Kelp died out? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

FISH11 · 07-16-2020, 05:01 PM

I've been saying this about La Jolla for the last several years. I believe that's the biggest reason the fishing hasn't been what it used to be 3 years ago and before. Little to no kelp, mean no habitat for bait fish, etc.

FullFlavorPike · 07-16-2020, 06:15 PM

Kelp in LJ has gotten better; but still hasn't recovered from the devastation of el nino and super warm water.

Tomol · 07-16-2020, 07:02 PM

There’s no kelp south of Dana until you get to San Mateo Rocks south of the Pier, and that’s thin.

There’s a little kelp off Strands and Salt Creek. Pretty slim pickings’ on gamefish. Plenty of calico, sand bass & small sheepshead off Creek.

Southwest Kayak Fishing · 07-17-2020, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomol

There’s no kelp south of Dana until you get to San Mateo Rocks south of the Pier, and that’s thin.

There’s a little kelp off Strands and Salt Creek. Pretty slim pickings’ on gamefish. Plenty of calico, sand bass & small sheepshead off Creek.

We were there a few weeks ago with the out going tide. There’s a good patch of kelp just past the boiler rock and out a bit and there are small patches off salt creek.

There are are a variety of fish off the beach. I picked up plenty of juvenile WSB, all sorts of bass and a few short Butts. I missed a good opportunity to pick up either a shark or good WSB. It eventually bit through my line.

I may head north out of the harbor and try again tomorrow.

Tigermidge · 07-18-2020, 10:56 AM

https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...1021082738.htm

The kelp will not be coming back any time soon.
Mark F.

Salty · 07-18-2020, 02:29 PM

I've been able to find the kelp pretty easily in like 40-50' of water off of the beach at Strands/Creek. There's definitely a lot less than in years past. I remember seeing that thick band of kelp out there from the cliffs when I'd go surfing. That was before all those crazy mansions were built there though. It's still there, just a lot less of it. What is there isn't as thick and strong, so when there are stronger currents, it gets pulled sideways and stays below the surface. I know I've been out on the same spot where there was kelp a week before and couldn't see it on the surface. Looking hard enough I could see it underwater bending at like a 45 degree angle in the current. It's there, just requires a little more searching sometimes!

GregAndrew · 07-18-2020, 02:44 PM

I wonder if all of those guys fishing for Sheepshead know that they are about the only fish around here that eats those Purple Urchins?

Tomol · 07-20-2020, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigermidge

https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...1021082738.htm

The kelp will not be coming back any time soon.
Mark F.

I'm not sure how well that article applies. There's probably some relevance, but I'm sure there's more going on than we know. The article was about bull kelp, primarily in northern California. Ours is Giant Kelp.

There are local beds like San Onofre, most of the artificial reef, and San Mateo Point (and others) that are almost completely devoid of any hint of kelp. No urchins either. Conversely, PV is loaded with kelp, as was the back of Catalina the last time I was there.

Over winter and spring a nice patch sprang up a quarter mile up the line from the boilers off Dana. It even produced a few seabass, but over the last two months it's almost disappeared.

It's all very confusing and frustrating.

GregAndrew · 07-20-2020, 01:49 PM

There are lots of critters that feed on kelp. Most of them do better in warmer water. The most destructive of these are Sea Urchins. They do not necessarily eat the most, but they concentrate their efforts on the holdfast (root) of the plant. That cuts it away from the rocks and essentially dooms it. There are a few fish (mainly Sheepshead) that feed on Urchins, and some crabs too. Kelp die-offs help to keep Urchins in check, but the Purple Urchins can eat pretty much anything else that grows on the rocks. There used to be dive parties that would go out and smash urchins too. But now, with all of the MLPA area, it is almost pointless to do that. Their eggs spread to the current and cover most of the area between protected areas anyway. It is not a new phenomenon, I studied this cycle back in the early 80s in school. But the variables seem to be mutating a bit. On a positive note, we should see more Trigger Fish and possibly even Sea Otters due to the abundance of Urchins.

07-16-2020, 05:01 PM	#1
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	I've been saying this about La Jolla for the last several years. I believe that's the biggest reason the fishing hasn't been what it used to be 3 years ago and before. Little to no kelp, mean no habitat for bait fish, etc. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

07-16-2020, 06:15 PM	#2
FullFlavorPike Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 810	Kelp in LJ has gotten better; but still hasn't recovered from the devastation of el nino and super warm water.

07-16-2020, 07:02 PM	#3
Tomol Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 34	There’s no kelp south of Dana until you get to San Mateo Rocks south of the Pier, and that’s thin. There’s a little kelp off Strands and Salt Creek. Pretty slim pickings’ on gamefish. Plenty of calico, sand bass & small sheepshead off Creek.

07-18-2020, 10:56 AM	#5
Tigermidge Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Lakewood, Ca Posts: 172	https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...1021082738.htm The kelp will not be coming back any time soon. Mark F.

07-18-2020, 02:29 PM	#6
Salty Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 434	I've been able to find the kelp pretty easily in like 40-50' of water off of the beach at Strands/Creek. There's definitely a lot less than in years past. I remember seeing that thick band of kelp out there from the cliffs when I'd go surfing. That was before all those crazy mansions were built there though. It's still there, just a lot less of it. What is there isn't as thick and strong, so when there are stronger currents, it gets pulled sideways and stays below the surface. I know I've been out on the same spot where there was kelp a week before and couldn't see it on the surface. Looking hard enough I could see it underwater bending at like a 45 degree angle in the current. It's there, just requires a little more searching sometimes!

07-18-2020, 02:44 PM	#7
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	I wonder if all of those guys fishing for Sheepshead know that they are about the only fish around here that eats those Purple Urchins?

07-20-2020, 01:49 PM	#9
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	There are lots of critters that feed on kelp. Most of them do better in warmer water. The most destructive of these are Sea Urchins. They do not necessarily eat the most, but they concentrate their efforts on the holdfast (root) of the plant. That cuts it away from the rocks and essentially dooms it. There are a few fish (mainly Sheepshead) that feed on Urchins, and some crabs too. Kelp die-offs help to keep Urchins in check, but the Purple Urchins can eat pretty much anything else that grows on the rocks. There used to be dive parties that would go out and smash urchins too. But now, with all of the MLPA area, it is almost pointless to do that. Their eggs spread to the current and cover most of the area between protected areas anyway. It is not a new phenomenon, I studied this cycle back in the early 80s in school. But the variables seem to be mutating a bit. On a positive note, we should see more Trigger Fish and possibly even Sea Otters due to the abundance of Urchins.