In appreciation for NCKA's support and the success of my Intro, Safety and Surf for Kayakanglers classes, Monterey Bay Kayaks in Monterey and Moss Landing will be offering 10% Off all accessories to NCKA Members. Just mention NCKA to our retail staff at the time of purchase!

Also, stop by either location, sign up for our eNewsletter and get a free MBK logo cap, while supplies last.

Finally, we are offering 10% off all new boats, including new 2011 kayaks, such as the new OK Trident Ultra and WS Tarpons, through the end of Jan.

See you in the shop or OTW!

http://www.montereybaykayaks.com

MBK will be starting our annual used boat sale Saturday 9/11.We have a bunch of killer deals on used kayaks that would be perfect for fishing.

For example, we have two yellow Prowler 13 for $425 each, a blue '05 tarpon 140 w/rudder in excellent condition for $600, and a '09 Tarpon 140 in excellent condition for $682.50 at our Moss Landing location, just to name a few.

You can shop our online store at montereybaykayaks.com or come see me at MBK Moss Landing.

All used kayaks are sold "as is" on a "first come, first served basis" (NO HOLDS) and have to be picked up in person.

These kayaks are priced to move and we are having a bunch of sale prices on new gear and accessories for our 25th Anniversary Sale this weekend, so get them before they're gone.

As the season approaches it's a great time to field test gear, work out the cobwebs and sharpen our skills.If you're just getting started in the sport this class will get you ready for safe and productive ocean kayakfishing.In order to accommodate different needs and experience levels, MBK will be offering the class in two components.First, the half-day intro/rig/rescue class will cover basic paddle strokes, rigging/outfitting, assisted and self-recovery (self rescue).The second half-day component covers launching and landing in the surf, bracing and side-surfing.

The class will include: kayaks,paddles,helmets,wetsuits,paddle jackets and PFD, if you don't already have your own. Sorry, no discount for bringing your own equipment as you are primarily paying for instructor's time at a reduced rate from all our other classes already.

MBK is a great area to demo boats and test your skills in the surf.The surf pretty much gets incrementally larger as you paddle north toward the hotel.This would be a great intro for beginners and a refresher for vets with tips on launching and landing at technically challenging surf launches from an expert instructor.

This is NOT an actual fishing class, so leave rods and tackle at home unless you plan to fish before or after the class.You may want to bring your own surf wetsuit (I will be wearing a 4/3 mm full suit) or dry suit. NO hip or chest waders please. You may also outfit and bring thigh braces for your kayak.

The class will be offered the second Saturday of each month...March 13, April 10, May8, June 12, July 10, Aug 14, Sept 11, Oct 8, Nov 13

Call MBK at 1-800-649-5357 and tell them you want to register for Aaron's intro to kayak fishing and/or surf and safety for kayakfishing class or sign up online...

http://www.montereybaykayaks.com/go_kayaking/fishing.lasso#rigfish

See you on the water!  

Just to give you guys a heads up, MBK Moss Landing is having our annual used boat sale and we have some used boat for sale that would make great fishing kayaks or buddy boats.

These kayaks are in good condition and have been used in our rental fleet for one to two seasons and show the normal signs of use, such as light scratching.They are sold as is of course.


I currently have one yellow Tarpon 140 left here at Moss for $475.

After an awesome first class and at the request of several NCKA members, MBK will offer our second Rig/Rescue/Surf for Kayakfishing Class from 9AM to 5PM on Saturday September 19, 2009. Myself and Holokai, MBK resident surf kayak guru and instructor teacher, will co-teach the class.
The class costs $110 per person and will be limited to the first eight clients who sign up.We had to bump the rate a bit because we added more time to effectively teach and practice the surf session.We felt a maximum four to one instructor to client ratio would be safer in the surf zone and you would get more personalized instruction.

The class will include: kayaks,paddles,helmets,wetsuits,paddle jackets and PFD, if you don't already have your own. Sorry, no discount for bringing your own equipment as you are primarily paying for instructor's time at a reduced rate from all our other classes already.

We will cover rigging a fishing kayak for saltwater fishing, paddle stokes and bracing, practice self-recovery (self rescue),and launching and landing in the surf.We will even get a chance to practice side surfing.

