By Paul Lebowitz

April 13, 2007

An angler’s thumb tells the tale. If the skin is worn like a rottweiler’s chew toy, you can bet your bottom dollar the calicos were snapping.

So it proved on a recent WON kayak mothership charter aboard the Islander. The big boat toted a fleet of nearly 20 kayaks out to San Clemente Island, where lush kelp beds beckon. The late March trip was sponsored by kayak manufacturer Wilderness Systems.

After a full day on the water, a band of hungry and tired kayak commandos was chowing down on a hearty supper whipped up by chef “Big” Paul Grebetz. A quick count of the roughed-up digits documented many a career calico day.

Take Wilderness Systems pro staffer Mark Pierpont for example. Calico bass are the Malibu-area guide’s bread and butter, but he’d never experienced such an incredible bite.

“I used up every swimbait in my tackle box. At the end I was throwing a split-tail Scampi,” said Pierpont, who described the island as “calico heaven.”

Although it was still early in the season and the water a chilly 59 degrees, Pierpont reported catching and releasing 60 chunky checkers, the biggest of which pegged his Boga Grip at 7.75 lbs.

Fellow Wilderness Systems pro staffer Dave Easton hit the half century mark. The iron man launched his kayak first thing in the morning and stayed in the saddle all day, only returning as the sun sank into the sea.

cheeseburger,” said Easton, who couldn’t say enough about the Islander’s excellent service. Throughout the day the crew kept a Zodiac in the water to ferry cool drinks and fresh bait to the kayak flotilla.

Pierpont and Easton figured their liberal use of UniButter fish attractant helped pad the numbers. The Wilderness Systems kayak fishing pro staff brought a full case to share with passengers on the trip.  

“The bass fishing was great. Just think what it will be like in June when the water is warmer,” Pierpont mused.

Out in the deeper water off the kelp line, sardines were balled up and the birds in a frenzy. The water looked fishy but the yellowtail never turned on for WS pro staffer Chris Fierro.

The WON charter anglers enjoyed nearly perfect weather. Skipper Jason Murphy was thrilled with the conditions.

WON ISLANDER KAYAK MOTHERSHIP SCORES BIG SCI BASS – A late March jaunt to San Clemente Island aboard the comfortable 88-ft. Islander found the calicos on the chew. The kayakers got right into the heart of the weeds to pull out big bass. Trip sponsor Wilderness Systems pro staffer Mark Pierpont fooled the biggest of the day, this 7.75-lb. kelp creature.

FLOATING HOME BASE – The Islander is custom rigged for kayaks. The comfortable boat sports a durable kayak rack and a large swim step for easy-on, easy-off access.

FIRST-TIMER HAS FUN – Kayak novice Rick Maxa, co-host of the Let’s Talk Hook-up radio show, tries a taste of the plastic. Good sport Maxa said it won’t be the only time he jumps on a ‘yak to fish where the big boats can’t.

“I consider it a privilege to fish on the weather side. There are incredible boiler rocks and thick kelp,” Murphy said.

The kayaks really came into their own in the tangled weeds. WON advertising sales representative and enthusiastic Let’s Talk Hook-Up co-host Rick Maxa said he was a little nervous about making his maiden kayak journey on a mothership trip. Ultimately it proved ideal, with no surf and the big boat close by.   

“I liked it. I’ll get back on a kayak,” said Maxa, who enjoyed pulling calicos right out of the thickest weeds. “I could never take my boat in there,” Maxa said.

Kayaker John Gibson had a good day. His 9-lb. sheephead garnered the jackpot. His luck held in the after-dinner raffle when he won a new Shimano Terramar jig stick.

Tim Karnes and his wife had a story to tell of the one that got away. The Karnes couple worked shallow all day in hopes of hooking a grey ghost. At mid morning they connected with something heavy, but weren’t able to slow the freight train before it broke a heavy braided line. It wasn’t all bad for the Karnes. They won the grand raffle prize, a high-performance Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 fishing kayak.

“This was my first mothership trip,” Karnes said, but it probably won’t be his last. “The Islander is perfect for kayaking. It was an awesome experience.”