Channel Islands

I've been spending a bunch of time mapping out all the bays and anchorages on the islands.

Attached is a file if you want to check some of them out on Google Earth. Planning to make this my next video project.






[Edited on 1-9-2022 by JZ]

Attachment: Area Around Channel Islands.kmz (6kB)
This file has been downloaded 230 times

I export way points from GE to Navonics and other apps. GE is fantastic for scoping out new locations.

When you are on the water it's good to see both a chart view and a satellite view.





[Edited on 1-10-2022 by JZ]

There is a surf spot a few miles East of this anchorage.

Notice also the hiking path to explore further.





[Edited on 1-10-2022 by JZ]

Great GE Photos

My wife and I are avid deep-water rockfish fishermen. I use GE to find locations where I believe rockfish may hang out. Usually on drop offs into much deeper waters. I enter these GE waypoints into my fishfinders.

With the closing of rockfishing here in CA (Jan-Feb) I use GE to hunt for fish in Mexican waters as close to the USA as possible. I'll motor to the saved waypoint from GE and "spot lock" my trolling motor (electronic anchor) over the potential rockfish hole. I look for spots 450-550' on top of the drop-off. Being anchored over the hole, I only need 1 lb or less of weight to get to the bottom. Great workout. We usually catch limits of fish (10 each). At that depth you never know what the deep may hold in fish, i.e., lingcod, halibut, Humbolt squid, sanddabs, sablefish, black gill as well as many others in the 35 or so species of great eating rockfish in the area. While heading out I look for tuna, dorado, swordfish and yellowtail.

Thanks, JZ on identifying using GE for finding your special spots whether it is surfing, exploring or our case fishing. Goat sure makes ignorant jabs at you ever time you post anything. Sure is getting old with his childish antics.

Another very nice bay, this one on San Miguel.

Quote: Originally posted by AguaDulce

Painted Cave on Santa Cruz island. Incredible

Some say it is the largest sea cave in the world. A boat with a 100+ foot mast can fit into the first camber of the cave. It becomes pitch black inside and the only thing you can see are the whites of the sea lions' eyes.




[Edited on 1-11-2022 by JZ]

San Miguel

Finally did our first run out to the islands.

It was very foggy when we left the Ventura marina. But the water was super flat for the Pacific. We made it out in under an hour.

As I had hoped, the sun came through once we got to the South end of Santa Cruz Island near Smuggler's Cove.



We saw a pod of a couple hundred dolphins on the way back.


[Edited on 6-23-2022 by JZ]

Made another run out to the islands today.

My two boys driving the boat.

Did a trip over to the islands yesterday and then headed to Santa Barbara for lunch on the courtesy dock.

A beautiful sail boat pulled up next to us.

More of the Santa Barbara harbor.

The ride back from SB.

We did a fun 60 mile loop today.

Dogs were in sensory perception overload. We came across 5 different pods of dolphins today.

Hit some big waves today. A lot of 5 foot and even 7 footers. But all pretty rounded and a good 7-8 second period.

Coming back into the marina after 5 hours of beating it.

Quote: Originally posted by JZ

Hit some big waves today. A lot of 5 foot and even 7 footers. But all pretty rounded and a good 7-8 second period. Coming back into the marina after 5 hours of beating it.

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Pee wee zee, See all those sailboats in your pic? They handle way better than little stink pots in ocean waves and swells! Those sail boats got some ballast and sail mass, so don’t shake you up so much, they don’t beat you up. And they are way cooler,… chicks dig sailboats, not so much wee little putt putts that slam down on every wave.

We run out and back to the islands before those blow boats get their first sail up.

Ran out to Coches Prietas on Santa Cruz. About 70 miles (out and back).





[Edited on 10-21-2022 by JZ]

Passed an oil rig on the way out.

The dogs love the water.

We did another trip out to the islands. Love it out there. Did about 10 miles in the dark coming back into the marina. Always fun to run at night.




[Edited on 10-4-2022 by JZ]

Probably saw about 100 sail boats out today.








Ride back tonight.




[Edited on 10-20-2022 by JZ]

Track we ran yesterday.

Left from Ventura Marina, landed on Santa Cruz Island at Potato Harbor, went West to Pelican Bay, then North to Santa Barbara Harbor before running back down the coast to Ventura.

