Fished San Diego Bay Saturday and Monday morning. Launched both times at 7am, in at 12 on Sat. and 1 on Sunday. Fished Shelter Island area both days. I tubed and my friend Steve used his Yak. It was fun both days but Monday was really fun.

Sat, I we both finished with around 15 legals, and 6+ shorts (mostly Spotties). Steve probably had closer to 20 legals by the end, plus 5 or so short 'buts. Most of the fish were in the first 2 hours. After the water stopped moving it died.

Sun, was better. I finished with 32 bass, 25 or so were legal (mostly spotties). Steve had 29, with a higher percentage of legals. What's so crazy about it though was that they were short biting, and generally being not so agressive. Plus, there was a 1.5 hour lull while the tide changed direction. Can't even imagine what would have happened if they'd been a bit more hungry. I had 13 of my legals in the last hour.

What were they biting you ask? Green mostly, weren't even picky about which kind. I stuck to Robo Zippers, freakbaits, and these 9" grubs that Steve let's me pour at his house. These things are giant, the body is 5" X 1/2" by itself. He stuck to smaller grubs he had poured. The two exceptions for me were my last Powerpulse worm in pumpkin/chart. and these XPS 5" Squids in purple spot. I had thought about trying 'em for a while, then a fellow tuber from Floattuber.com used them and did very well at a tourney. So I broke down and bought a pack. $5 for 4, that's why I waited almost 2 months before buying some (and I'm a rubber 'ho). They worked great C-rigged on a 4/O wide-gap (13 legals on 2 baits). My only complaint was that the eyes pop out way too easy. Usually, I lost an eye just getting them on the hook.


For those of you who have never tried S.D. Bay, you must some day. If you like fishing bass in a harbor, there is no better place. For what ever reason the bass there just aren't bugged by weather conditions. So even in mid-Febuary with 55 degree water and waterspouts all around, the fish will still bite. I konw this one from personal experience. Had limit that day. The only thing to watch for is the tide. They won't bite during slack, and when the tide is moving, it's at Mach 10. That does kinda suck for tubing, but little planning is all that's needed there. As for boat traffic, well there's no speed limit, so don't wander off into the middle of the main channel.

Amish Ed

Brian? Rob?

Sounds good to me! Let me know when you all set a date because I'd like to be there.

Rod

I am looking for some good spots in San Diego Bay to fish in my kayak. I am new to kayak fishing in the bay so any details on location and gear would be great.

This could get really long and involved, but here's the sorta quick version. The fish there bite good often, even in the winter. You just need to be there when they do. They can start or stop in a matter of minutes. One day in Feb. Steve and I fished Shelter Island for 1.5 hours. In the first 45min. we each had a limit, then we couldn't buy a bite for 1/2hour. Then they went wide again and I finished with 5 more keepers. Why this moodiness? I've come to believe it is all in the water moving. If it is, they'll bite. If it isn't, it's dead. So pick days with big tide swings. In a yak you won't have to worry so much about which direction it's moving, you can paddle against it. I like to launch around 6am, drift in on a 4'+ push, tide swing around 10am, drift back to the launch area, back at the car around 1pm. The wind can get to be a pain, though it won't shut off the bite usually. It is usally going by 11am or so.

Launch areas are easy. Shelter Island, or the park just north of the Coronado bridge. Both are well known for their bass and halibut fishing, but Shelter offers more areas to go to. With a yak you have tons of options from Shelter.

What to use is really open to personal preference. I prefer almost all freshwater rigs and baits.I use 6# Triplefish Camo line, Texas and Carolina rigs, Freakbaits, Zippers, and big grubs. I like translucent greens with some type of flake. Reds in more opaque darker colors with light highlights. My friend Steve (he has a yak too) pours most of my baits now days. He has a couple hot colors that really work well. His prices are very low and depending on where you live, he might even deliver. Let me know if you want his number. Everyone has different approaches that work in SD Bay, some folks are very typical saltwater anglers using all the usuall baits, some use fresh and salt styles, and some use crank and spinner baits only. It's all up to you. Feel free to email me for more details.

Amish Ed
You Can't Catch it again if
it's Dead!

Shameless plug for Steve: Turnleft24@aol.com

Amish Ed
You can't catch it again if it's dead!

Thanks for the plug ED, (Ill give you the 20 bucks later). If anyone is interested in trying these large grubs let me know and we will meet somewhere and Ill drop some off to you. I live in Fallbrook if you are in the area you are more than welcome to stop by or let me know where you are fishing next and Ill meet you and let you try some. Bass in SD Bay are not intiminated by a 10' grub at all,matter of fact I have actually caught fish that were actually shorter than the grub iteslf. The worst case of this was I caught a small 6" Sandie that when I set the hook (5/0) it came out between his eyes way up on his head, he had all but about 4 inches of tail in his mouth.
If you want to try them let me know ok.
see ya on the water

steve

may the forces of evil be confused on the way to your house

If I'd known it was only $20 I'd of kept my trap shut. But, I didn't and I plugged you on the main board now too.

Amish Ed
You Can't Catch it again if
it's Dead?

Amish Ed
You can't catch it again if it's dead!

Depending on which I might not balk!