Redondo Beach, 7/17/10

We finally got some warm weather and less wind so I took the yak out yesterday. Got out there about 8 a.m. before the crowds. Wind picked up just around then, but it never blew harder than 10 knots. Paddled out of the harbor and that's when I had to make the decision to either head for the PV Peninsula, a paddle of at least one hour, or go north and fish the hard bottom off the breakwater up to Hermosa. Lazy old me decided to go north. Turned out to be bad call. The water was very dirty, we either had a minor unpublicized sewage spill or a larger boat cleaned out its bilge. The water was filthy. I paddled all the way out to 95 feet and past the breakwater to find some clean water. Located some bait schools and loaded up on small spanish macs. Made a several drifts all the way in to 50 feet, not even a nibble. Decided not to go home empty handed and caught a few more spanish macs. Called it a day around 11.30 and it was a zoo at the launch. All kinds of funky yaks, paddleboards, rowing boats going out.
One dude caught a nice halibut, about 20 lbs, right inside the harbor. Maybe I should have fished more shallow. Great day on the water regardless and summer is finally here.
I fileted the macs, rolled them in flour and fried them in butter. This made for a delicious lunch. Most people don't know that spanish macs are very good and actually cook up white.