San Diego Bay all you can catch pancakes - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Aaron&Julie · 06-26-2013, 11:02 PM

Here, here, Cadillyak. But, I think most kayak fishermen/women, or non-kayak people would say, don't sink a gaff into a fish if you have doubts as to whether it's rather close to being legal. As in, you should truly believe it is 25 inches or greater. 23" is too close for such a valuable resource. No worries, but keep it in mind, that 22.5, 23, or even a 24 incher, you DON'T stick the gaff in, as it will be 8lbs the next time you catch it. Besides, and ESPECIALLY, when fishing for 'buts, you are supposed to have a net. Actually, at all times, you are, but, the DFG will probably cut you some slack in open waters, like La Jolla. Food for thought. Tight lines, and go catch some more. We'll probably see you off of L.J. someday.
Aaron

Baja_Traveler · 06-27-2013, 06:23 AM

In high school I made a hobby of wading the flats down at the entrance to Fiesta Island bowfishing stingrays and such. One day I shot a nice shovelnose and brought it home. All the meat is in the tail, and it yielded really nice steaks. I put them in the smoker and they came out looking beautiful, but the meat was so oily it was near inedible. The taste was good, but the oil was just too much to overcome. Maybe if your chef friend worked up a brine to soak the meat in and leach out most of the oil it would be a really good tasting fish.

mtnbykr2 · 06-27-2013, 07:25 AM

A freezer full is a freezer full, congrats on what sounds like a great day...

Aaron&Julie · 06-27-2013, 07:47 AM

In 1984, while living in my car for 3 months (worked "The Charger" albie boat, for a while), I caught a shovelnose in SD bay. A couple I met that day, had some wine, and I cooked some filets right there on the spot with the wine in a skillet over an open fire. It tasted pretty damn good. But, then again, I was living out of my car, so flip-flops might have tasted good on an open fire. The couple did enjoy it, too, though.

taggermike · 06-27-2013, 07:51 AM

Looks like a sun day of catching. Well done. Like others said, that doent look like shovel nose. If it has a round nose and a small mouth on thed bottom in might be a thorny back. Did it have a small tail and rows of spines down its back? Chovies are great bait. Big halis will eat them. So will about every other fish in the bay. Bigger sardines, or even macks, will keep the smalle fish off and let you target the bigger halibut. Don't discount the chovies and small dines tho. The biggest hallie I've caught in SD bay wason a little sardine. Mike

janines.fishtales@cox.net · 06-27-2013, 11:03 AM

What a great B-day present! Good job!

Janine

Cadillyak · 06-27-2013, 11:10 AM

So I found out that indeed it wansn't a shovelnose nor was it an angel shark. The fish actually was a thornback guitarfish. Interesting

Hammerhead_77 · 06-27-2013, 03:17 PM

I was out in that same spot yesterday. I was fishing large dines and must have had 15 raked baits, even using a trap. They were all bit in the middle, which suggests smaller fish. Guess there will be lots for this winter.

06-26-2013, 11:02 PM	#1
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	No tickets, please Here, here, Cadillyak. But, I think most kayak fishermen/women, or non-kayak people would say, don't sink a gaff into a fish if you have doubts as to whether it's rather close to being legal. As in, you should truly believe it is 25 inches or greater. 23" is too close for such a valuable resource. No worries, but keep it in mind, that 22.5, 23, or even a 24 incher, you DON'T stick the gaff in, as it will be 8lbs the next time you catch it. Besides, and ESPECIALLY, when fishing for 'buts, you are supposed to have a net. Actually, at all times, you are, but, the DFG will probably cut you some slack in open waters, like La Jolla. Food for thought. Tight lines, and go catch some more. We'll probably see you off of L.J. someday. Aaron __________________ "Never say die" Last edited by Aaron&Julie; 06-27-2013 at 07:42 AM.

06-27-2013, 07:25 AM	#3
mtnbykr2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: newbury park ca Posts: 2,323	A freezer full is a freezer full, congrats on what sounds like a great day... __________________

06-27-2013, 07:47 AM	#4
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	In 1984, while living in my car for 3 months (worked "The Charger" albie boat, for a while), I caught a shovelnose in SD bay. A couple I met that day, had some wine, and I cooked some filets right there on the spot with the wine in a skillet over an open fire. It tasted pretty damn good. But, then again, I was living out of my car, so flip-flops might have tasted good on an open fire. The couple did enjoy it, too, though. __________________ "Never say die"

06-27-2013, 11:03 AM	#6
janines.fishtales@cox.net Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 555	Great Bday! What a great B-day present! Good job! Janine __________________ Fishtales

06-27-2013, 06:23 AM	#2
Baja_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Table 17, Bay Park Fish Co. Posts: 943	In high school I made a hobby of wading the flats down at the entrance to Fiesta Island bowfishing stingrays and such. One day I shot a nice shovelnose and brought it home. All the meat is in the tail, and it yielded really nice steaks. I put them in the smoker and they came out looking beautiful, but the meat was so oily it was near inedible. The taste was good, but the oil was just too much to overcome. Maybe if your chef friend worked up a brine to soak the meat in and leach out most of the oil it would be a really good tasting fish.

06-27-2013, 07:51 AM	#5
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Looks like a sun day of catching. Well done. Like others said, that doent look like shovel nose. If it has a round nose and a small mouth on thed bottom in might be a thorny back. Did it have a small tail and rows of spines down its back? Chovies are great bait. Big halis will eat them. So will about every other fish in the bay. Bigger sardines, or even macks, will keep the smalle fish off and let you target the bigger halibut. Don't discount the chovies and small dines tho. The biggest hallie I've caught in SD bay wason a little sardine. Mike

06-27-2013, 11:10 AM	#7
Cadillyak Team Get $$ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 841	So I found out that indeed it wansn't a shovelnose nor was it an angel shark. The fish actually was a thornback guitarfish. Interesting

06-27-2013, 03:17 PM	#8
Hammerhead_77 Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: San Diego - North County Posts: 82	I was out in that same spot yesterday. I was fishing large dines and must have had 15 raked baits, even using a trap. They were all bit in the middle, which suggests smaller fish. Guess there will be lots for this winter.