What has happened to the birth place of SOT fishing?

[rhyak]

Originally Posted by PAL

Angler numbers and the relatively advanced age of the kayak fishing scene have a lot to do with the situation. As did web fragmentation (devolution). And the local concentration of most kayak anglers into relatively few fishing spots.

Consider also the collapse of the tournament schedule, which was largely but not solely offered and supported by retailers. I was very sorry to see the demise of the Moyer Memorial, at the time the longest running kayak fishing tournament in the world. Don't forget the red tape - permits and insurance are required for most events staged down here.

I think I have a broader perspective than most, and I've been around a long time. I've thought about and discussed these issues for years. The rise of code groups, Facebook and the MLPA have played a part. The modern birthplace of kayak fishing at Pt Dume is an MPA, no fishing, no-how. How's that for an insult?

Kayak anglers who are enjoying a heyday in other regions at least know what to watch for.

I agree to some aspects. The crowds do not seem to participate any longer. But why is that. Is the question.

Someone said over crowding, not sure if anyone is familiar with the BAY area but pretty damn populated and overcrowded and they seem to share just fine.

Is it because the MLPA is fresh down here and still hurts. Central Coast has had MLPAs for what? 10 years, most of the north coast ones pushing 6+ years, still there obviously but hurts. Some great locations no longer available, but still a lot of great locations to discover and share with friends.

Im pretty sure there was a time when the Albion Open was called ELK but that individual let the MLPA take him away from the Kayak community from what I have heard, with all due respect for this person, our we all gonna let this happen to the socal scene or is it already too late, due to not being able to fish certain area's.
We need it to bring us together, for the next battle that will arrive before we know it and need to be standing 300 strong not 30 strong...

There should be comradery among all of us not hatred and regret that's how it almost feels. Paul you know how that feels when you go to a NCKA event everyone is family and that's how it should be down here.

Regards,

Ryan

[lowprofile]

if you have questions, they will generally be answered but looking for up to date reports from a bunch of guys who eat, breath and dream of fishing and catch fish consistantly...not going to happen. there is no joy from posting pics of the same fish over and over. I'm sure if a run of yellowfin or BFT made it up this way the forum would be flooded. but its till just yellowtail, wsb, halibut and a bunch of bottom fish.

we are all guilty of the Noob posts of our first fish or 20. then its just pointless because its the same tactics and probably same area over and over but you still get flooded with questions from people too lazy to do research or try something new OR if you post too much your taking too many fish and the MLPA is now your fault AND you've given away the super secret bite that really never ends all year.

[alanw]

It might just be SoCal in general. People here suck for the most part, probably just because there are too many here. Head up north a bit and people are more likely to stop and talk, and just seem more friendly in general from my experience.

There are some great fishing reports here but they are few and far between.

A few guys here will never post anything relevant about their catch, only a few pictures with the background erased, and a location called the pacific ocean. They're showing us new guys how it should be done I guess.

[PAL]

Originally Posted by rhyak

I agree to some aspects. The crowds do not seem to participate any longer. But why is that. Is the question.

Someone said over crowding, not sure if anyone is familiar with the BAY area but pretty damn populated and overcrowded and they seem to share just fine.

There are more people ever out kayak fishing. It is a mistake to equate lower web forum participation with a slump in the sport. Forum traffic seems to be down across the state, not just in SoCal.

Bay area! The intensity of use is nothing like it is at La Jolla or even Dana Pt. That cold, rough water might be NCKA's best advantage. It's a compelling reason to avoid solo missions, and keeps participation down to only the committed.

When it comes to community, forums are places to talk between events and other issues that bring people who share a common interest together, whether it is a tournament series or a cherished friend's battle against cancer. That's real community, not this Internet chit-chatter.

Even though the SoCal tournament scene was in decline at the time, this community rallied strong during the MLPA fight. All of La Jolla would have been closed. That is a fact. And leave that other guy out of it. You have little idea what you're talking about.

There should be comradery among all of us not hatred and regret that's how it almost feels. Paul you know how that feels when you go to a NCKA event everyone is family and that's how it should be down here.

Every family has its problem children, even NCKA. Try a positive attitude. You might get more positive responses. Camaraderie is around if you know where to look.

[Raskal311]

So who wants to hit NP with me tomorrow. I expect to catch nothing but bait fish and come home tired and happy.

I have first hand seen the impact one fishing report has on a bite. Last winter, a few members of Lollipop and I had two weeks worth of a steady bite all to ourselves. Not a single boater/kayaker out there. One morning a brave young new guy found us on the beach and we let him tag a long. We put him on a few nice fish which were on the internet 5 hours later.

For the next month, you could walk from vessel to vessel in La Jolla. Fish were just haphazardly gaffed and tossed over the rails. I saw the same anglers day after day slaughtering more fish than could fit in a single freezer.

It's not about competition. Whether there is one kayak or one hundred, those who catch fish will continue to catch fish. It's about preservation of an ecosystem. Nothing will destroy La Jolla faster than the internet. People worry about Japanese radiation impacting our fish? People should worry more about Fishdope.

