Channel Island Fish and Chill August 6th thru 10th

Looking into organizing a fishing trip to the Channel Islands. Could be very reasonable and a fun way to open the season down south. Contacting some transportation boats and finding out the best rates. From what I saw it could cost roughly $800 for 9 people and transport of kayaks and gears back and forth to Santa Cruz island  with around $40 per night for a group site and we could use 1 or 2 depending on interest. Let me know if this is something someone else might be interested in and we could figure out food later with everyone responsible to one part of a meal  and catch our dinner. Anyone have a tips or advice feel free to chime in.
Later
Jimbo

HELLYES! Count me in for that. Did that with SoCal friends in the early 2000's. It was very fun.

Ariel

Sweet , I have been eyeing this trip for years and I need to cross this off the list of shit I want to do! It looks like an awesome place to go freediving also!

Definitely interested.

Is there a link from a previous trip with more specifics?

Thats a trip I wanna do also.  How's the weather in March, spring generally blows. 

bring helmets for the caves!

done this trip a number of times and it is always fun, but I've never done well fishing. the closure area from Potato harbor around past Scorpion anchorage (Santa Cruz Is) makes it quite a paddle to get to legal fishing. IMO the trip is still worth it.

Weather in march is usually rainy down there, but you never know 'til you go.

I am looking at Santa Cruz and Anacapa Island. It looks like Anacapa island the fishing is very close to the campground and Santa Cruz is about a mile or so. Anyone have any input as to which would be the best campsites for fishing would be great!

MLPA Santa Cruz

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=65093&inline=true

MLPA Anacapa

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=47803&inline=true

I would be interested on a trip like that I seen videos of the fishing from the Santa Cruz Island.  It all depends on the dates though!

Sounds fun may jump in, as far as Anacapa its strait up and down sheer rock no beaches to land on, all on a pier and then walk up stairs to the island.

Jimbo - would love to do this trip but from a kayaking perspective, August-October is the time to go. If you factor in the WSB then July or August would be the time to go. March can really suck at the Islands, even for PB's.

bring helmets for the caves!

done this trip a number of times and it is always fun, but I've never done well fishing. the closure area from Potato harbor around past Scorpion anchorage (Santa Cruz Is) makes it quite a paddle to get to legal fishing.

Use AI's to mother ship outside of the SMR's

Jimbo - would love to do this trip but from a kayaking perspective, August-October is the time to go. If you factor in the WSB then July or August would be the time to go. March can really suck at the Islands, even for PB's.

Thanks Scott that might be a better option to go maybe in August but still look into going earlier to do a scout mission.

Scott has a good idea on the AI's.
Just be sure Island Packers will transport an AI (They used to have a rule against SUPs and kayaks over 16' but that was in 2000 or so and things change all the time)

I've been to SCI in the spring and fall and had great conditions on some days on each trip. The spring trip was in May and the wind was blowing really hard by 11am so we had to keep the group close to Little Scorpion, but there are some fun snorkeling spots and caves right there.
I went for a week in September once and we had epic weather 1/2 the time but we also had rain and cold wind that made paddling a no-go. My last trip was in early October 2012 and we had great weather both days and easily made it to Potato harbor for a day trip.

In spring the island was green and lush, and in fall it was dry and brown.

Pack as light as you can, as the closest SCI campground as about 3/4 mile inland, with the second more remote camp located another 1/2 mile in.  We brought a backpack apiece, plus a small cooler and a food box, and paddling stuff for 3. We actually rented kayaks there since the caving is brutally rough on plastic boats and they get gouges aplenty.

It is an adventure for sure, and different experience each time.

The trip sounds like a great idea.

    I'd love to have a bit more information on the quality of the fishing, specifically for the areas accessible from the kayaks. I don't know enough to be either optimistic or pessimistic, and that's the problem.
 
   I would assume that there are calico bass, bonito, and halibut around consistently, but the possibility of WSB and yellowtail would make it much more exciting a proposition. I suspect the area is heavily fished, but I welcome good intel.

Thanks!

Paul