Rockfish opener (enhancement stamp edition)

No way am I going to make it to May 1st.

PJ and I have been talking about taking a run down for the March opener south of Pt. Conception. Looking for interest, will probably camp overnight.

very interested, let's do it.  Leave saturday the 28th stay until the 2nd?
something like that?

No way am I going to make it to May 1st.

PJ and I have been talking about taking a run down for the March opener south of Pt. Conception. Looking for interest, will probably camp overnight.

ARE YOUR KIDDING ME???  THAT IS A LONG ARSE PADDLE FROM HERE!!!!  Oh, I get it, you want to drive down & launch there?

I'm in more than likely.  Sounds great, we were mapping out areas last night.  Where are you thinking of camping Dogpound?  I believe options include;

Refugio (sounds like tent friendly, no hookups)
El Capitan (larger more amenities)
Gaviota (no that's not a part of the female anatomy, more rugged, closer to Pt. Conception, possibly better fishing, more susceptible to rougher weather-could be a good thing)

IMHO exclusively based on scanning marine maps I would pick-Refugio or El Cap.  The main reason being is that there is a boat hoist on the Gaviota Pier, the other 2 are closer to SB & pretty close together.

PJ

PJ -

All of the SB beaches can have some big surf in the winter and the surf fishing can be excellent for slab perch. For rockfish and cabbies check out Jalama Beach. There is some good structure in the area and I have bagged cabbies from shore but never yak launched there. There is a surf-cam at Jalama so you can get good surf intel. Anyway worth a trip even if only to surf fish. Unfortunately I can only do short trips for a few months. Check out the Santa Inez wineries if you need to kill some time. You and Greg could do the "sideways" thing. 

Good Luck!!! Scott

PJ -

All of the SB beaches can have some big surf in the winter and the surf fishing can be excellent for slab perch. For rockfish and cabbies check out Jalama Beach. There is some good structure in the area and I have bagged cabbies from shore but never yak launched there. There is a surf-cam at Jalama so you can get good surf intel. Anyway worth a trip even if only to surf fish. Unfortunately I can only do short trips for a few months. Check out the Santa Inez wineries if you need to kill some time. You and Greg could do the "sideways" thing. 

Good Luck!!! Scott

Scott,

I've spent years @ Jalama kitesurfing, surfing & a little shore fishing.  The deal with the swell in SB County is that once your south of Conception it's a quarter of the size north of Conception.  Gaviota south is almost always pretty small compared to up here, even during March.  Only exception are large west swells which do make it into the SB Channel.  Even south swells are blocked by the Channel Islands.  We'll watch the forecast & anything less than a 8 foot due west swell & we'll be fine.

Once things calm down (around summer) I would love to hit Jalama kayak fishing.  It's a totally untouched area, you NEVER see boats in there, it's just too long a haul & the wind can be beyond brutal.  I spoke with a guy who did a day run from Jalama to Gaviota, he said he was beat but it was a blast.  It would be ideal if we could camp somewhere in between & the 2 & make a multi day trip out of it.  I have an idea where. 

The toughest nut to crack would be the launch @ Jalama.  If we just hit it @ the right time I could definitely be done.

PJ

I have surfed jalama (beach break and tarantulas), as well as the legendary el cap.

if it was flat, jalama would be the shizniz I would think as it is probably not fished too hard. but man, it can be windy in the spring as PJ's photos show.

This sounds fun, I would be into this one! Normally I don't travel to fish, but big sur was so fun last year, I would be down for something like this one.

John

PJ -

I agree Jalama is the toughest surf since I was a surfer back in the day and used to camp/surf there alot. I thought the distance to good structure seemed pretty short at Jalama compared to other SB beaches and you you are the SURF MASTER. I figure if you guys bring your surf boards, surf fishing rods and beer, you are guaranteed a good time. 

Scott

PJ I think refugio or el cap would be good places,  i agree that gaviota might be better fishing but as you said much more susceptible to rough weather, the wind there is insane!  three weeks ago on my way down to Santa Barbara for work I stopped at Gaviota and the wind was ridiculous, and then just down the road at refugio it was almost calm. 

BTW, Jalama is out. It's north of Conception in the south central area and closed till May.

Ok Im in not sure about the 1st but that time frame was in the plans already just wasnt planning it out yet... I would say Refugio would be are best bet have fished it a half dozen times and could get a big group to come up from so cal region to fish with us could be really fun get two sites fish the weekend. I will see what I can get going. Camping for me might be out of the question till April busy work schedule and all but would be down for a day trip. Any of you guys down for a trip during the week like a Monday or Tuesday. I could make it sooner if we did that, due to thats my weekends, Monday thru Wednesday...

If anyone is down for a weekday trip let me know. I might get out on the 9th or 10th or 11th. It could be worth the drive and if it doesnt pay off then at least I got out and thats what I really need. Pull out the squid and lets GET SOME!!!

Holy crap, I had no idea it opened March 1st down south. I'm in! Less go!

Holy crap, I had no idea it opened March 1st down south. I'm in! Less go!

Ya it didnt close till the 1st of Jan down there.

So back to the BU we go. IN hopes for some nice rockfish and some bass maybe some spring Halibut and a good chance for a WSB and much more a few sharks might get caught as well. Lings will be off limits of course due to still out of season till April 1 lets get some Bass I got a nice fatty.



All up for the BU say I !!!

I, I, I!!!  I love it there.  Went to school there, met my wife there, used to live there, used to get in trouble there...ALL the fun stuff.

We should camp @ Leo Carillo or, I know there's some good campsites above Malibu Seafood, up Corral Canyon Rd. It's a private campground but I believe the sites are on a terrace with a FULL ocean view.  Otherwise, Leo is killer.

LEO would be best be right on the water and beable to launch in the dark and paddle to the spots and get a living...