Do you ever watch the offshore numbers? 1000s of fish killed everyday, more than anyone really needs out of one trip.

Since then, I have become strictly CnR on all La Jolla and offshore Yellowtail with the exclusion of the ones I shoot. I also will not take more than 4 WSB a year.

I have no problem posting stories and pictures to get people motivated. But they will never be timely reports. A lot of work goes into finding bites. Why should a forum watcher who only fishes when a wide open bite hits the forums benefit from our hard work? You can't even grasp the amount of hours and milage that Dannowar, Daemon and I put on our peddles over the summer fishing Crystal Pier working the area, finding the patterns, and finally making a big score. Over eighty hours a week for the months of June and July. La Jolla was getting crowded, fish we getting pressured and we wanted to try something new. Nine miles round trip 5 days a week, from 3pm-2am working the same grounds. Dedication and preservierance got us those fish, not a hot tip off the internet.

This isn't to say we are greedy, self contained assholes. We share this info with plenty of people via text, pm and phone calls. They are the people that have shown they work hard in their own right and share accordingly in return. Call us a clique, call us a gang, call us assholes if you will, but if you ever see us on the water you can bet your ass we will show every new guy how to make bait, tie some knots, give some tackle and we've even been known to pass a rod off while bendo. Robfish gaffed todd ones first Sheepshead and never met the guy, Gregandrew gave me a sabiki my first day in LJ, Steveo put me on my first WSB, I got Stinkymatt his PB YT...the list goes on. Point being, the real community is out on their kayaks, not on their keyboards.

[rhyak]

And leave that other guy out of it. You have little idea what you're talking about.

Fair enough I know there was more too it then what was made public.

There are more people ever out kayak fishing. It is a mistake to equate lower web forum participation with a slump in the sport. Forum traffic seems to be down across the state, not just in SoCal.

When it comes to community, forums are places to talk between events and other issues that bring people who share a common interest together, whether it is a tournament series or a cherished friend's battle against cancer. That's real community, not this Internet chit-chatter.

Even though the SoCal tournament scene was in decline at the time, this community rallied strong during the MLPA fight. All of La Jolla would have been closed.

Agree with you a lot more would have been lost.





I think we have lost the question here of why guys do not post reports? Even if it was a day on the water pulling up rockfish, yeah I know we have all seen them. But a good write up and report is always enjoyable to read.

[ful-rac]

Well ryan I guess I can speak for myself....I usually fish at least once per week, and I don't catch fish every time. It might seem like I'm holding back...but the reality of it is that I don't catch fish every time. If I posted up a fish report of every single trip I take....you guys would probably puke all over your keyboards...

Who wants to hear...went out caught some bait, went on a 8 hour long dead halibut drift....caught 3 sanddabs and 8 lizardfish... who knows?....maybe that's entertaining for some...?

Our lobster cookout was more entertaining than the fishing we did that day...even though we ended up catching some fish...

Hopefully things will get better fishing-wise and good reports can start rolling out again...hey it's almost trout season! We'll have some good Irvine lake camp'n/trout reports soon. Maybe you can join us this year ryan!

[rhyak]

Originally Posted by ful-rac

Hopefully things will get better fishing-wise and good reports can start rolling out again...hey it's almost trout season! We'll have some good Irvine lake camp'n/trout reports soon. Maybe you can join us this year ryan!

Tony, let me know and I can try and make it. Think they just started the stocking, Double up Trout and Cats right now I am sure.

Would love to chill with you guys again.

Ryan

[GregAndrew]

There are a lot of contributing factors why forums in this area have gone the way that they have gone. Many of these factors have been mentioned or touched upon already (some overly simplified though). A couple not mentioned are the target species and fishing area. While Bass and Rockfish fishermen are not as inclined to hold back their report, most in southern Ca. target exotics (Halibut, Yellowtail and WSB). The big difference with these types of fish, is that they tend to show up in groups in certain areas for a limited time and then are gone until the next time. I can completely understand not wanting to fish among a throng of other fishermen. Or even allow your closest friends to do the same after you have discovered a time/location bite. Sharing a bite like that with a few thousand members of a group of dedicated fishermen (like BWE), would not allow you or them that luxury.

You really cannot compare the SoCal bight to the Central or North coast as far as fishing area. Except when the Squid are around (which has been a lot the last couple years) most of our coast is pretty much desert. Taking out the MLPA areas and the less accessible areas (below Doheny to Oceanside) also greatly reduces our fishable area. A photo, showing any land mass, posted from just about any location in SoCal will be recognized by at least 20% of the viewers of regional forums. Not to mention stacking up the fishermen again.

While I do not advocate posting or holding back a bite, I can understand why some may want to do either. And I support the right of the individual to choose for themselves without being bullied into it. Although, I will usually ask the guy that turned me on to a bite if they want me to hold my post. And, let me clarify to some here, a picture of a fish without mentioning other bites, fish lost or other peoples catches is not posting a "bite". Although, it does become a "bite" when you attack the poster. Seems these large forums have become just a place you get your setup and technique info squared away. And make your initial acquaintances that you build into speed dial relationships.