EASY ACCESS Jim Sammons
To fish La Jolla, surf launch at Avenida de la Playa. To cover San Diego Bay, leave from Tideland Park. San Diego Bay is only 15 minutes from home and La Jolla is 20 minutes away. I can fish either location for three or four hours. It’s perfect for an early morn- ing or evening session. That’s when the fish are most active. And the launch is close enough to downtown to make work for the nine-to-five.
TARGET SPECIES
Host of Kayak Fishing Show, Pro Guide Home Base: San Diego, California Local Hole: Offshore, La Jolla Beach; Inshore, San Diego Bay
As long as the current is moving, spotted sea bass, sand bass, halibut and even bonefish will be active year-round. San Diego Bay experiences nine-foot tides during the full moon. Fish away from the full moon to catch perfect conditions. On a bad day you will catch a dozen fish, on a great day you can catch over 100. Offshore fishing out of La Jolla is also a year-round fishery. Catch the biggest yellowtail in winter with live squid fished on a dropper rig. When water temperatures rise over 72 degrees, cast irons to yellowtail breezing on the surface. White sea bass and halibut are best in the spring with live squid fished on the bottom. Thresher sharks and striped marlin can crash the party at anytime. Work swimbaits in the surf zone for calico bass.
TACKLE BOX
Pull bass and ‘buts from San Diego Bay with a light spinning or low-profile casting set-up spooled with 20-pound braid and two feet of 20-pound fluorocarbon leader. Use a four-inch chartreuse curly-tailed grub on a 3/8-ounce jighead. For La Jolla, use a heavy conventional set up spooled 60-pound braid and 15 feet of 40-pound fluorocarbon leader. Pin a livebait to a circle hook or cast irons to breezing yellowtail. Always keep a light action rod rigged to catch bait.
GEAR BAG
In San Diego Bay, a Jackson Cuda is super versatile for stand-up fishing and quick trips. Wire the boat with a good fishfinder to locate bait and drops. To fish La Jolla, I designed the Jackson Kayak Kraken for open water and surf launches. The seat slides forward to center the weight of the paddler and accommodate a livewell full of kicking livebaits.
TIME SAVERS Keep your kayak on the roof rack and a rod in the car.
I never know what I’m going to catch when I paddle out at La Jolla. I landed a huge thresher shark and a striped marlin when I first started kayak fishing. I wasn’t targeting them, so I was surprised when these fish struck my bait.
Follow Jim Sammons’ adventures and view video of his local fishing hole at
www.kayakfishingshow.com.
IN SAN DIEGO BAY, LOCALS CATCH A DOZEN FISH AND
MAKE IT TO WORK BY 9 A.M. PHOTOS: JIM SAMMONS
www.kayakanglermag.com…55
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