84 total miles.





[Edited on 10-21-2022 by JZ]

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

What kind of mileage do you get on a run like that?

Quote: Originally posted by John Harper

He also saved on not having to bring his security detachment as he would going into Baja. John

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy

Quote: Originally posted by John Harper   He also saved on not having to bring his security detachment as he would going into Baja. John wrong, our wee mariner pays Vessel Assist to shadow him, you know just in case his nav equipment fails

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark

Goat, WG Do both of you really get it up by calling people names? Have you ever sailed a 20-30 ft sailboat through 5 to 7 ft seas against the current coming down the coast and the wind most likely from 270 at 11 or so knots? How long and wet do you imagine 45 miles out and back would seem? And never b-tch about off topic posts! You two are among the worst offenders! [Edited on 10-22-2022 by RFClark] [Edited on 10-22-2022 by RFClark]

Power Boating

Quote: Originally posted by Howard

41 gallons of gas, lets say at $6 a gallon comes to around $246. I know there are many more expenses to operating a boat but for $246 what can you do for so much enjoyment? For a family of 4 you cant go to any professional ball game, go to a top name amusement park, hell you can barely be able to go to dinner and a movie for $246. The point is that for $246 you and your family will be sitting around one day in the future and reminiscing about the boat trip you once took when the ball game or dinner and a movie will be long forgotten. I am not belittling $246, its a lot of money but what isn't now days? One could always go for a walk, hike in the woods or many things that are free but being out on the water is special.

Quote: Originally posted by Lobsterman

Quote: Originally posted by Howard   41 gallons of gas, lets say at $6 a gallon comes to around $246. I know there are many more expenses to operating a boat but for $246 what can you do for so much enjoyment? For a family of 4 you cant go to any professional ball game, go to a top name amusement park, hell you can barely be able to go to dinner and a movie for $246. The point is that for $246 you and your family will be sitting around one day in the future and reminiscing about the boat trip you once took when the ball game or dinner and a movie will be long forgotten. I am not belittling $246, its a lot of money but what isn't now days? One could always go for a walk, hike in the woods or many things that are free but being out on the water is special. I agree with you Howard that power boating costs a lot of $$$ not just the gas but maintenance, mooring/storage, bait, etc. But that's what we do for the thrill of being "the old man in in the sea", on an adventure to see what's out there. In my experience I've seen basking sharks, killer whales, 200 lb BFT boiling around my 21' boat, thousands of jumping dolphins and much more for just $100 in gas while taking home a cooler full of great tasting fish (usually worth more than $100). True $246 is a lot of money but the experiences out in the unforgiving seas is PRICELESS.

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Thanks for all those amazing pics. Where exactly are the Channel Islands? Are we talking the English Channel Islands or something local to Baja?

We did a run today from Ventura to Paradise Cove in Malibu. About 75 miles r/t.

For any fans of the Rockford Files, Jimmy had his trailer parked in Paradise Cove.

[Edited on 10-28-2022 by JZ]

Paradise Cove, Malibu.

A couple shots from yesterday. Lots of little boats out sailing. I'm always in awe of them.

[Edited on 11-14-2022 by JZ]

Ride back.

We took another trip out to the islands yesterday.






[Edited on 2-20-2023 by JZ]

The water was about as flat as I've ever seen it. We were running almost 50mph on the way back.





[Edited on 5-22-2023 by JZ]

Inside Pelican Bay. 34° 2'2.66"N 119°42'8.22"W





[Edited on 2-20-2023 by JZ]

It was a rough day on the Pacific today. But any day on the water beats any day on the land.





[Edited on 5-21-2023 by JZ]

A really fun day on the water at Channel Islands this week. Rare day when we went out and it started raining. It was cool sitting under the T-top watching the rain come down.

We tied up to the old pier at Prisoners' Harbor. 34° 1'16.36"N 119°41'2.71"W

Prisoners Harbor

It was super overcast, but the water was really flat.






[Edited on 6-10-2023 by JZ]

and here we were told the JZ operation had pulled up stakes and moved to MDR!

Love going out to the islands. So pristine and raw.





[Edited on 1-2-2024 by JZ]