Avoid the kelp; it’s not worth it. Target rocky reefs instead.

Reel those trap rigs up 4 or 5 cranks from bottom if you’re snagging. Bait them with live kingfish, mackerel, small rockfish, smelts, or the biggest whole squid for lings and good rockfish. (Note: the link below is from my anti-Sabiki phase but I’m in recovery)

If you’re not snagging from time to time, you’re not fishing for rockfish and lings. Expect to lose rigs or replace them after a snag (wrecks your hook points). Bring lots of extras and having two rods rigged and ready helps make the most of your fishing time so you can fish one while fixing up the other. When there’s too much time between bites, the rocky bottom will try to seduce you into fishing too close. Resist the urge to play with the bottom too much.

Skip the magic thread. Squid strips or some swimbaits on a hi-low rig are less hassle and generally get rockfish bites. Can only speak for Central ground fish areas, but you can usually find some decent size, cooperative brown rockfish just seaward of the nearshore kelp beds or any close-to-shore reef. No need to go deep for ground fish, though you’ll probably get more variety in deeper spots.
https://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=102412.0

Back in my East Coast days, there was a legend of a plumber who would take all the old toilets he had removed and drop them off his boat at the same spot just offshore in New Jersey. The secret oasis was called shitter reef.

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author=The Gopher

Always good to get an expert opinion!   

ha! Joe might be right though. Since I never catch anything from shore, can’t 100% confirm those fish are family.

On a lighter note, this movie contains the best game warden scene ever filmed. If you enjoy the outdoors and comedy, it’s free on YouTube. “Anything free is worth saving up for.” 

https://youtu.be/r7x6IsFMpOs?si=E8kosYFe46zv56pv

Way to go !!! Thx for the report

My main concern is boats coming out of the harbor at morning launch time. A couple weeks ago, a lot of sporting so-and-sos were flying out of the harbor putting out big disruptive wakes first thing, going right by and between me and other small boats with no consideration. And it wasn’t even much of a day to be out there, just a cold slow day in April. Give ‘em a reason, and everyone with a motor will be rushing to get their salmon on.

Yes floats

Just ordered a new marine radio and am happy about it. Cobra MR HH350 FLT.

Toward the end of last season, my radio checks got some responses saying my transmission had lots of static and was tough to understand. Last few times out, no response to radio checks despite repeated attempts on multiple channels with plenty of boats out. Now I know there are some who might just ignore my calls on account of me being a jerk sometimes, but not everyone one the water could know my voice and filter my calls.     

 Plus the charging connection is getting bad and it had to be kinda leaning on the wire to connect.

The new one monitors 3 channels at the same time, so 9, 16, and 69 party time.