Fishing Report La Jolla May 9th plus a sonar question - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Ggiannig89 · 05-11-2018, 03:25 PM

From your questions and lack of responses I’m led to believe that people are just as inexperienced as me when it comes to reading a fish finder. I would assume the same thing as you with what the pictures look like.

exfactor · 05-11-2018, 06:57 PM

When you learn that the meter only shows you whats there, and doesn't mean that anything will happen from what you see, you'll slowly start piecing together how every day you put your bait down, only sometimes does anything happen when you do! I've learned that if i just use my meter to find bottom, and bait, the rest just takes care of itself

fourtogo · 05-12-2018, 12:38 AM

Entertainment till excitement happens .

seck66 · 05-12-2018, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exfactor

When you learn that the meter only shows you whats there, and doesn't mean that anything will happen from what you see, you'll slowly start piecing together how every day you put your bait down, only sometimes does anything happen when you do! I've learned that if i just use my meter to find bottom, and bait, the rest just takes care of itself

Agreed. I also like it to help me know when I've cleared the kelp. It took a little while to learn the difference between kelp and a bait cloud. The obvious difference is bait isn't attached to the bottom.

vincentek9 · 05-12-2018, 06:30 PM

first 2 pictures definitely look like a big cloud of red crab.
third picture looks like a big something. i might even go as far as to say it looks like a solid seal.
lower part of third image looks like you were trying to bounce a bait and you were working it up.

my FF is used mainly for these reasons
50% find structure (rocks, kelp, wrecks, etc.)
40% find bait
10% actually look for big fish (fishing kelp paddies and under dolphins)

if i had to say the ratio of seeing good marks vs getting the hookup, i'd put it at a pretty low number. as Fourtogo said, entertainment till excitement happens.

DDS · 05-13-2018, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seck66

Agreed. I also like it to help me know when I've cleared the kelp. It took a little while to learn the difference between kelp and a bait cloud. The obvious difference is bait isn't attached to the bottom.

That has been the best use of my sonar so far...nice to be able to drop a bait near the bottom without worrying about it continually getting fouled in the kelp.

DDS · 05-13-2018, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exfactor

When you learn that the meter only shows you whats there, and doesn't mean that anything will happen from what you see, you'll slowly start piecing together how every day you put your bait down, only sometimes does anything happen when you do! I've learned that if i just use my meter to find bottom, and bait, the rest just takes care of itself

Very Zen Wisdom...always good to keep perspective...gets difficult when the sabiki rig is tangled, the lures get snapped off in kelp and the only thing making my reel sing is the sea dogs poaching my bait...but with time and experience I'm sure the fish will come easier...
Still learning the new sonar (only 2nd day on the water)...so very much in the early phases of learning still. Have not yet achieved much success on the water besides some great exercise and a big money vacuum....but having a great time learning.

JohnMckroidJr · 05-14-2018, 07:13 AM

Thanks for the report. If you have an older PA, I have found that some window insulation from home depo works wonders to keep water out of the front hatch.
Nice Fishfinder - is that a lowrance carbon unit ? Does the sidescan transducer slowed you down much ? I took my Garmin Echomap 9sv off cause the sidescan transducer was costing me .3-.4kts, and I am already a slow boat PA14.

05-12-2018, 12:38 AM	#3
fourtogo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 140	Fish finder meter Entertainment till excitement happens .

05-12-2018, 06:30 PM	#5
vincentek9 MAYNEE-YAK Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: So Cal Posts: 533	first 2 pictures definitely look like a big cloud of red crab. third picture looks like a big something. i might even go as far as to say it looks like a solid seal. lower part of third image looks like you were trying to bounce a bait and you were working it up. my FF is used mainly for these reasons 50% find structure (rocks, kelp, wrecks, etc.) 40% find bait 10% actually look for big fish (fishing kelp paddies and under dolphins) if i had to say the ratio of seeing good marks vs getting the hookup, i'd put it at a pretty low number. as Fourtogo said, entertainment till excitement happens. __________________

05-11-2018, 03:25 PM	#1
Ggiannig89 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: El Cajon Posts: 512	From your questions and lack of responses I’m led to believe that people are just as inexperienced as me when it comes to reading a fish finder. I would assume the same thing as you with what the pictures look like.

05-11-2018, 06:57 PM	#2
exfactor Junior Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 20	When you learn that the meter only shows you whats there, and doesn't mean that anything will happen from what you see, you'll slowly start piecing together how every day you put your bait down, only sometimes does anything happen when you do! I've learned that if i just use my meter to find bottom, and bait, the rest just takes care of itself

05-14-2018, 07:13 AM	#8
JohnMckroidJr Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 1,963	Thanks for the report. If you have an older PA, I have found that some window insulation from home depo works wonders to keep water out of the front hatch. Nice Fishfinder - is that a lowrance carbon unit ? Does the sidescan transducer slowed you down much ? I took my Garmin Echomap 9sv off cause the sidescan transducer was costing me .3-.4kts, and I am already a slow boat PA14.