Santa Cruz Island anyone?

I'm thinking of going to Santa Cruz Island (Scorpion) for a 3-day vacation with my wife later this month. This will be our first time there. We will bring our folding kayak. 3.5 hours of paddling to Yellowbanks sounds like a lot of work. I have this Franko's Map of Channel Islands. For the Santa Cruz Island, looks like there is a trail from the campground all the way to Yellowbanks Anchorage. Wonder if it will be easier to hike over there then just kick out from shore?
What about Chinese Harbor? Are the halibuts in this time of the year there? I would love to get a white or a yellow, but I will take a nice butt anyday if the pelagics are too much trouble. Don't care too much about calicos and sheepheads. 7 hours of paddling to/from yellowbanks sounds too much, especially if the wind/swell comes up.
Any advice appreciated.

I'm not sure what it's like near shore; when we dive it for bugs on the Peace it's usually quite a ways out. I saw yt there once. Could be a long kick. Safer than yakking that far though. Maybe try calling Andy Taylor at Blue Water Hunter in Santa Barbara; he's really up on all the spots and supernice and helpful.