This could get really long and involved, but here's the sorta quick version. The fish there bite good often, even in the winter. You just need to be there when they do. They can start or stop in a matter of minutes. One day in Feb. Steve and I fished Shelter Island for 1.5 hours. In the first 45min. we each had a limit, then we couldn't buy a bite for 1/2hour. Then they went wide again and I finished with 5 more keepers. Why this moodiness? I've come to believe it is all in the water moving. If it is, they'll bite. If it isn't, it's dead. So pick days with big tide swings. In a yak you won't have to worry so much about which direction it's moving, you can paddle against it. I like to launch around 6am, drift in on a 4'+ push, tide swing around 10am, drift back to the launch area, back at the car around 1pm. The wind can get to be a pain, though it won't shut off the bite usually. It is usally going by 11am or so.

Launch areas are easy. Shelter Island, or the park just north of the Coronado bridge. Both are well known for their bass and halibut fishing, but Shelter offers more areas to go to. With a yak you have tons of options from Shelter.

What to use is really open to personal preference. I prefer almost all freshwater rigs and baits.I use 6# Triplefish Camo line, Texas and Carolina rigs, Freakbaits, Zippers, and big grubs. I like translucent greens with some type of flake. Reds in more opaque darker colors with light highlights. My friend Steve (he has a yak too) pours most of my baits now days. He has a couple hot colors that really work well. His prices are very low and depending on where you live, he might even deliver. Let me know if you want his number. Everyone has different approaches that work in SD Bay, some folks are very typical saltwater anglers using all the usuall baits, some use fresh and salt styles, and some use crank and spinner baits only. It's all up to you. Feel free to email me for more details.

Amish Ed
You Can't Catch it again if
it's Dead!

Shameless plug for Steve: Turnleft24@aol.com