Coastal Kayak Fishing Opens Up A World Of Possibilities
Let’s face it, So Cal is crowded. Back in the 80’s when I used to fish Silverwood, Casitas or Perris Lake, even then you might not make it in before they would close the gates because it was over capacity for boats, cars, or whatever metric they would use. If you had a smaller boat or kayak and you did make it to the launch there were more challenges. By 9am there would be so many water skiers, jet skiers, pontoon boats, etc., that just traversing the lake was a harrowing experience.
Now flash forward to the 21st century and its 10x more crowded here. I decided many years back, to skip the freshwater lakes and start saltwater fishing in the local bays. Huntington Harbor became my new ‘best friend’. Fishing for Spotted Bay bass was a blast. Occasional Sand Bass, Halibut and Bat Rays made it even more exciting, as you never know what you might catch. The best thing of all was, no massive numbers of jet skiers and power boats blowing past me at super sonic speeds. I now had open water with ‘no wake’ conditions and limited numbers of competing fisherman. What a pleasant change.
As time went on, I began kayak fishing and started venturing out of the harbor to local kelp beds and sandy flats. Halibut, Sheephead, Calico’s and other saltwater species that had only been available on a expensive party boats where now accessible to me, and they were only a short paddle away.
Over the years I began fishing further south and north exploring the many different coastal environments that Southern California has to offer. Kayak fishing has become so popular that now it can be ‘crowded’ in some popular fishing spots. Still, it’s nothing like those busy weekends at the lake.
There are literally hundreds of miles of coastline, all of which holds abundant fish or spectacular scenery. This means there is an almost unlimited number of fishing spots a kayaker can explore. The key to opening up these sections of coastal kayaking is having a convenient and safe place to launch.
What To Look For In A Kayak Launch
Finding a good launch usually means finding a launch that is convenient and safe. You want to be close enough to good fishing areas that you do not have to paddle for long periods of time or get so far from the launch that it becomes a safety concern. Another convenience a good launch site will provide is close parking, preferably free, and not having to drag a loaded kayak 100 yards through sand or rocks.
There are basically two kinds of ocean kayak launches, a beach/surf launch and launching from a harbor. A harbor launch is usually a good place for a beginner to start learning about ocean kayak fishing. It provides a safe location free from dangerous waves and swells.
Usually, fishing is good in most So Cal harbors and can be a great place to fish when its windy as the harbor can offer a good bit of wind break. Not having to deal with surf during a launch is invaluable. This means you are less likely to flip your kayak and you will not get wet when water passes over the kayak. 95% of my fishing starts from a harbor.
That’s not to say I don’t like surf/beach launches. This kind of kayak launch definitely requires a special mind set and a bit more preparation for takeoff and landing. The key to a good beach launch is finding a location that is safe and is known for its small surf.
A safe surf launch often means locations that are free of rocks, especially submerged rocks that can take you by surprise or cause strong currents that can complicate getting out of the surf zone. There’s nothing more exciting that seeing a submerged rock appear in front of you as you are coming in for a landing with surf close behind.
The biggest safety factor on a beach launch is the size of incoming waves. Some beaches are known for generally larger surf and surf that is consistent. There are a few spots that, due to the orientation of the beach, are sheltered from larger sets or swells in general. These kinds of beaches are the ones you want to look for and use.
No matter what the conditions might be during a beach launch, you always need to be prepared to flip your kayak or get wet. It just comes with the territory. You need to realize that this happens to all of us from time to time and not feel like its some kind of a failure on your part if it occurs. Just dress in quick drying clothing (no cotton anything) and be sure to secure/tie down EVERYTHING of value.
On a day when surf conditions are small, say 1-2 feet, many beaches become possible candidates. Just remember that when you leave with ankle biters at 1 foot, coming back 3 hours later can present much different conditions.
Best So Cal Ocean Kayak Launch Locations
Enough said, so where are some great spots to launch your kayak. Here are 5 great spots to get started.
La Jolla Beach Kayak Launch
This is probably the most popular kayak launch in California. Keep in mind this is a BEACH LAUNCH. With its unique location, surf at La Jolla Shores is usually manageable if not very small. But as is surf everywhere, it can change greatly from day to day or even hour to hour. I have left out of La Jolla with 3-4 foot surf and come back a few hours later to nearly flat conditions.
