I'm a little late for getting the more popular public campgrounds for a central coast trip with my wife and boys at the end of July. Anyone have an opinion on Gaviota State Park or suggestions for private campgrounds between Morro Bay and Gaviota that would be good for non-fishers, too?

Thanks! I better get looking for somewhere south of Pt. Arena.

Thanks Yester, Adam, and Dan for making tonight's event happen. It was great to learn more about local fishing and to meet everyone. Good crowd.

Thanks for the description and all the photos. I worked in western Alaska in the early '90s and heard about stinkhead, or tepa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinkheads#Stinkheads). I never had the chance to try it, but I would have. I did hear that the traditional way to make it was in grass or wooden containers that let it breathe while it was fermenting. When people used plastic bags or buckets they'd seal airtight and increase the chance of botulism poisoning. Is that ever a problem with this dish?

Tuesday was just a paddle since my reel broke. Tried Thursday, too. See http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=50018.0 for the no-fish report.

Do you ever fish the Sac from your kayak? Seems like the current would be tough to battle against in the Sacramento area, but maybe you can find slack water at the right tide farther downriver, maybe by Walnut Grove?

Yes, there's shore fishing. I've only gone once, for shad, upstream of Hazel so I can't really give you any specific recommendations. Best access for out of towners is probably county park parking lots under Howe or Watt Avenue bridges on the south bank. There are bike trails on the levees on both sides of the river in this area. Parking is $5 in exact change or credit card at a machine. Check out aerial photos on Google or Bing to look for deeper water and places you might want to try. Maybe it will be better fishing soon. Check the regulations if you go farther upstream - at some point you gotta go barbless. When the fish are running you get into combat fishing. Good luck!

I'm not sure if that subject line is more of a statement or a warning...

I plan on getting there by 07:30 but could be a little later if the kids need help getting off to school. I'll be paddling a yellow Hobie Odyssey solo, getting a feel for the water before dropping a line to try for my first salmon. I'm not a total newbie, having kayak a bit and fished, but am pretty new to kayak angling. Give a holler if you are out there!