April fools, Mission Bay - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Harry Hill · 04-01-2016, 03:24 PM

got on the water a little before 7am from Mission Point Park. The parking lot was full at 06:30, luckily I found an open spot near the restrooms. The water was 59 degrees with an outgoing tide. My plan was to go out of the bay to look for halibut or rock fish but when I got to the mouth of the bay the swells were huge and close together. I decided discretion being the better part of valor I would stay in the bay but then I had another dilemna, the tide was picking up speed and I was having a hard time making headway. On the way out I had a made a lot of bait as the mackerel were thick, I also got one jacksmelt on the sabiki. Once I got half way in I decided to soak some squid for awhile. While I was fishing I met a gentleman named Vito who was coming back from the outside in his Hobie, he seemed to cover water a lot fast than I was. Vito said he hadn't caught anything and hadn't had much luck since the first of the year. I told him I had nailed a bunch of mackerel but no halibut. While I was fishing a big boat named the Chubasco almost ran over me. I had to paddle hard to get out of the way and he passed within about 15' pushing a huge wake, it got kind of hairy for a couple of minutes. I decided to head in and go over to OEX to pick up a hatch for the kayak. All in all not a great day but not terrible and I think I learned to be more aware of what is going on before heading out of the bay.

04-01-2016, 03:24 PM	#1
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	April fools, Mission Bay got on the water a little before 7am from Mission Point Park. The parking lot was full at 06:30, luckily I found an open spot near the restrooms. The water was 59 degrees with an outgoing tide. My plan was to go out of the bay to look for halibut or rock fish but when I got to the mouth of the bay the swells were huge and close together. I decided discretion being the better part of valor I would stay in the bay but then I had another dilemna, the tide was picking up speed and I was having a hard time making headway. On the way out I had a made a lot of bait as the mackerel were thick, I also got one jacksmelt on the sabiki. Once I got half way in I decided to soak some squid for awhile. While I was fishing I met a gentleman named Vito who was coming back from the outside in his Hobie, he seemed to cover water a lot fast than I was. Vito said he hadn't caught anything and hadn't had much luck since the first of the year. I told him I had nailed a bunch of mackerel but no halibut. While I was fishing a big boat named the Chubasco almost ran over me. I had to paddle hard to get out of the way and he passed within about 15' pushing a huge wake, it got kind of hairy for a couple of minutes. I decided to head in and go over to OEX to pick up a hatch for the kayak. All in all not a great day but not terrible and I think I learned to be more aware of what is going on before heading out of the bay.