tamarack beach easy launch - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Cuyuna Kid · 08-18-2013, 05:55 PM

Anybody here ever paddled out from Fletcher's Cove in Solana Beach? Looks pretty promising!

Im bent · 08-18-2013, 08:00 PM

Back at it today. I got two fish only kept one for dinner. Other one was about 15 inches. No bites on the squid it was a throwfest all day. They started biting for a few minutes right when the sun popped out but fell off again..
Name: fish.jpg
Views: 2105
Size: 6.0 KB

kareem korn · 08-19-2013, 05:40 AM

I board fish there alot. It's a hard place to fish. These small reef kelps are still new. They died off years ago. It's just now comming back to life. But, it's not full of fish like LJ. So, my advice would be fish it like I do. Just go out and enjoy the water and life around you while casting your ass off. Every now and than you get rewarded with a fish.

taggermike · 08-19-2013, 07:51 AM

When I lived in Carlsbad I fished Tamarack all the time. My best bites were on sardine and smelt colored swim baits. In the summer I've actually had better success fishing in side the kelp over the rocky reef and eel grass areas. 3/8 and 1/2 oz are about as heavy as you need to go because you want the swim bait above the grass. Making bait is always a good idea. I've never had much luck with macs there but smelt can work well. During grunion runs you can catch the grunion at night and fish them the next few mornings. Sand and calico bass plus halibut will often be in tight and will hit the dead grunion. Another "match the hatch" happens in the spring when the black, barred, silver, and wall eyed perch all have their babies. They give live birth so for about a month the reefs are loaded with little naïve baits. They're from penny to quarter sized and look a lot like shad. I spearfished there as well and at these times the sandies, calis, leopard sharks, and halis often hunt right along the boundary where the eel grass and sand meet waiting for the perch to stray from the safety of the rocks. Small silver or white swim baits and even fresh water style shad rap style lures can work. Any way, these are a few things that worked for me there.

And for Cuyuna Kid; fletchers cove can have good fishing similar to Tamarack. There is also some boiler rock fishing up toward seaside. The set back there is you can launch on an empty beach early but by noon the beach and water are packed. The life guards may have you land way the hell down the beach away from the swimming area. Mike

Im bent · 08-19-2013, 05:10 PM

thanks for the tips.. I am going tomorrow.

Cuyuna Kid · 08-19-2013, 06:23 PM

Thanks taggermike......

mrock · 08-20-2013, 11:21 AM

Were you in the red kayak? I was out Sunday morning and caught got 3 calicos. All to small, so much for my promise of a fish taco dinner.

Im bent · 08-20-2013, 11:44 AM

I am in a tan tarpon 120.. I talked with that dude for a minute though. I just got back from Tamarack. I was gonna go out but its windy and choppy, I will just keep my Eye open for the right time.

RAYMO · 08-20-2013, 03:12 PM

Hey Im always looking for new spots to launch??? where exactly do you launch??? Do I need my yak cart to launch ??? how far and deep are you going no pun !!!!! intended

Im bent · 08-20-2013, 09:33 PM

5 freeway to Tamarack in carlsbad go west until you can go west anymore. You
park right next to the sand, only downfall is they charge 10 bucks a day parking.
I live really close so my son drops me off in my truck.. no waves next to the jetty.. I go about a half mile and get right on top of the kelp lately. Going manana to see whats up!!

08-19-2013, 06:23 PM	#6
Cuyuna Kid >-+++(o> Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 21	Thanks taggermike...... __________________

08-20-2013, 03:12 PM	#9
RAYMO new YAKER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: SD Posts: 60	reg tamarack Hey Im always looking for new spots to launch??? where exactly do you launch??? Do I need my yak cart to launch ??? how far and deep are you going no pun !!!!! intended

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

08-18-2013, 05:55 PM	#1
Cuyuna Kid >-+++(o> Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 21	Anybody here ever paddled out from Fletcher's Cove in Solana Beach? Looks pretty promising!

08-18-2013, 08:00 PM	#2
Im bent Junior Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 18	Back at it today. I got two fish only kept one for dinner. Other one was about 15 inches. No bites on the squid it was a throwfest all day. They started biting for a few minutes right when the sun popped out but fell off again..

08-19-2013, 05:40 AM	#3
kareem korn Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: C-bad Posts: 431	I board fish there alot. It's a hard place to fish. These small reef kelps are still new. They died off years ago. It's just now comming back to life. But, it's not full of fish like LJ. So, my advice would be fish it like I do. Just go out and enjoy the water and life around you while casting your ass off. Every now and than you get rewarded with a fish.

08-19-2013, 07:51 AM	#4
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	When I lived in Carlsbad I fished Tamarack all the time. My best bites were on sardine and smelt colored swim baits. In the summer I've actually had better success fishing in side the kelp over the rocky reef and eel grass areas. 3/8 and 1/2 oz are about as heavy as you need to go because you want the swim bait above the grass. Making bait is always a good idea. I've never had much luck with macs there but smelt can work well. During grunion runs you can catch the grunion at night and fish them the next few mornings. Sand and calico bass plus halibut will often be in tight and will hit the dead grunion. Another "match the hatch" happens in the spring when the black, barred, silver, and wall eyed perch all have their babies. They give live birth so for about a month the reefs are loaded with little naïve baits. They're from penny to quarter sized and look a lot like shad. I spearfished there as well and at these times the sandies, calis, leopard sharks, and halis often hunt right along the boundary where the eel grass and sand meet waiting for the perch to stray from the safety of the rocks. Small silver or white swim baits and even fresh water style shad rap style lures can work. Any way, these are a few things that worked for me there. And for Cuyuna Kid; fletchers cove can have good fishing similar to Tamarack. There is also some boiler rock fishing up toward seaside. The set back there is you can launch on an empty beach early but by noon the beach and water are packed. The life guards may have you land way the hell down the beach away from the swimming area. Mike

08-19-2013, 05:10 PM	#5
Im bent Junior Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 18	thanks for the tips.. I am going tomorrow.

08-20-2013, 11:21 AM	#7
mrock Junior Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Oceanside Posts: 2	Were you in the red kayak? I was out Sunday morning and caught got 3 calicos. All to small, so much for my promise of a fish taco dinner.

08-20-2013, 11:44 AM	#8
Im bent Junior Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 18	I am in a tan tarpon 120.. I talked with that dude for a minute though. I just got back from Tamarack. I was gonna go out but its windy and choppy, I will just keep my Eye open for the right time.

08-20-2013, 09:33 PM	#10
Im bent Junior Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 18	5 freeway to Tamarack in carlsbad go west until you can go west anymore. You park right next to the sand, only downfall is they charge 10 bucks a day parking. I live really close so my son drops me off in my truck.. no waves next to the jetty.. I go about a half mile and get right on top of the kelp lately. Going manana to see whats up!!