Where did the LJ kelp bed go? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Sheephead · 10-12-2015, 11:48 AM

I was fishing last saturday and was disappointed when I realized the kelp bed disappeared. I've fished LJ kelp year round for the past 10ish years and have never seen no kelp bed so far north next to the point. There were a few isolated kelp's scattered about but didn't extend out as far as the normal kelp bed would. What's going on?

ctfphoto · 10-12-2015, 11:57 AM

High Tide

Goose1993 · 10-12-2015, 11:59 AM

A lot of times the wind and current pushes it diagonal with the surface so you can't see it. You will see it however if you have a fish finder or drop your sabiki down deep and get snagged whenever you drift 5 feet.

Kelp grows fast, so it breaks off fast too. Maybe a lot of it broke off and drifted away, and the wind pushed it down.

The only other thing I could think of it the kelp harvester boats just cleaned the area out.

Jim Sammons LJKF · 10-12-2015, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goose1993

A lot of times the wind and current pushes it diagonal with the surface so you can't see it. You will see it however if you have a fish finder or drop your sabiki down deep and get snagged whenever you drift 5 feet.

Kelp grows fast, so it breaks off fast too. Maybe a lot of it broke off and drifted away, and the wind pushed it down.

The only other thing I could think of it the kelp harvester boats just cleaned the area out.

We no longer have the kelp harvest boats here, Kelpco left many years ago. Current pushes the kelp down and we do in fact have much less kelp right now than normal because of the warm water. Kelp does best in cold water and warm water weakens it so it breaks off much easier. Also grows slower in the warm water.

Sdspeed · 10-12-2015, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Sammons LJKF

We no longer have the kelp harvest boats here, Kelpco left many years ago. Current pushes the kelp down and we do in fact have much less kelp right now than normal because of the warm water. Kelp does best in cold water and warm water weakens it so it breaks off much easier. Also grows slower in the warm water.

Jim's right, we lost them in 2005 when they moved their entire San Diego operation to the exisiting faccility they have in Scotland. In 2005 they said it cost them 1/20th the cost to harvest and process in Scotland vs. San Diego.

GregAndrew · 10-13-2015, 06:15 AM

The reason the kelp does not fare well in the warm water is that the animals and other plants that eat it thrive in the warm water.

Mahigeer · 10-13-2015, 07:30 AM

There is no kelp left at the Cabrillo Mole in Catalina either.

It has to do with the current higher temperature of the water.

Kelp grows very fast, so even if the tops were gone, it could grow back.

The warmer temp must weaken the hold fast that kelp uses to stick itself to the rocks.

Also the sea urchins can devastate a kelp forest. Lobsters keep them in check.

acorad · 10-12-2015, 12:19 PM

I asked the same thing about my fave 'Bu kelp bed, I was told the kelps don't like the warmer water of the el Nino.

Andy

Zed · 10-12-2015, 02:05 PM

Most beds are at 33% or less compared to boom seasons. Dana and SanO can be fished as you want w flyline now. It comes and goes. Its not the end of the world. A lot of my marks were made in past warmwater years and can only be fished in those years. I like it better. The pothole posse has no skill.

On KelCo. If you newbies think the lobster season adds too much kelp debris to the water, fishing on a kelp harvest days made trolling unmanageable. Fishing Blacks or Tourmaline was a good option on those days. KelCo is gone but so is Blacks and Tourmaline.

YakDout · 10-12-2015, 05:30 PM

Lobster boats cutting and breaking tops of kelp. But that makes for lots of those offshore paddies 😁

Sheephead · 10-12-2015, 05:50 PM

Thanks for all the replies and filling me in! I'm guessing it is mainly because of the trappers and warm water then cause my FF wasn't showing anything nor could I see any submerged kelp with 10-15' vis.

10-12-2015, 11:48 AM	#1
Sheephead Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 115	Where did the LJ kelp bed go? I was fishing last saturday and was disappointed when I realized the kelp bed disappeared. I've fished LJ kelp year round for the past 10ish years and have never seen no kelp bed so far north next to the point. There were a few isolated kelp's scattered about but didn't extend out as far as the normal kelp bed would. What's going on?

10-12-2015, 02:05 PM	#9
Zed BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: W of 5 Posts: 1,265	Most beds are at 33% or less compared to boom seasons. Dana and SanO can be fished as you want w flyline now. It comes and goes. Its not the end of the world. A lot of my marks were made in past warmwater years and can only be fished in those years. I like it better. The pothole posse has no skill. On KelCo. If you newbies think the lobster season adds too much kelp debris to the water, fishing on a kelp harvest days made trolling unmanageable. Fishing Blacks or Tourmaline was a good option on those days. KelCo is gone but so is Blacks and Tourmaline. __________________ Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a week.

10-12-2015, 11:57 AM	#2
ctfphoto Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 901	High Tide

10-12-2015, 11:59 AM	#3
Goose1993 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 115	A lot of times the wind and current pushes it diagonal with the surface so you can't see it. You will see it however if you have a fish finder or drop your sabiki down deep and get snagged whenever you drift 5 feet. Kelp grows fast, so it breaks off fast too. Maybe a lot of it broke off and drifted away, and the wind pushed it down. The only other thing I could think of it the kelp harvester boats just cleaned the area out.

10-13-2015, 06:15 AM	#6
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	The reason the kelp does not fare well in the warm water is that the animals and other plants that eat it thrive in the warm water.

10-13-2015, 07:30 AM	#7
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,863	There is no kelp left at the Cabrillo Mole in Catalina either. It has to do with the current higher temperature of the water. Kelp grows very fast, so even if the tops were gone, it could grow back. The warmer temp must weaken the hold fast that kelp uses to stick itself to the rocks. Also the sea urchins can devastate a kelp forest. Lobsters keep them in check.

10-12-2015, 12:19 PM	#8
acorad Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Agoura Hills Posts: 166	I asked the same thing about my fave 'Bu kelp bed, I was told the kelps don't like the warmer water of the el Nino. Andy

10-12-2015, 05:30 PM	#10
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	Lobster boats cutting and breaking tops of kelp. But that makes for lots of those offshore paddies 😁

10-12-2015, 05:50 PM	#11
Sheephead Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 115	Thanks for all the replies and filling me in! I'm guessing it is mainly because of the trappers and warm water then cause my FF wasn't showing anything nor could I see any submerged kelp with 10-15' vis.