La Jolla

I just got back from La Jolla,.  We go every year for Christmas with the family.

I got out twice, on Mnday and Wednesday.  The HOT bite on yellowtail is, unfortuneately, not hot no more.  the big storm that rolled through brought gint swells and scatterd all the bait, especialy the squiddies that the yellowtail were munching on.

There were a few sandies and calicos being caught, but I was out at "the spot" so didn't go for the bass. 

Wednesday was especialy nice as I was accompanied by Paul Lebowitz and John Pawlak.  Paul is a fantastic host and even passed off some live mackerel for me to use as bait.

i had one 'load-up' while yo-yoing a mackerel iron, but the fish didn't stick.  Weather was a bit iffy, with clouds wind, and a swell, but it was very fishable, just no fish.  Chatted with veteran Ice Man Andy....he was skunked as well, so I don't feel too bad.

Great to get out there with a couple locs.  I'm putting in my time and paying the dues.....next time..........

Allen

Thanks for the post Allen.  Hoping to get down that way soon, used to free dive there as a teenager.  Is there anything open in the next few months or is it closed like here?  How about launch sites, sources?

Mustache Pete

Sorry to hear the YT eluded you.  At least you got to hang with PAL. We LOVE PAL!!! He is a great guy, we had a great time when he toured norcal.  I look forward to sharing some socal time with him in 06.

I read you, Sean.  He sure picked an appropriate login name...

And pete, I think there's quite a few species down there that just stay open.  Check the regs.  I know there's halibut available, and WSB, the bonita and the yellowtail are in and out through the winter.  Best time there is the Spring, Summer, and Fall they tell me, but it's easier to fish the ocean there all year round.

I wouldn't mind living and fishing there at all, except for no redwood forests.  and salmon, I guess.  and Steamer Lane.  Oh, and steelhead. 

I hope to get down there for a quick 2-3 day "fishing only" trip in Spring.  PAL has to get a pic of me with an LJ yellow, it's a quest, now.

Allen

hey allen- i got cleared for a last minute spring trip as well.  Wife was sad I (once again) didn't get into a YT, especially when brother-in-law nailed them only a few days prior to our arrival... 

Greg is going to drop email when it turns on, then I'm climbing in the WRX and heading down...

the crowds down there would drive me crazy. I'm sure once you are on the water
it's okay, but it sounds pretty bad launching and parking.

nice place to visit, not sure I'd want to live there.

agree with you jmairey...my wife's from down there (Bonita), and we've talked about moving down at some point- west of I-5 would be the only place for me to live down there.  I can't see moving there yet though- too many people!

The La Jolla launch is the cream of all the CA launches, John.  You drive out onto the BEACH!!!!.............

At 6am, parking isn't much of a problem either.

Pat

Kind of kidding about living there... too many Brad Pitt wannabes for my taste.  On the plus side, the launch at LJ is awesome.  Pull up on the beach, dump your stuff, park the car and you're out!

last week there were maybe a total of 8 yakkers on Mon and 4 or so on Wed spread over a very broad area.  Of course the bite was off, so.......

Another big plus they have is MEXICO right down the road....real good fishing in deserted locales.

I'd really like to visit more down there for YT's and tuna, but I'm afraid I'm just a Northerner type of guy.  Might even make the move to Seattle area in  a few years, hobnob with Howard more often.

Allen

I'll be down there on business (I think) in january, maybe I'll get to check it out.

Allen, it was great to share some water with you again. The pleasure was all mine. Too bad we couldn't get you hooked up. You know, it boils down to TOW. Steve, sorry you couldn't make it - Christmas Eve '04 was a blast. Sean, any chance you and that hot stick you call your son will make the trip down sometime?

The Iceman connected again yesterday, but it was with a flat one. The yellows are still laying low.

You know, I'm just trying to keep my Cen and NorCal visa current! Fishing up north is a highlight of my year. I hope to make the long trek to Elk in 2006. My own quest is for a kayak salmon - you guys will let me know, right? I'm trying to swing a stop by Monterey Bay in early June. 

We fish year-round at La Jolla, and are lucky that any day could be the one. In winter, the yellows are usually few and far between, but the biggest of the year. Our grey ghosts visit most reliably in spring, and we get our most consistent yellowtail bite in the late summer and fall. If it weren't for the great fishing just offshore, I don't think I could cope with the crowds. You leave most of them behind once you get on the water. Only summer weekends are busy out at the kelp, and if I want some water to call my own, I just paddle an extra 30 minutes.   

PAL-I plan on coming down several time in 06.  Tell me when and I'll book it.  I NEED a YT in 06 and I'd love visit.

Steve:

Maybe we can hook up for a rematch down in LJ together.......  I'm looking for a YT, but a WSB would be OK, I guess......

Sean, let's keep each other posted, maybe save some gas  $ and have an exotic go-out together!

Allen

I used to live in NORCAL, and thought the same thing. I could never live with all those people in SD again! I would miss the clean air, Sierras, friendly vibe, Salmon, Trout, shad fishing, but...........................................................Once you catch a Yellowtail on a kayak, you will never go back!  :   I'd like to get back to Norcal, my cousin lives in Santa Rosa, maybe this summer!

If any of you Norcal anglers are in SD, post on a socal message board, or send me a PM, and I'd be happy to show you what I know about La Jolla. 

Chris 

Once you catch a Yellowtail on a kayak, you will never go back! 

Chris -  we may not have yellow tails here in Nor Cal...but we have big dinos to make up for it