The month started out with a very brief bite on white seabass at La Jolla. A couple 35lbers were landed by a local angler on consecutive outings, but the fish seem to have faded away since then.

Later in the month anglers reported an epic yellowtail bite that lasted only a day or two with 30lb class fish boiling on the surface all over the place. Everyone in the area was bit on jigs, some landed their catch, others fell victim to the percentages. The bite has been very spotty lately but the payoffs have been huge. During the winter is when the bigger yellowtail show up and it takes a little time on the water to be there at the right time, but it’s usually well worth it.

One drawback to neoprene when kayak fishing is that if you’re not getting constantly wet it is very easy to overheat once the sun comes out and very difficult to remove the wetsuit on a kayak. The neoprene vest made by Neosport keeps your core nice and warm without limiting your mobility and overheating your whole body. The vest has a zipper front so it’s very easy to take on and off if the weather does get warm. Another nice feature of neoprene is that it doesn’t lose any insulating properties when it’s wet so surf launching is no problem.

January Newsletter Special:

Get your Neosport neoprene vest for just $32.95 this month only!

Regular price is $42.95 Special pricing is available to newsletter subscribers only with the coupon provided at the end of this newsletter! (Note: Coupon is not available on on-line version of newsletter - subscribe to our newsletter to receive future special offers).

This month, Pro Staff Member and avid lobster fisherman, Mike Knott, shares some tips for hooping from your yak.

When September arrives, you should already be prepared to go hooping. Since the season doesn't officially start until the 30th at midnight, you have the whole month to get your nets out, check your rope, floats and bait cages for the harvest. Bait cages are a must for me because there is nothing a dog "CA sea lion" likes better that to drag your net 50 yards tearing it up to get your bait out for a free snack. Bait cages are very convenient for a few reasons. I like to fill them up tight with cut up mackerel or whatever bait you choose, zip tie them shut and throw them in the freezer so they are ready to go. When the night is over I refill them leaving the bait that is left in them and put them right back in the freezer. Having an extra freezer in your garage helps out a lot for keeping mackerel and fish carcasses throughout the year and storing those bait cages. They also give the bug something to grab onto when you pull up the net.

Spiny lobsters are found all along our coast and in the bays. The best time to go is when the water is moving from an incoming or outgoing tide. Try different depths and locations until you find an area that produces and then concentrate in that area. Take care of your excess line by tying a half hitch or clamping it to your buoy so it doesn't get tangled up in a passing boats propeller. You are responsible for your nets and line and can be held liable for any damage done to another boat from your gear even if they run over it. Attaching glow sticks to your buoys will help you and other people see where they are and prevent lost or damaged gear. Always be sure to bring your lobster gauge to measure them. I like to clip my gauge right to one of my nets when I'm done for the night so I know I won't forget it for next time.

Be sure to follow DFG regulations. You may not exceed 5 nets on your kayak. The limit on CA Spiny lobsters is seven. Good luck!

The following regulations apply.

• Spiny lobsters may only be taken by hand or by hoop net
• The daily bag and possession limit is 7 spiny lobsters per person
• The minimum size limit is three and one-fourth inches measured in a straight line on the midline of the back from the rear edge of the eye socket to the rear edge of the body shell.
• All persons taking spiny lobster are required to have in their possession a measurement device that is capable of accurately measuring lobster in the manner described above
• Spiny lobster may be brought to the surface of the water for the purpose of measuring, but no undersize lobster may be brought aboard any boat, placed in any type of receiver, kept on the person or retained in any person's possession or under his direct control; all lobsters shall be measured immediately upon being brought to the surface of the water, and any undersize lobster shall be released immediately into the water.

Reminder: It is unlawful to possess on any boat or to bring ashore any fish or crustacean upon which a size or weight limit is prescribed in such a condition that its size or weight cannot be determined. "In other words, leave your lobster whole until you get home"

The recreational fishery for spiny lobster is open from Saturday September 30, 2006 through Wednesday March 21, 2007, closing on March 22, 2007.

El Duque mothership trips (San Carlos, MX) - these trips filled up quicker than we thought they would! Both spring dates are currently sold out. If you’d like to get on a standby list please call the shop. The spring trips will mostly focus on bottom fishing for grouper, pargo, triggerfish, etc. We will be taking reservations for the fall trips shortly which will focus on dorado, tuna and sailfish.

Islander mothership trips - Space is still available for these overnight trips to San Clemente Island April thru June 2007.

Available dates aboard the Islander are as follows:

• Fri., April 6 - Sun., April 8
• Fri., April 27 - Sun., April 29
• Fri., May 11 - Sun., May 13
• Fri., May 25 - Sun., May 27
• Fri., June 8 - Sun., June 10
• Sun., June 17 - Tues., June 19