Catalina trip/Need tips

Will be taking the ferry out to Avalon and spending one night there. Thinking about renting a kayak once there but for sure will fish off the pier or breakwater. Any tips on what kind of fish to expect, lures & or bait to use etc will be much appreciated. Thanks!                            Jim/redyak

Will be taking the ferry out to Avalon and spending one night there. Thinking about renting a kayak once there but for sure will fish off the pier or breakwater. Any tips on what kind of fish to expect, lures & or bait to use etc will be much appreciated. Thanks!                            Jim/redyak

I'm a SoCal transplant.  The avalon area (including the pier) sometimes has a furious bonito bite going.  And since there's so much kelp around, you stand a fair chance at anything from calico bass to barracuda, and maybe even the wayward yellowtail.  Sheephead are also a possibility.  Perch, halfmoon, opaleye are all likely from the pier.

You can catch the incidential garibaldi which are all over the place, but definitely release those (state fish). 

Terminal Tackle-wise, bring some hi/lo bait rigs, carolina rigs, 1/4 or 1/2 oz kastmasters, some swimbaits 3 to 5 inch, and a bucktail jig or two.  That'll be plenty to cover your bases over two days of whatever type of fish you happen to do. 

Rod wise, bring the best rig your travel route will accommodate.  don't know if your flying or driving.  you can buy bag anchovies and squid at the island so don't worry about bait.

BTW, two days is MORE than enough.  Avalon grows weary pretty quickly.

Take lots of pics and post a report!! 

I'd add a blue / white or green / white Krocodile spoon for casting and trolling. If you want something else a 'tail might eat, add a hardbait such as a Rapala CD14 for kayak trolling. Fishing a live mackerel would be better though.

If there are bonito around, they'll fall all over a noisy hardbait such as a Rebel Spoonbill. The bass are the bread and butter. Cast in / around the kelp and work structure with swimbaits for them.   

Thanks for all the great tips guys. Much appreciated! Picked up the beer at costco tonite. Now I just need to get down to the pro shop in rp this weekend and gear up. Again thanks!                     Jim/redyak