so i need a little help - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

jbaker · 05-07-2010, 10:40 PM

White Curly tailed grubs and Chartreuse with black flake grubs, I'll check these out. been throwing a rainbow of swim baits in all different sizes and weights lathered in unibutter bouncing them off the bottom as we drift along. I don't have a fish finder or bait tank yet. but have been studying every chart i can find. thanks for the quick response.

Deamon · 05-08-2010, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbaker

White Curly tailed grubs and Chartreuse with black flake grubs, I'll check these out. been throwing a rainbow of swim baits in all different sizes and weights lathered in unibutter bouncing them off the bottom as we drift along. I don't have a fish finder or bait tank yet. but have been studying every chart i can find. thanks for the quick response.

There are lots of fish in the Bay. If you can, fish structure...dropoffs, bridges, docks, pylons, bouys, boat moorings, etc...
Also move down in tackle size. I don't know what size you're now at, but I always go smaller when bites are few. 8# with 3/8 oz lead heads
slapping on some attractant helps as well
As Jimmyz says, fish tidal movement...
Small chrome on or near the bottom brings quantity too. 1/4 oz kastmaster yoyo'd with light line will get you lots of fish. But you'll also get all the junk too...Smelt, Mackeral, Lizards...Good luck. I just gave it all up...

Jimmyz123 · 05-08-2010, 06:44 AM

Without having a depth finder I recommend looking for the channel markers they are Green and Red and they mark the edge of the channel, which is the deeper part of the bay. One thing I have learned about the bay is if the tide is not moving, the bite is not happening. Keep that in mind.

dsafety · 05-08-2010, 07:22 AM

Sometimes it's all about luck... Of course those with better skills and more experience are usually more lucky than the rest of us.

When I got started, I hooked up with a couple of mentors who showed me the ropes. It made a big difference.

Bob

FishFeeder · 05-08-2010, 07:34 AM

From Tidelands, fish above the bridge toward the mainland side (maybe the second to third piling from the SD side of the bridge), preferably when the tide is going out or coming in. should be plenty of spotted bay bass to be had using drop shot with 3-4 inch chartreuse or yellow tails on 3/8 to 1/2 oz head, just bouncing along the bottom in 30-40 ft depth.

and as they say, sometimes it's called 'fishing not catching' for a reason--but it still beats sitting here in front of the computer, right?

dniss · 05-08-2010, 04:47 PM

Launch from J street with small plastics, Kastmasters, ghost shrimp (which you can pump at low tide from the beach there) early am before the wind kicks in (usually around 10) or before sunset when it usually glasses off. Use light line (6-8 lb test) and fish the channel edges, flats, and lagoon mouths. You should catch plenty, though typically nothing huge. One thing about south bay is that you don't necessarily need a lot of tidal movement to catch fish. Don't be afraid to move around if it's slow where you're at. Drop shotting ghost shrimp and small plastics with some scent on them ought to get you some spotties and the occasional bonefish, but I've hooked halibut, croaker, and sharks with the same rig as well. I usually deadstick one of those rigs and throw metal or small swimbaits with another. I've fished Tidelands a bunch also and it's always been slimmer pickings for me there. Good luck.

jbaker · 05-14-2010, 08:05 PM

epic day out in the bay today. between me and my buddy we caught 15 spotties, a 3 halibut, a mackerel and a cuda. every cast was a hook up or a bite, weather was a little cold but it was pretty much a lake out there. wore out all my swimbaits and grubs, time to go shopping and get back out, thanks for the help everyone

05-08-2010, 07:34 AM	#5
FishFeeder Junior Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 17	moving water helps From Tidelands, fish above the bridge toward the mainland side (maybe the second to third piling from the SD side of the bridge), preferably when the tide is going out or coming in. should be plenty of spotted bay bass to be had using drop shot with 3-4 inch chartreuse or yellow tails on 3/8 to 1/2 oz head, just bouncing along the bottom in 30-40 ft depth. and as they say, sometimes it's called 'fishing not catching' for a reason--but it still beats sitting here in front of the computer, right?

05-08-2010, 04:47 PM	#6
dniss Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 77	close to a sure thing anyway Launch from J street with small plastics, Kastmasters, ghost shrimp (which you can pump at low tide from the beach there) early am before the wind kicks in (usually around 10) or before sunset when it usually glasses off. Use light line (6-8 lb test) and fish the channel edges, flats, and lagoon mouths. You should catch plenty, though typically nothing huge. One thing about south bay is that you don't necessarily need a lot of tidal movement to catch fish. Don't be afraid to move around if it's slow where you're at. Drop shotting ghost shrimp and small plastics with some scent on them ought to get you some spotties and the occasional bonefish, but I've hooked halibut, croaker, and sharks with the same rig as well. I usually deadstick one of those rigs and throw metal or small swimbaits with another. I've fished Tidelands a bunch also and it's always been slimmer pickings for me there. Good luck.

05-07-2010, 10:40 PM	#1
jbaker Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Redding Ca Posts: 85	White Curly tailed grubs and Chartreuse with black flake grubs, I'll check these out. been throwing a rainbow of swim baits in all different sizes and weights lathered in unibutter bouncing them off the bottom as we drift along. I don't have a fish finder or bait tank yet. but have been studying every chart i can find. thanks for the quick response.

05-08-2010, 06:44 AM	#3
Jimmyz123 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,385	Without having a depth finder I recommend looking for the channel markers they are Green and Red and they mark the edge of the channel, which is the deeper part of the bay. One thing I have learned about the bay is if the tide is not moving, the bite is not happening. Keep that in mind.

05-08-2010, 07:22 AM	#4
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,123	Sometimes it's all about luck... Of course those with better skills and more experience are usually more lucky than the rest of us. When I got started, I hooked up with a couple of mentors who showed me the ropes. It made a big difference. Bob

05-14-2010, 08:05 PM	#7
jbaker Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Redding Ca Posts: 85	epic day out in the bay today. between me and my buddy we caught 15 spotties, a 3 halibut, a mackerel and a cuda. every cast was a hook up or a bite, weather was a little cold but it was pretty much a lake out there. wore out all my swimbaits and grubs, time to go shopping and get back out, thanks for the help everyone