MBK is a great area to demo boats and test your skills in the surf.The surf pretty much gets incrementally larger as you paddle north toward the hotel.This would be a great intro for beginners and a refresher for vets with tips on launching and landing at technically challenging surf launches from expert instructors.

This is NOT an actual fishing class (Allen Bushnell (scallen) has those covered through MBK), so leave rods and tackle at home unless you plan to fish before or after the class.You may want to bring your own surf wetsuit (I will be wearing a 4/3 mm full suit) or dry suit. NO hip or chest waders please. You may also outfit and bring thigh braces for your kayak.

Call MBK at 1-800-649-5357 and tell them you want to register for Aaron and Holokai's surf and safety for kayakfishing class.Thanks!

Up at 4AM,I pounded some coffee to wake up for the long drive south.Met Sackyak in Carmel and the conditions there were flat calm with very light swell.We decided to make the run south.On the drive south we passed a nice bunch of wild turkey and several rabbit along the road between Molera and Burns.
Launched from the spot around 7AM after saying good morning to two local yakfishers in a scrambler and a scupper pro.Sackyak made it out first...making the surf launch look easy.I waited out a couple breakers and charged out nice and dry.


The water was clear and seemed to be warming with a huge bloom of comb jellies.After a short paddle, we set up shop on the edge of the kelp and started jiggin'.On the second drop with the blue mega I get slammed by a 31" ling!



With the fantastic weather we decided to search points south of the launch and prospect some reefs and rock ledges.I soon picked up another 27" ling on a stinger-rigged swim bait.



I got into a steady bite on medium blues,gophers,kelps and added a nice red copper rf to the clip.Sackyak C&Red several medium to small rf, but he had used up his fish karma slaying lings and verms several days the previous week and never landed the trophy he was hunting.I paddle over to where Sackyak is fishing and start working the bottom with a white scampi when...WHAMO!I'm in for another drag ripping battle.Thinking I might have another ling, I was pleasantly surprised to find I had hooked into a fat 20" cabby.After bouncing the gaff off this toad's hard skull,I finally get a good angle with my EKZ floating gaff and lift her into the T13.Out of instinct,I began to lip grip the cab like a bass, but realized the powerful mouth could easily turn a 5" ab into a seafood cocktail and opted to slide it from the gaff onto the game clip.With a heavy tank well, I start pot holing the kelp to round out my limit for an MBK staff BBQ/fish fry this Sunday.I get into a WFO bite on some chunky blues and add a puffy 18" verm to the stringer.
With a nice limit of ling and rf I call it a day and start heading in with Sackyak.We played safe on the landing and timed sets for a bit before our textbook landing on the now shrinking beach at high tide.
As Sin Coast said in a previous post, for us these are the "good ol' days"!




Never been so stoked to have sore arms.Let's do it again Sackyak!

Would be cool to catch one of these from a kayak...


Big red with a fat lip


Cold water fish jail


I gave the BSB the predator stare and she took off


She came back and scowled as if to say,"You still here?"


Never before landed from a kayak in the lower 48....

Met up with PISCEAN at Daverport at 6AM to find flat calm sea and very little swell.Efficient team carry and lack of surf made the launch a breeze.We headed North, fishing the shallow reefs out to about 90 FOW as we headed toward a flat-topped finger reef with a slight drop that PISCEAN had marked on his GPS.Half way out to the reef we are greeted by small gray whale! This little beauty popped up between us, less than fifteen feet away and eyeballed us before disappearing into the deep.On my first drop I nail a black and yellow that puts up a great fight, throwing the hook at the boat.I paddle out to fish the iron a bit deeper and my 4" white grub teaser gets bit by a 25" keeper ling.The ling was even kind enough to spit up a fresh octopus on my deck.I then proceeded to catch a fatty 4lb brown, a chunky blue, a blue 20" underling and big sand dab on the octo tentacle teaser.PISCEAN was on a c&r mission and landed several gophers,a male kelp greenling, and at least three underling.The water temp was a chilly 50 degrees and the overcast skies dictated that we land.On our way in we get another surprise visit from a gray whale.It may have even been the same whale from the morning bidding us farewell.Outstanding paddle with great company!