San Diego Yellow Tail

Of course this question was spurred on by my YouTube Feed, but curious if people have done the drive to go after yellow tail?  It seems like a great long weekend adventure.  And losing the 3mil wetsuit and going with a shorty will be nice too!

I've seen a few posts searching the forums and the odd YouTube vids but curious as to people's experiences. 

Thanks

Sand

I'm a native San Diegan, and I've launched from La Jolla on several occasions to target YT, but I have yet to catch one from the kayak. It's definitely swim trunks and tank top weather out there sometimes! The paddle to the kelp beds is anywhere from 1-2 miles, and the currents can be strong and pull you south, away from the launch. being so far offshore sometimes it hard to notice before you've drifted another mile away from the beach. Anyway, the fishing is excellent usually, even if the YT don't bite. Usually lots of sardines to catch for livies just past the MPA boundary. Trolling a jerkbait on the surface is sure to get bit by calicos and bonito. Look for noodles on the fishfinder and throw a yoyo iron when you see 'em. Flylining live bait works well too. Get to La Jolla early cuz parking is a bitch.

I’m 0-4 for yellows, but caught halibut, calicos, sandies, bonito (so much fun), shark, whitefish, and misc bait. I would suggest making the trip it’s a fun one.

I'm 0-3 at La Jolla, but the last trip I took about 3 years ago, I hooked into 2 beasts that just dragged me deep into the kelp forest and eventually broke me off, but I was using 30# like a noob.  On that note, don't mess around, use at least 50# leader so you have a chance in the case it runs deep into some kelp.

Even though I skunked every time, its such an awesome place to fish.  And I second what Jewli0n mentioned, the current there can be really fast and sometimes you don't realize how far south you've drifted until you're trying to make it back to the launch and its taking forever. 

Only TV stars and Youtube sensations catch Yellow tail from Kayaks...lol

 

Get guided by Kevin Nakada “Sea Samurai”. He’ll hook you up. Mid July.

Also 0 for on La Jolla kayak yellowtail  so I’ll just echo the logistical advice.Get there early. You can load and unload on the beach, which you will have a much easier time doing if it is not a high tide.
There ere are handful of spots in the parking lot just north of the launch you can pull into with a trailer. Beautiful spot to fish, I have always picked up some reds after striking out on YT

I did a guided trip from La Jolla with Sea Samurai and return home with 3 yellowtails.  It was 13 hours on the water (6 AM to 7 PM) and I was tired and sunburnt. 
You can watch the following video for details.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Also 0-1 on La Jolla but that shouldn't dissuade anybody!  La Jolla is a special, beautiful fishery and a visit there is like a pilgrimage of sorts for CA kayak fishermen.  I will be visiting again this summer, probably twice.  You can learn a lot from the Chris Blevins Youtube videos, as well as the forum at Big Waters Edge (http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb), but they are no where near as awesome as NCKA    Also, there are many locals who have skunked on YT repeatedly even when going out at the ideal times...they are a trophy fish for a reason. 

In short, targeting YT requires heavy braid (50-60# to cut the kelp), live bait that you catch via sabiki (green back mackerels are best) and fly lining or sinker rigs, or alternatively irons (yo-yo or surface).  You can also troll a rapala X-rap like lure, but careful with those treble hooks.  Fly lining involves some of my favorite aspects of kayak fishing - catching live bait and drifting along while waiting for a bite.

On my one trip there, my "guide" caught a mid-size YT and we also encountered a bonito bonanza where we literally couldn't keep the fish off the hook.  We must've caught over 12 in an hours time, which was great for him because the lobster season was opening the next day and provided tons of fresh bait for the hoops.  Bonito are really fun to catch - these were like nerf football sized or a little bigger but they pulled like crazy! 

PM if you're interested in going, I may go in June, as well as August or September.  Camping and fishing. 

Noticed nobody mentioned it yet but don't forget to bring a livewell to keep your bait alive for the day.  Some of those mackerel are pretty big and small bait bucket won't cut it.  Sometimes you can find bait, and sometimes you can't so whatever you catch in the morning, its important to keep those alive.   Its so awesome to turn back to the splashing noises and watching your bait getting slammed! 

PM if you're interested in going, I may go in June, as well as August or September.  Camping and fishing. 

Did this turn into a La Jolla hookup thread? If so count me in!!

 

Dang. Glassy water and nice fish..

PM if you're interested in going, I may go in June, as well as August or September.  Camping and fishing. 

Did this turn into a La Jolla hookup thread? If so count me in!!

Most definitely down as well 

Well then someone should keep an eye on the temps (https://tempbreak.com/index.php?&cwregion=bz#) and fishing reports and call the crew to order when the bite turns on, right?