Beach day today. The fog cleared out around noon and revealed another beautiful day. Summer and I took the kayaks out for a bit at Refugio. The water was full of kelp right on the shore, but 100 feet out it cleared to beautiful visibility, up to 20 feet!

We paddled around some and I saw massive bait schools 15 feet down by the kelp beds. Just acres of bait out there. Since it was so thick I snagged some and tried using it on my big hammer jig head. In just 15 minutes of snagging I brought up huge anchovies, perfect 6" sardines, smelt, and 10" mackerel. None of these attracted any bites. Neither did the big hammer by itself.

I'm sure fish are around there, it was way too fishy looking, but I suspect the bite would be early or late with that volume of bait and the very clear water. I fished for maybe an hour total.

One thing to look out for up there is the floating oil/tar scum on the surface. The kayaks got covered in that stuff which was a real pain to clean up.

After fishing I decided to play around in the waves to see how the kayaks handled. I've never flipped a kayak before and figured it would be better to risk it without any fishing tackle :) There were some 3-4 foot faces coming in so...

step 1 - Wait for a set to come in
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/daily_reports/7_8_07_1.jpg

step 2 - This looks promising (note large piles of kelp on shore)
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/daily_reports/7_8_07_2.jpg

step 3 - Paddle in to wave (note beachgoer pausing to watch the idiot in the kayak)
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/daily_reports/7_8_07_3.jpg

step 4 - FLUSH! Fall out of kayak, kayaks rolls over head, clothing filled with kelp.
http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/daily_reports/7_8_07_4.jpg

Repeat that 3 times

By the third near drowning, I figured I was good on kayak handling, the moral of the story being that catching beach break waves in a kayak isn't a very good idea. Had a good laugh and headed home :)

http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/daily_reports/7_8_07_4.jpg


again

http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/daily_reports/7_8_07_4.jpg
hahahahahah

thats your new avitar dude!




http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/daily_reports/7_8_07_4.jpg

priceless lmao

Atta boy!!

Looks like you're gonna get a mouthfull of seaweed :o . Ive taken my kayak out 3 times now and 2 out of the 3 times I've been dumped also.
I may try haskells out this week if anyone is interested?

Rob,

Try Baby oil and a rag to get that tar off...works great.

Bryan

we party!