Between our pro-staffers and regular customers we always know what the fish are up to. We’ll break it down in this section of the newsletter.

The summer is winding down but the fishing is still hot. There’s been a large number of yellowtail caught at La Jolla for the last month now. Most fish are in the 10-15lb range with some bigger units mixed in. The best bite seems to be early, fading by 11 or 12 and picking up again for a PM bite around 5 or 6. Make lots of bait because there’s a lot of sea lions and bonita in the area right now. The fish are mostly between 60 and 80 feet past the halfway point*. There’s not a lot of kelp on the surface this year, but there’s plenty about 30-40ft down in some spots so if you don’t have a fishfinder be aware that your fish could get wrapped up down there even if you can’t see the veggies.

*the three quarter or halfway mark is often referenced by local yak fishermen in regards to the “corner” (where the kelp takes a turn to start heading south off the point at La Jolla). The halfway spot would be halfway to the corner (from the yellow reserve buoys).

Each month we’ll review a product that we carry at OEX. These will be items that we have used and have earned their right for a monthly review. The item being reviewed will also be on sale for newsletter subscribers only for the month of the newsletter.

This month’s gear review is the Sabiki Stick made by Ahi and customized by OEX. As kayak fishermen we need to make our own bait most of the time and to do this we use a sabiki rig which is a string of 6 small fly hooks used to catch mackerel. These tiny hooks have a habit of finding any type of cloth or fabric or fingers and burying themselves in it. The Sabiki Stick is a unique type of fishing rod with no guides. The line enters inside the rod just forward of the fore grip and exits out the tip, so as you reel in your sabiki rig, the entire thing is able to reel completely inside of the rod for less hassle. And less hassle is a main focus of kayak fishing. The sabiki stick comes 8ft. long from Ahi and we shorten them to 5ft at OEX to make them more reasonable in a kayak. This item will be on special for the month of September for newsletter subscribers only, so come on down and check em out.

Newsletter Subscriber price- $39.95 (Reg. Price- $49.95)

Newsletter Subscriber special price valid through September 30, 2006. Please bring in the attached coupon to receive discount (note: coupon not available with on-line version of newsletter, you must subscribe to our free newsletter to receive special offers).

This section will be written by our pro-staff which consists of Andy “Iceman” Allen, Brad “Madscientist” Mesmer, Pat Holmes, Cris Provancha, Mike Knott, Corey Wyrick, Brent "Torgy" Torgeson and your host Brian “Cowboy” Long.

An important part of kayak fishing is awareness on the water. To be successful you need to always be aware of your surroundings. This includes spotting diving birds, distinguishing that momentary clicker pull from kelp or fish, locating bait schools, looking for boils, being aware of currents, winds, swells, tides, weather, the list goes on. Kayak fishing allows the angler to be so in touch with nature and the surrounding environment that it can be a huge benefit to tap into this exclusive perspective.

That awareness toward things around your kayak also applies to things in your kayak. Be aware of where your gaff is, what you’re gonna do with that 30lb yellowtail before you get a bite, what depth your lines are at and at what angles. Have everything organized and simple. You don’t want to have to un-strap three tie downs, un-clip two paddle clips, un-lock four padlocks and scan your fingerprint to get your gaff off your milk crate while a trophy size yellowtail is hanging at the side of the boat. Take this into account when setting up your kayak also. Mount your fishfinder out of the way of where you want to keep fish and take some time to think about easy to reach, out of the way spots for all the accessories you think you’ll be using multiple times throughout the day. Everything else can go in a hatch or in the tankwell, tucked away.

The final part of being aware is awareness of people around you. Yes it’s a big ocean, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself playing Frogger while trying to make it to the spot on a summer weekend day at La Jolla. Between boaters and other kayakers it can get downright crowded at some of the local spots. I think one thing most veteran kayak fishermen can agree on as a pet peeve is when other kayakers (or boaters for that matter) aren’t aware of their trolling lines or other people’s trolling lines. Don’t cut in front of somebody else’s path if you both have trolling lines out. That forces the other person to stop and wait for your lines to clear before they can continue on their path. Likewise, don’t cut behind somebody that has troll lines out, as your lines will cross theirs and tangle. A bow mounted mackerel slime launching cannon is currently in development at OEX to defend against these actions, but until then please exercise courtesy and awareness out on the water. Also, look out for each other. If you see an upside down kayak or somebody water skiing behind a 500lb thresher, lend a hand. Chances are you’ll earn a beer back on land (or water, depending on the angler’s drinking habits).

Kayak fishermen are invited to join the Big Water’s Edge Kayak Fishing Tournament presented by OEX Dive & Kayak Centers. The tournament launches from La Jolla Shores on Saturday, October 7, 2006 from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm. The tournament will be for heaviest legal fish (no sharks, skates, or rays) and is open to human powered vessels only. The entry fee of $35 includes a t-shirt, an awards event at Kellogg Park including food and beverages and a goody bag. Cash payouts for the tournament are: 1st place - 60%, 2nd place - 25%, 3rd place - 10%, 4th place - 5%. Optional jackpots for $20 and $5 entries with 100% cash payouts will also be held.

There will be a $5 biggest mackerel contest with all proceeds benefiting Friends of Rollo to support their fishing program for kids. The first place prize for this contest is a Sabiki Stick. Tournament participants who sign up before September 15th are automatically entered into an On The Water raffle with winners announced via VHF channel 72 during the tournament. Additional raffles will be held throughout the day as well with a portion of proceeds benefiting Friends of Rollo. Raffle prizes will include a Malibu Kayak, Kayatank Bait System, Islander Mothership Trip, and Freestyle Tide Watches.

Cash for Trash will also be held during the tournament. The kayak fishing community is always encouraged to keep our waters clean and the kayak fisherman who collects the most trash during the tournament will win a prize pack.