Rockfish and Bones... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Saba Slayer · 04-15-2020, 07:32 PM

I was invited to launch from one of the yacht clubs today and even had a tow, out to the deepwater spot...what a nice lazy morning...and what a BEAUTIFUL day

I really needed that Aqua Therapy...

We obeyed the recommendations...Social Distancing in our separate boats...

The PA 14 tows pretty good even up to about 5mph...Thanks Jeff at Cedros and Kevin at Hobie for the advise...skeg down, rudder up, and drive out with the plug in.
We launched about 8am and we both had limits by 9:30...I used the AHI Squirts, strips of Squid and 8 ounces of weight...Nothing big today...but lots of bites and all quality Reds for me...John had a couple bigger Salmon Grouper...wormy bastards...

The offshores were blowing pretty good good till about 9 when it switched around...there was about a half hour of perfect weather then the wind came on pretty good from offshore.
There are lots of perfect bait size Macks out there right now...they were a pest in a couple of the rockfish spots...it's amazing how quickly they can screw up a fishing rig...LOL
On the way back in John and I trolled the outer break wall with a couple of Rapalas and a Daisy chain hoping for a stray Bonito...as luck would have it, we found a couple of schools that wanted to play...nothing huge, but two was enough to make Poke, Tuna rolls and some spicy Tuna for my wife and I tonight...That Bonito is sooooo good...

...it was really nice to have some fresh raw fish tonight.
Kinda weird to have schools of Bonito around in April...maybe they got stuck in quarantine...
Hopefully we'll all be back on the water soon...I feel blessed to have had that opportunity to fish today...Thanks John...

SDROB · 04-15-2020, 08:42 PM

Yeah buddy!

cris · 04-15-2020, 08:59 PM

Damn I’ve been waiting for the bones to return.

Nice haul Jim!

Saba Slayer · 04-16-2020, 09:51 AM

[QUOTE=cris;305952]Damn I’ve been waiting for the bones to return.

Hey Cris...I'm not sure I'd call this the "return of the Bonito" that you've been waiting for...

LOL
I've been fishing the South Bay Bonito for over 30 years and I can't recall catching schooling fish in April before now.
Maybe a Homeguard Bone once in a while if they're desperate to eat or if I get lucky...but for the most part the season generally seems to run from August through December...anytime after that and I feel blessed to run into one let alone a school of em...

cris · 04-16-2020, 09:53 AM

I guess I’m going bat shit crazy sitting at home.

Harry Hill · 04-16-2020, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cris

I guess I’m going bat shit crazy sitting at home.

we all are, well, maybe I was batshit crazy before it started but being stuck at home doesn't help.

buckygoesfishing · 04-15-2020, 09:12 PM

Nice catch! man, I definitely need to get me some of that Ahi Squirts. That fish cleaning setup is pretty nice too; thanks for giving me some more DIY ideas.

Harry Hill · 04-16-2020, 06:22 AM

it's just good to see someone getting out and on the fish.Thanks for the report

daperrin · 04-16-2020, 09:43 AM

Great catch, how deep were you?

Saba Slayer · 04-17-2020, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daperrin

Great catch, how deep were you?

The Bones were in 25' to 55' of water...

Harry Hill · 04-17-2020, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saba Slayer

The Bones were in 25' to 55' of water...

I think he meant the rock fish?

04-15-2020, 07:32 PM	#1
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,833	Rockfish and Bones... I was invited to launch from one of the yacht clubs today and even had a tow, out to the deepwater spot...what a nice lazy morning...and what a BEAUTIFUL day I really needed that Aqua Therapy... We obeyed the recommendations...Social Distancing in our separate boats... The PA 14 tows pretty good even up to about 5mph...Thanks Jeff at Cedros and Kevin at Hobie for the advise...skeg down, rudder up, and drive out with the plug in. We launched about 8am and we both had limits by 9:30...I used the AHI Squirts, strips of Squid and 8 ounces of weight...Nothing big today...but lots of bites and all quality Reds for me...John had a couple bigger Salmon Grouper...wormy bastards... The offshores were blowing pretty good good till about 9 when it switched around...there was about a half hour of perfect weather then the wind came on pretty good from offshore. There are lots of perfect bait size Macks out there right now...they were a pest in a couple of the rockfish spots...it's amazing how quickly they can screw up a fishing rig...LOL On the way back in John and I trolled the outer break wall with a couple of Rapalas and a Daisy chain hoping for a stray Bonito...as luck would have it, we found a couple of schools that wanted to play...nothing huge, but two was enough to make Poke, Tuna rolls and some spicy Tuna for my wife and I tonight...That Bonito is sooooo good......it was really nice to have some fresh raw fish tonight. Kinda weird to have schools of Bonito around in April...maybe they got stuck in quarantine... Hopefully we'll all be back on the water soon...I feel blessed to have had that opportunity to fish today...Thanks John... Attached Images __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

04-15-2020, 08:42 PM	#2
SDROB Malibu Stealth 12 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Hollywood, San Diego, Gonzaga Bay Posts: 512	Yeah buddy! __________________ She will keep you warm in the winter and give you shade in the summer (Rossman) I'm telling ya, you have to keep these suckers on a game clip until just before you drop them in the frying pan.(Rossman)

04-16-2020, 09:51 AM	#4
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,833	Return...? [QUOTE=cris;305952]Damn I’ve been waiting for the bones to return. Hey Cris...I'm not sure I'd call this the "return of the Bonito" that you've been waiting for...LOL I've been fishing the South Bay Bonito for over 30 years and I can't recall catching schooling fish in April before now. Maybe a Homeguard Bone once in a while if they're desperate to eat or if I get lucky...but for the most part the season generally seems to run from August through December...anytime after that and I feel blessed to run into one let alone a school of em... __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

04-16-2020, 06:22 AM	#8
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	it's just good to see someone getting out and on the fish.Thanks for the report __________________ you can't eat it if you release it

04-16-2020, 09:43 AM	#9
daperrin www.TheKayakLaunch Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Orange County Posts: 227	Great catch, how deep were you? __________________ David P YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thekayaklaunch https://www.instagram.com/thekayaklaunch

04-15-2020, 08:59 PM	#3
cris Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 254	Damn I’ve been waiting for the bones to return. Nice haul Jim!

04-16-2020, 09:53 AM	#5
cris Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 254	I guess I’m going bat shit crazy sitting at home.

04-15-2020, 09:12 PM	#7
buckygoesfishing Junior Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 28	Nice catch! man, I definitely need to get me some of that Ahi Squirts. That fish cleaning setup is pretty nice too; thanks for giving me some more DIY ideas.