The great thing about La Jolla besides generally smaller surf is the proximity to epic fishing grounds. This area is famous for its ‘home guard’ Yellowtail that can get up to 40 lbs. There are abundant bass and sheephead in the area. Also, a short paddle can put you over the La Jolla Canyon where big Rock Cod reside in the watery depths.
Dana Point Harbor Kayak Launch
A short drive north takes you to Orange County where there is a beautiful point and harbor called Dana Point. This small harbor has convenient locations to launch from with close parking. The boat launch is only a 5 min paddle to the harbor entrance but cost $15 as of last visit.
There is a beautiful little park in the back of the harbor called Baby’s Beach. It has rest rooms, shade, convenient and free parking. The only draw back is you need to paddle about a half mile to get back to the harbor exit.
Fishing around the harbor is good. You can fish the sandy beach area just outside the harbor or turn back to the north and head out to the point. There is good halibut and shark fishing along the beach. If you opt for the point, there are kelp beds holding Sheephead and bass. A bag of shrimp and some strips of squid should put you on some fish if conditions are good.
Another possibility here is launching just south of the harbor break water at Doheny State Beach. This spot just next to the jetty provide almost year-round beach launching with little or no surf. The parking cost there is very reasonable as well. You do have to carry your kayak about 50 yards over some rocks and sand but its not too bad overall.
Newport Harbor Kayak Launch
This place is known for its abundant Spotted Bay Bass. Next to San Diego Bay it’s probably one of the best places to catch these relatively rare but hard fighting fish. There are several places where you can launch but I prefer the US Coast Guard Station on the south side of the harbor, close to the break water jetties. This spot has a nice little parking lot with rest rooms and even a volleyball net if you are so inclined.
There is about a 100 yard walk over sand to the little area near the water where you will launch your kayak. I always have my oversized kaya wheels with me for transport to the water here. It’s a good spot for launching as you are only 15 minutes from open water, or you can fish the many boat moorings and piers for bass and halibut.
King Harbor/Redondo Beach Kayak Launch
Up in LA County lies Redondo Beach and King Harbor. This is a great spot to launch from as there is only a 5 min paddle to the break water entrance. The city has created a little ‘hand craft’ launching dock that is very convenient for getting your craft into the water. It is located just behind the old Ruby’s Diner.
Immediately outside of the exit is a large canyon that puts you over deep water in minutes. Upwellings from this canyon draw a great variety of fish to the area. A couple of ship wreaks and artificial reefs within paddling distance add to the fishing possibilities here. Another possibility is to paddle over the Palos Verdes Point where kelp hold bass and Sheephead if you can make the 3-mile paddle.
Leo Carrillo Point Beach Launch
Further north up the coast in Ventura County you will find many beautiful beach and cliff overlooks as you drive along PCH. Just beyond Malibu you come to Leo Carrillo State Beach. Just south of the rocky point is an area of pebbly beach turning to sand the farther south you go. In this area just off the side of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) you will find an area many like to launch their kayaks from.
Most of us get there early and just park on the side of the road and walk our kayaks down to the beach. The beach is partially shielded from larger swells from the north and west producing many days with small surf. Also the point takes a lot of the swell energy before it gets to the beach which makes for an epic surf spot. On the other hand surf can get quite large on the beach depending on swell direction so be sure to check the surf forecast and weather before you come.
Just offshore from this launch are miles of kelp beds. These ocean forests are home to Calico Bass, Sand Bass, Sheephead, Halibut and the occasional ‘Ghost’ or White Sea Bass. This is a beautiful area for kayaking and when your done, hop back into your car and continue north up the spectacular Coast Hwy for more great scenery.
In conclusion, these are just a drop in the bucket compared to the many ocean kayak launches that are available to you in So Cal. With so many opportunities for kayaking and beautiful back drops I encourage you to get started exploring these fantastic locations. And always be on the look out for new and exciting spots to add to your list of ocean kayak launches. If you have a favorite launch, please share it in the comment section below.
