new to kayak fishing.....

I'm just starting,..Pretty much a kook kayaker.I got a little frenzy that I just put my first flush mount rod holder on.(its weard drilling a big ass hole in a perfectly good boat)I've been fishing Carmel pt. Have not fished anywere else.(been out two times)Been useing fish traps,large grubs...Caught my frist lingcod last Sat. Don't have any experence on a kayak.Just chargeing it.I surf alot,and surf fish alot(stripers perch ect) I'm open for tips ,sugestions,things to watch out for,riggings ect.I need a new rod,been fishing with my striper spining rod( its a light tackle spinning rod fun for stripers and perch I got lik 50lb. power pro on it  does good pulling through the kelp,have not lost any lures.).It sucks I need a baitcaster. Any suggestions?

Hiya Kanoa, welcome to the group! 

If you have free time you might try browsing through the various parts of this forum for info.  There's a TON of good stuff on the Gearing Up, kayak Rigging Tips and General Fishing Tips boards of the forum.  You'll find more than enough to keep your weekends occupied and your bank account lower than usual.    If there's something specific you're looking for you can also use the search feature to narrow down the results, but (even to this day) I enjoy just randomly browsing through the boards for information.  I always find something new that I missed along the way. 

Welcome aboard, Kanoa.  Try hooking up with some of the other members in your area - you'll learn a ton, and you'll find out how cool NCKA people are.

Have fun~

Eric   

Hey Kanoa,
Welcome to your new addiction. I live in Seaside, maybe we can "hook up" sometime. Good luck out there...

Welcome Kanoa,  I also live in Monterey, post a hookup whenever you are going to go out even if its the night before last minute thing. I'm sure we will meet on the water.  Good luck

Welcome kanoa!
You're experience sounds a LOT like how I got started. Went to Carmel Pt the first 5-6 kayak trips. Had no idea what I was doing (except for the time I've spent on the water surfing, fishing, etc) and just charged it!
At the time, I was just using bass/striper spinning gear. And it worked fine. Had a couple 40 fish days and I was hooked. No matter that they were just blues+olives….it was FUN!
I eventually got a casting/conventional combo to use on my kayak. A cheapo Shakespeare setup from Walmart. I think it is like 6ft and rated 1-4oz and 15-40lb line. Spooled the reel with 25lb Berk Big Game. That combo worked great, and I still use it sometimes. Lately, I have been using the Shimano Trevala rods paired with a Abu 7000i reel. But I definitely go back to the cheapo Shakespeare when launching into gnar surf.
So, from one kook to another, WTTM! Hope to see you out there. Send me a PM if you have other questions about local spots or gear.
PK

Mahalo, you have helped me a lot.............Got a little more direction. 

I think many of us started that way, me too. 

you can catch a lot of fish with an ambassadeur 5500 with 20-50lb braid (tie to a swivel and use mono for leader) and a 7' MH bass rod. you can get the reels used on ebay for cheap.

some useful equipment for your first year:

0. a VHF radio, compass, PFD, and wetsuit, and GPS for ocean fishing are very wise. I only used a wetsuit my first year.
1. a $9.99 orange fish lip gripper from cabelas. I almost never use a gaff or net for rockfishing. just that orange thing.
2. a diver's stainless steel clip for holding the fish.
3. a drift chute. some dont use this, but if you want to fish in the wind, hang it off the bow toggle it will slow your drift.
4. polarized sunglasses so you can see into the water.

second year:
1. bigger kayak with a lot of rigging options.
2. sonar
3. way too much tackle.

J