Thanks for the info! I also made my plates out of HDPE, but they don’t look half as good as yours 

Any advice on what rod holder/configuration to use for trolling?
I have a yakattak with a 2 piece arm, but I couldn’t find a comfortable trolling position. I either point my backward (but that way I can’t see the tip) or somehow I have my rod butt hitting my legs while pedaling.

Nice! When I was starting out surf fishing I saw people launching at Rockaway and I remember thinking to myself “Those people are crazy”. Now, well, I’m already checking the depth charts to be ready when the weather is nice again 

I tried trolling for lings and it’s been a disaster 
I used a 3 way swivel, one arm attached to a torpedo sinker, one with a treble and sliding snell hook and one attached to the main line. It was tangle paradise.. my bait was always twisted around either the sinker line or the main line. I tried only sending it down while moving, same thing.
What are your best trolling advices?

Thanks! I need to spend some time on that website, it definitely has a learning curve and doesn’t play too well on the phone

Yesterday I went to Half Moon Bay for my first solo outing and second time on the ocean ever. Day looked good on the forecast, pretty flat and no wind so I hit the water early. By the time I approached the jetties the water started to feel choppy. As I entered the big blue I was welcomed by waves bigger than expected, I ventured out no more than 300 ft before realizing I was out of my comfort zone. I made the call to head back in the harbor. To not waste the day I started crabbing inside the harbor and as the day improved I ventured out again, not going far but getting used to the open water.
Ended the day with 4 keepers and the realization that I really need to learn to estimate waves from the shore.
When packing up I met another guy that went out crabbing and after telling him what happened he said: “you need a buddy”. I concur

Another important thing is the secondary swell. A lot of forecasts don’t show it. I went to Albion Saturday and there was a 7ft swell at 14 sec and a secondary swell of 5ft at 4 sec. It was a real washing machine. I think it’s the two swells together that add up to your likelihood of getting seasick.

Never even heard about the secondary swell, but it makes a lot of sense! I use Windy and I don’t have the secondary swell there

If swell period in seconds <= .5(swell height in feet) and swell height in feet + wind in knots <= 15 then fish, else beer.

Is it >= ? Useful heuristic!