Connecting with Kelp Paddies

In Southern California, a large part of summertime offshore fishing is hitting kelp paddies. This post is the first of five, in which we cover the basics, plus some thoughts for BTB fly fishermen. The posts are:

• When & Where (this post)
• Tips on Finding Paddies
• Paddy Fishing Techniques
• Tackle & Gear
• Paddy fly fishing for Gear Guys

Background

If there’s one form of fishing that’s unique to Southern California, it’s kelp paddy fishing. Paddies are clumps of kelp that have broken free of the coast, and have floated offshore. Paddies can range in size from a few fronds no bigger than a pizza, to a dense mat a quarter the size of a football field, and a dozen feet thick.

The few scientific studies that have been done indicate that kelp paddies form a free-floating, self-contained ecological system. Small inshore fish and invertebrates, trapped in the kelp when it broke free from the bottom, live happily far offshore in the protection of the paddy, and interact with the large pelagic species that use the paddy as a navigation aid, feeding area, and cleaning station. This continues as the paddy drifts south, until the cold-water kelp disintegrates in the warm waters of Mexico.

At the right time of year, fishing around kelp paddies can be fantastic. Depending on water temperature and conditions, yellowtail, tuna of all types, bonito, sharks, dorado (mahi-mahi) or striped marlin may be found lurking around kelp paddies. Over the years, conventional tackle fishermen have developed specialized techniques for locating and exploiting paddies. By learning these tricks, and adapting them to fit their needs, BTB fly fishermen can also tap into this unique fishery.

When to go

That was Then…

Kelp paddy fishing is primarily a warm-water phenomenon. In a normal year, late May or early June marks the start of the season. When water temperatures are the in low 60s, fishermen will begin taking yellowtail, and possibly bluefin tuna, off paddies found in Mexican waters, 30 – 100 miles south of the border.

Paddy fishing at this time of year, for the most part, is a hit-or-miss proposition. It might be necessary to hit a dozen paddies before finding one that holds fish.

But as waters warm into the mid-60s and beyond, the number and variety of fish found around paddies increases dramatically. By mid-summer, albacore, yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi and skipjack tuna will have joined the yellowtail, although if the water gets too warm, the albacore may move west and north to cooler temps.

Marlin will also be found occasionally near the paddies, since they may feed on the smaller species, and towards the end of the season, bigeye tuna may also become part of the mix. The fish begin to disappear as the waters cool in the Fall, with the last of the fish departing sometime in October or early November.

This Now…

OK…the previous statements reflect the “normal” patterns that have held for the last couple of decades. However, in the last couple of years, whether due to global climate change, or an usually strong El Nino condition, all of this has changed. As we write this updated article, in late May of 2015, yellowfin tuna, large bluefin and yellowtail are already being caught in US waters. And in truth, the 2014 season never completely tailed off during the Winter.

Will the same happen in 2015? We can only hope the great fishing continues, although not if it means we are reaping the benefits of destroying the environment…

Where to Go

The most popular fishing areas are the various high spots on the underwater banks that run along the Southern California coast. These spots are well known and documented in a number of places, both in print and on-line, and are too numerous to mention specifically.

But if you get a fishing map or navigation chart out, you can clearly see them along either side of the large submarine canyon that separates the Southern California coast from the offshore islands like San Clemente and Catalina. Our personal favorites are the maps produced by Baja Directions.

So on any given day, where do you go to fish? The area in question is several thousand square miles in size, and the fish may move tens of miles overnight. Determining where to fish can be difficult, and making a mistake can be hard to fix, since you could be miles off.

The obvious answer is to use a guide. Guides are on the water a lot, and have lots of contacts in the sport and commercial fishing communities.

If you are going out on your own, there are lots of resources to help you find out where the fish are, including for-fee report services, such as 976-Bite, 976-Tuna, and Fishdope.com, and free discussion forums like BloodyDecks.com and SDFish.com. Keep in mind, however, that you and 500 of your best Internet Buddies will all be reading the same reports, so if you follow these types of reports to the letter, it can get a bit crowded.

That’s why knowledgeable fishermen will also consult NOAA weather forecasts and buoy information, chlorophyll and sea surface temperature maps (such as those from Fishdope.com, Terrafin or BuoyWeather.com), current maps, moon phase and tide charts before making a final selection on where to fish.

Many times you will find areas (away from the maddening crowd) that have similar conditions and will also likely hold fish. We’ll be posting a companion piece on how to use these tools a bit later.

Remember that many of these spots are below the U.S. – Mexico border, so you must have the proper paperwork (radio licenses, fishing licenses, passports, etc.) if you cross into Mexican waters, and there are US Customs and Border Protection rules you should be aware of when you return. We’ll also be posting an article in the near future to address this topic as well.

Next up: Tips on Finding Paddies