Goat Herding Mission

Sand balls are popular for a reason...

 

You are brave to have those chompers just laying in your lap!

 

good work
I want to go to San Nic and get a biggie
I wonder how small octopus would work for bait? I buy them at a market and do well on rockfish and bass
is your shrimp cooked or raw?? How big are they? tails only?

 

Where you launch from today?

 

Nice work on the goats Kam!

 

Sheephead are strange fish. They are all born as red/pink females. At around 18" they become males and the stripes become more vivid. The age of transition from female to male depends on environmental factors, such as food supply. Food supply also determines the lifespan, which averages from about 9 years to 21 years. California sheephead populations are considered threatened, so size and bag limits are important.

 

Was it a hard launch? Been wanting to fish LJ just skeptical about launching there

 

A good way to practice is to go to the mouth of SD River by Dog Beach in OB. The waves are bigger and wash in different directions at the river mouth.

Go with an empty kayak so you have nothing to lose.

Practice capsizing in the river where it's more calm and you can stand up if you have to. Practice re-boarding your kayak without touching the ground. Practice pumping water out of a swamped hull with a hand pump.

Then go out in the waves and practice holding patterns in the middle of the wave sets at all angles relative to the waves - bow into the waves first, like you are launching. Stern into the waves like you are landing. And lastly let yourself get broad-sided by waves.

When the wave is about to broadside you, lean into the wave and notice how it easily lifts your kayak up, and the mass of the water passes under you. If you roll away from the wave, you will definitely roll and crash. You will probably feel the thrill of starting to catch a wave from behind, but then you will discover that this usually leads to a loss of control and a crash as your bow dips underwater. You will learn how important it is to use your paddle as a brake and kill the beginning of surfing while you still can. Momentum can build quickly and overwhelm your ability to control it. Try to get your experience of rolls and crashes with an empty kayak so you don't lose all your gear.

I think it's easier to feel your way through these motions and responses by doing it on the water than to try to describe them. In a few hours of smashing around, you will gain confidence in the way you manage the movement.

It's the ocean and you could be on your own if an emergency arises. The buddy system with a fishing friend is always a good measure of safety.

When you are ready to go fishing and launch in La Jolla, watch the surf reports for surf size, and frequency. Look at the size of swells and expected wind. Look up the strength of currents. 2.5' surf and <10 mph wind is pretty mild and safe. As you gain practice, you might feel comfortable with 3.5' surf. However, nice fishing gear can sink fast, and it's not cheap! When launching and landing, it's a good idea to stow and bundle your gear down flat, and not leave it up in your pole holders as many people do. Rolls and yardsales can happen anytime the wave hits you wrong, or when you are caught off guard.

I like this one as a good place to start:
www.surf-forecast.com
Find La Jolla Shores 6 day forecast

If you are launching from the bays, this one is good:
www.tides4fishing.com
When tides are rushing in or out with more mass, remember that the mouth of the bay at the end of the jetties become classic examples of Venturi Effect. It might be a good time to refresh what you know about Bernoulli's Principal and fluid dynamics.

Accidents and unexpected challenges can happen at anytime. Kayaks and systems can break in many ways. Pedals, control strings, rudder, etc. It all breaks at some point. When you are 1.5 miles from shore, it's nice to have options. Be safe!

 

What about frozen sand balls?

 

I have heard of them .. probably effective

 

Nice report.
I'm new to kayaking & found your info very helpful.
I have been hesitant to launch off beach & navigate waves.
I'll try w/o any gear a few times to get a feel for the challenges it presents.

 

I’m use to waves from surfing, but not with a kayak with gear, but thanks so much for all the info which is super helpful! Kayaking in the mouth of sd bay gets its own fun haha which I have been fishing lately

 

THANK YOU! For spending the time on this right up! Your awesome!
Very helpful for all those who are new you couldn't of advised them better in one write up as you did here! Thank you for the time and effort you put into this