Dana point kelp fishing...

[PapaDave]

If this is the 'Festival' weekend, try elsewhere. You won't be able to get in or out of the harbor area if your are even let in and you can forget about parking anywhere.

As for the kelp areas, there are many to the north as well as to the south. The north area stretches from 1 to 4 miles depending on where you stop. The south area goes on and on and on, I've gotten as far as 4 miles and there are kelp areas the entire way down. Both areas produce well at times. The pipeline is another area and it lines up with the harbor buoy straight out to the DP Yacht club markers about a mile offshore. It can be good at times as well.

Also, you don't really need a FF, just set a drift to pass a few kelp patches, use a live sardine on a dropper or Carolina rig or a swimbait. Kick back and relax and let the wind do the work.