Kayak fishing for salmon tips....

Craig, I'd love to get out there with you.  I ain't paddling no 12.5 miles out, though LOL

My 1st paddle out of Moss I was joined by a guy I never saw before.  Turned out to be the Chef.....  WE paddled  and drifted, trolled mostly.  At one point he looked at his GPS and realized we were 7 miles out...that was surprising! flat calm and glassy the whole way, the whole day. I did catch a fish that day, about a 15-inch perfect little king, right in front of the Jetty as I was pulling my trolling line in. After 8 hours and probably 18 miles of paddling haha.

My plan is to pay close attention to reports and hit it quick while they are closer to shore.  that's why I like Moss, it gets so deep so quick there.

Allen

Right on Allen. Muir is a good launch if they are up this way. I have the same plan. Wait for the guys to post on coastside and make plans.

Allen, I know its still premature. But let me know when you hit Moss. I'd love to head out there with ya. I have wanted to launch from Moss for a few years but haven't had a reason

Be very careful launching from Moss, especially once you clear the jaws. Boats tend to open up and scatter around the mouth of the harbor to avoid the slower outgoing boats. I'd suggest clipping a bright orange flag on the tip of your spare rod AND maybe even duct tape a big glow stick (or those blinking bicycle lights) if your launching really early in the morning. We used to wear our head lamps backwards so the boaters can see us when we have our backs to the mouth of the harbor...but with the bigger swells, the higher your flag, the better.

Watch the weather and the fog too. GPS,VHF radio and a back-up compass (in case your GPS battery dies on you) = gotta have 'em.

Good luck and be safe out there brothers

Be very careful launching from Moss, especially once you clear the jaws. Boats tend to open up and scatter around the mouth of the harbor to avoid the slower outgoing boats. I'd suggest clipping a bright orange flag on the tip of your spare rod AND maybe even duct tape a big glow stick (or those blinking bicycle lights) if your launching really early in the morning. We used to wear our held lamps backwards so the boaters can see us when we have our backs to the mouth of the harbor...but with the bigger swells, the higher your flag, the better.

Watch the weather and the fog too. GPS,VHF radio and a back-up compass (in case your GPS battery dies on you) = gotta have 'em.

Good luck and be safe out there brothers

That's why I am hitching a ride with Super Allen!!!!!

I bought a bicycle flag at Sports Authority for $5.00...They sell 'em separately. Looks something like this...

  The good thing about trooching is you don't have to have a barbless circle hook, if you don't want one.
  How far is 200 fow from the Moss put in?

  The good thing about trooching is you don't have to have a barbless circle hook, if you don't want one.
  How far is 200 fow from the Moss put in?

If I remember correctly, less than a mile paddle.

Also forgot to mention that you need to keep an eye on the out-go tide when making your way back in the Harbor. Bill and I had a hell of a time when we timed it wrong 

I am a newbie to ocean fishing but from this statement

"The good thing about trooching is you don't have to have a barbless circle hook, if you don't want one."

I get the impression that if you are trolling you don't need a barbless hook? I looked in the CA regulations bk but could not find anything to back that statement up.

I am a newbie to ocean fishing but from this statement

"The good thing about trooching is you don't have to have a barbless circle hook, if you don't want one."

I get the impression that if you are trolling you don't need a barbless hook? I looked in the CA regulations bk but could not find anything to back that statement up.

You still need a barbless hook but when trolling you're allowed to use a J hook.  When mooching you need a barbless circle hook. 

Whether or not use a circle on the trooch is up to you. Some people like to play in the grey area.

thanks for the clarification 

Question for Zee or anyone who knows the answer lol. When using a down rigger do you think a flasher attached to the down rigger line would be effective for salmon or any other fish? How much line should you feed away from down rigger? I thought I read 6' somewhere?
Thanks in advance.

Question for Zee or anyone who knows the answer lol. When using a down rigger do you think a flasher attached to the down rigger line would be effective for salmon or any other fish? How much line should you feed away from down rigger? I thought I read 6' somewhere?
Thanks in advance.

check out the article by Zee over at our sister site NWKA (North West Kayak Anglers)

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/page,37.html

Another word of caution when launching out of Moss Landing.  You can get some very strong off shore wind there.  One time Alex and I were fishing there with some others.  There was a strong offshore that built through the morning.  Nothing was going on close to the shore so the others took off, some went almost down to Pajaro.  But knowing I wasn't the strongest endurance paddler, the offshore made me nervous so I decided to stay closer to the power plant.  I used the visual of the power plant to define "closer".  But the height of those stacks is very deceptive...you can drift a long ways out without knowing it because the stacks are so high, they don't seem to be diminishing in height.  By the time I actually looked at my GPS, I was much further out than I wanted to be and had to fight the wind to get back in.  Alex told me he fought it all the way in and was really tired at the end.

So watch for that wind.