Winter fishing?

I have been spending an unhealthy amount of time reading through past posts on this forum.  This place is awesome.  There is so much information here.  So glad to be a part of this.

If everything works out,  I am guessing I will have my new kayak within the next month.  This puts me at November.  I have read quite a few posts where people talk about "last trip of the season" etc. 

Is there not much fishing in the winter?  I totally get that fishing certain species, such as salmon, has a season, and that the weather is a bit different in the winter.  My experience with Santa Cruz is that winter time sometimes brings some of our nicest weather.  Hopefully we get some rain, I would love that.  Want to see those reservoirs fill, but there are always nice days.

I guess there is always delta striper, etc.  But what about out in the monterey bay?  What is in season in the winter, and why do people hang up their kayaks for the season?

Thanks!

A lot of people do hang it up for the winter and focus on getting in arguments on the internet instead.

If you do venture out there is a ton of opportunity from crab and dabs to inland trout, bass, catfish, etc. and its all less crowded.  Take a steelhead trip on a northern river, go to Almanor in march and chase monster browns in the shallows, etc.

Or hang out here and bitch about everything.  Either is an acceptable wintertime activity.

Best time of year to fish for sand dabs! .... Weather is beautiful during the winter on the Monterey Bay.

Crab, Stripers, Sturgeon, Salmon /Steelshead /trout if you like that stuff... perch....if you’re desperate. Flu... I love winterfishing

Rockfish season is open thru Dec 31 nowadays, which is a good option when the weather cooperates. Come January 1, most ocean fishing is closed except sanddabs. Our local rivers are open to steelhead/striper fishing Dec thru March 7. Dungies are open but they tend to be much deeper in mbay...closest crabbing is HMB. Local freshwater options are limited for kayaks unfortunately (ever since they stopped planting trout in 2006 and stopped allowing boats due to quagga/zebra mussels). But dinos & stripers in the delta and SF bay are legit options. Inland salmon can be fun too.

O'neill Forebay in February!

A lot of people do hang it up for the winter and focus on getting in arguments on the internet instead.

This!! Best answer so far.   

O'neill Forebay in February!

And this too!  Can't miss the shenanigans.

Take up spearfishing and eat rockfish whenever the ocean lays down.

and why do people hang up their kayaks for the season?

Cause they're pussies 

Take up spearfishing and eat rockfish whenever the ocean lays down.

This!

and why do people hang up their kayaks for the season?

Cause they're pussies 

Take up spearfishing and eat rockfish whenever the ocean lays down.

This!

+1.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

and why do people hang up their kayaks for the season?

Cause they're pussies 

Take up spearfishing and eat rockfish whenever the ocean lays down.

This!

As a kayak diver year around, the only seasons I see are how the ocean typically lays down while I'm at work M-F and gets angry on weekends =P

P.s. Wintertime internet arguments are a must. If you're interested in partaking, just start a post that says "Kelp keeps me safe from the Great Whites" - bam. Argument engaged!

Melones and other Foothill lakes can be really great in the winter.

In Oregon rockfish and lingcod are open year round.  We don't have to dive, we just have to drive a couple hours north.  You guys are stuck jumping in.

Given all the juvenile halibut that was out here this year, you might try fishing in 70 to 80'.  I'd go out for sand dabs for live bait and you can eat whats left.