Santa Cruz shore fishing spots?

Anyone out there have any tips on Santa Cruz area spots to fish for rockfish?

 The natural bridges area and north have rocky cliffs that in my mind seem like they would have fish but does anyone know of any spots to park and SAFELY walk down solo?

 Thanks all for giving up the secret spots 

All I can say is i've had a lot more luck surf fishing than rock fishing near Santa Cruz. If you go further up 1 there are a few spots that might be ok but I haven't spend enough time fishing there to really figure them out. The cliffs are dangerous, so be really careful.

Check the MPA maps.  nat Bridges up to four-mile is all closed to fishing from shore out  200 feet to sea.  (I believe).

I've been in the SC area a long time and have tried lots of places, but none of them really worked for me.  Surfcasting is a different story. Tons of spots and really fun.

if you want to rockfish, well, that's why God made kayaks.

Bushy

I have never fish the Santa Cruz area and this will be my very first time out there.. will be renting a skiff. anyone with helpful tip on which direction to go?  are there any reef close by? would be nice to have a google map of which area to try out. maybe just fish by the kelp?

I have never fish the Santa Cruz area and this will be my very first time out there.. will be renting a skiff. anyone with helpful tip on which direction to go?  are there any reef close by? would be nice to have a google map of which area to try out. maybe just fish by the kelp?

Call me this evening 831-251-9732. Seriously.

oh yeah, rentig at Santa Cruz Wharf, or from Captla Wharf?  Same owners.  Easier parking at Santa Cruz and more reef structure nearby. Milder conditions usually at Captiola and some better catches coming from that are this week.

Bushy

I was fishing on the west side of Santa Cruz today, and the rockfish bite was better than expected---should be good the next couple of days.

I was fishing on the west side of Santa Cruz today, and the rockfish bite was better than expected---should be good the next couple of days.

but, he's looking for shore-casting spots....?  yeah?

BTW, how deep?  I have a client on tuesday I'm heading that way.

Bushy

And, my favorite question:  "Were you fishing on the bottom, or all the way down?"


Bouché

I was fishing on the west side of Santa Cruz today, and the rockfish bite was better than expected---should be good the next couple of days.

but, he's looking for shore-casting spots....?  yeah?

BTW, how deep?  I have a client on tuesday I'm heading that way.

Bushy

Well, if he can cast really, really far...

Was mostly in 60+ today. Surprised how active the RF were, even in the AM when the swell was still pretty significant, although halibut seemed tight-lipped. Got a few RF with some decent size early, but then a whole bunch of small olives, blues, and coppers---for a while, could not even drop the hoochie to the bottom without a small guy attacking it. Did have something with some heft to it, but lost that one half way up...

Apologies.  Looks like a rental boat was mentioned.  NM has the scoop!!

Bushy

And, my favorite question:  "Were you fishing on the bottom, or all the way down?"


Bouché

Not the Middle?

Alien

Surf Perch are fun, but RF IMO taste better.  So I am mostly a (Try to) CatchPhotoRelease for Perch.