that fish threshers, whiteseabass, yellowtail...and couldn't give a crap about bass...then there's the halibut guys that target mostly halibut...Then there's the all of the above guys that like it all and are stoked to catch perch, mackerel or anything that wants to bite....

Go fishing, start in the bay catch bass, perch, stuff like that and expand out into the ocean when you are ready and capable, and find out what you want to and what you like to fish for. It's gonna be a fun journey for you, lot of interesting charaters your going to meet along the way....:cheers1:

Great response Tony.
I've always considered YT, WSB, and Halibut as the SoCal Grand Slam.

That' s what I would consider a grand slam as well. WSB, Yellow, Butt

X3

Well said by ful-rac!

Janine

Grand slam
 

A grand slam is usually 4 points/runs... so I'd say the ultimate "grand slam" for a day of fishing would be YT, WSB, Halibut and Thresher.

Rock slam? Reds, lings, goats and Boccaccio

bay slam? spotties, sandies, calico and halibut.

just my $.02

oh and a SD bay exotics you can chase, bonefish and tarpon. i've only heard of tarpon twice and seen one pic so good luck with that one.

This seems nearly impossible, but the 4 points completely makes sense

In the bays, I always seem to manage the junk fish trifecta:
... lizardfish, mackerel, and a dinky YFC

I love them all! Except the lizard fish. F those dudes.

Halibut, WSB, Huge Calico, YT.

I am 3 for 4 and the only one I have not landed yet is the easiest of all, a YT.

Yellowtail is the easiest?

Obviously not for me :D

I have been told that YT are the easiest. From personal experience, I have seen way more YTs on other peoples yaks than all of the other fish combined. I even gaffed a YT for a forum member a few month ago.

WSB, YT, Halibut. In the same day, on the same outing. I know of only 1 confirmed guy to do it on a kayak.

The bass slam is a little more reachable. Calico, Sandy, Spotty, all in 1 day on the same outing. Bonus point if you do it all in the bay on plastics.

For giggles, try the bait fish grand slam. Greenback, Spanish, Sardine, Smelt, Anchovy- all in one day, on the same outing. I've actually done that one :D

Plenty of good answers here. It's satisfying to target and land a few or one fish. The WSB, YT, hali trifecta is the biggy in so cal I think. Some add thresher shark in the "cool fish" group. The 3 bass species is another good one. There's the south sd bay trash carteledge combo; sting ray, bat ray, butter fly ray, guitarfish, smooth hound, and leopard slam. Done that one, woop woop. Go for the croaker slam, WSB, corvin, spot fin, corbina, corvina, yellowfin, white, black, and queen fish.

Seriously tho, WSB aren't rare but they are hard to catch consistantly. The bonefish in south sd bay are worth pursueing. The sd bay short fin corvina can be a fun challenge and getting one to bite a top water elevates it. If they ever come back to so cal, catching bonito on ultralight or fly gear is a fun goal. Go for it. Mike

thats because WSB aren't talked about and hardly posted by the guys who catch them. still waiting to see a 60+ make it to the boards that was caught this year.

Yellow tail is the easiest? I have been crushing the halibut, so maybe YTs aren't a daunting of a foe as I thought. I will be chasing them in the middle of this month. Probably around the 15th.

sshhhhhhhh.. Its very true but still don't understand it.. Saw a possible 60 the other day..what a mess for the guy, but boy was he happy.. Almost saw a tear come out.. Lol