Marcus Chen
San Diego-based SUP angler specializing in kelp bed fishing and offshore paddleboard adventures.
San Diego SUP anglers have been waiting for this — the summer kelp bed bite is officially on. We launched from La Jolla Shores at dawn and paddled 800 yards to the outer kelp edge where the action was non-stop for three hours.
Conditions
Flat calm seas with a gentle 3-knot offshore breeze made for perfect paddling conditions. Water temperature was 68°F with 15+ feet of visibility — you could see the kelp canopy and fish holding in the structure below. Swell was under 1 foot, which is essential for safe SUP fishing around kelp.
The Calico Bite
Calico bass were stacked along the outer kelp edge in 20-30 feet of water. We dropped 1 oz iron jigs (blue and white) straight down along the kelp stringers and got bit on nearly every drop. The fish were averaging 2-3 pounds with several pushing 4 pounds. We landed 11 legal calicos in the first two hours.
The Yellowtail Surprise
Around 8 AM, we noticed baitfish erupting on the surface about 50 yards outside the kelp. A quick paddle out and a cast with a surface iron resulted in an immediate hookup with a yellowtail that peeled 100 yards of line on the first run. Fighting a yellowtail from a SUP is an experience — the fish towed the board for a good 10 minutes before we could gain line. After a 20-minute battle, we landed a beautiful 18-pound yellowtail. Personal best from a paddleboard.
Gear That Performed
The key setup was a 7-foot medium-heavy spinning rod with a 4000-size reel spooled with 30lb braid and 25lb fluorocarbon leader. This handled both the calicos in the kelp and the yellowtail in open water. A good quality drag system is non-negotiable when targeting yellowtail from a SUP.
