channel islands santa cruz

I’m headed to Santa Cruz Channel Islands the third week of May. I’ve contemplated brining my kayak for the trip… at this point I’m pretty committed to the idea of brining my revo 11. Potentially damaging my baby, or running into a shark with no emergency services within a close proximity are the major setbacks in my mind.
However the dream of slaying a yellow tail, or halibut. As well as exploring the scenery from the water contrast the setbacks.
I searching for for sone helpful advice for fishing out of scorpion anchorage off Santa Cruz Island. I understand there is a protected zone at the anchorage from the fish legal app. Besides the helpful information from you rad people on NCKA, I’m going to call the kayak business on the island for their perspective as well. Not sure what the probable outcome of that dream coming true. However if I don’t try it’s a big zero. Anyone have an experience, or good stories fishing SC channel island?

I looked into doing the trip myself.
You will need to get a ticket to the island and the then one for leaving the island. Plus the extra kayak price both ways. On top of that you have to make sure they have space available for the kayak and gear.
The easy part are the 6 foot bow line with a clip on the end.
Summer time gets really busy.
As far as fishing I havent fished that side of the island since i was kid.
Hope it all works in your favor
I am looking into doing a day trip with the wife in our tandem kayak.
Although she keeps saying she would rather the the guide trip.

Wow that sounds like a cool trip.... dove Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa many years ago with Truth Aquatics and had a blast.   Got a big ling at Santa Rosa and the boat had a feast with all of our catch of the day.

Troy

As far as fishing I havent fished that side of the island since i was kid.
Hope it all works in your favor
I am looking into doing a day trip with the wife in our tandem kayak.
Although she keeps saying she would rather the the guide trip.

Tell the wife you can find her the best guide for the best price. Meaning yourself! Hope you can get a trip planned soon. Thanks for the wishes.

I’ll definitely bring sone swim baits for rock fishing, Troy.. Any action will be entertaining and fun! Hoping warm water, kelp beds and any bird sightings could lead to a sea bass or yellow tail hook up.

This was April 10th. We did a day hike on the island

Hi Nuggy,
I've done the kayak trip from Scorpion multiple times, camping up to 6 days at a time.
My BIL has been a kayak guide out there for something like 15 years now. I've guided a few trips but not since the park changed to a single outfitter a few years ago.
I do know the pier is new and updated from the old one.

The kayaking is great if conditions are good. Wind is the main weather to watch out for.
The caves are awesome but beware if you bring a kayak you want to keep nice, as the cave rocks etc just really eat them up, especially longer hulled yaks. Also the swell changes the depth quite a bit in some caves so Hobies can get their drives trashed if they get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Dog Leg, Green Room, Elephants Belly, Surging T are all great caves. Bring the most powerful headlamp you've got, and gloves help too.
In good weather Potato harbor is a great day trip destination against the prevailing wind, making for an easier trip home along the exposed coast.

As far as fishing goes, I've sadly never seen any of the hook and line guys or any spearos bring in anything of note. Small calicos, small halibut, that's about it.
Lobsters in season are the only seafood I've seen anyone get that they could eat
Trolling a small rapala type lure is usually the best producer for calicos, sometimes a smaller swimbait works well too, cast close to the rocks.
Scorpion is like Disneyland compared to how it used to be. The concession cycles like 100+ people a day through the summer season sometimes twice that if you can believe it.
I think you'll have a good time if the weather cooperates. Even with all the caveats, it's still an amazing place to see.

Santa Rosa is less impacted, and I've seen shore guys hook leopard sharks and surfperch from the beach near the wharf. Every trip I've done on SR had had free dive spearos on it, and in the last 4 years prior to Covid, we've never seen anyone land anything from the wharf area.
The backside of SR is known for the pelagics though, and BIG halibut to over 50# from some of the deep sandy spots on the front side. SR requires some real experience, but I've talked to a few BASKers that have done it, and our last trip there we camped next to a couple from Italy who circumnavigated the island in two fancy SIKs.

Roscoe13 that’s a beautiful photo you captured. What a nice memory to reference and share in the future. I did that same hike in February, such a nice way to tour the island. I brought my surf casting rod, and a few Lucky Craft lures on the hike. We had the beach all to ourselves. Managed to collect some uni, even hooked a plump barred surf perch at the beach.

Wow Piscean! That a lot of helpful info. Thanks for your perspective and experience. I know what to ask for my birthday now, a head light! Imagine that was a fun chapter in your life as a kayak guide in a NTL park. I’ll certainly maintain my eye on the wind forecast prior to the trip, and finalize brining my yak. Hopefully the stars align, and I can come write up a nice report. Thanks again for sharing