open invitation - Santa Cruz 4/28

Forecast is showing dead flat in Santa Cruz this weekend!

Planning to launch around 8AM on Sunday, probably launching out of the harbor. Goal is to get comfortable on water and try to catch my first fish by kayak. Thinking of targeting kingfish, dabs etc. that I have familiarity with from pier fishing.

Let me know if anyone's interested in pairing up, or looking forward to seeing folks out on the water!

If you catch a kingfish (or mackerel or sardine or smelt) send it back down, and you might get a halibut.

My forecast is showing it to get windy after 10 am. But it might be okay from harbor to pier. I would bounce herring or squid for halibut. I might be down there on the 2nd for RF/halibut if conditions allow.

I'm going to try for Sat and Sunday early. I will be launching at sunrise.

Planning on Saturday. Harbor mouth at first light

My forecast is showing it to get windy after 10 am. But it might be okay from harbor to pier. I would bounce herring or squid for halibut. I might be down there on the 2nd for RF/halibut if conditions allow.

It looks like it will be white capping (about 10+ knots) in the afternoon:

https://www.windy.com/36.925/-121.996?36.910,-121.996,13,m:eGHacLP

https://wind.willyweather.com/ca/santa-cruz-county/santa-cruz.html

https://marine.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-122.03603625297546&lat=36.93747980515063

And there may be some fog early on Saturday:

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=36.9741&lon=-122.0309#.Wu40JS_MxsM

For dabs, head past the mile bout to around 85-90 FOW, squid tipped sabiki always seems to work for me.

Enjoy, hopefully be back out on the water mid-May once my cast is removed.

Dropping a whole frozen squid on a trap rig to the bottom just might get you something decent

Thanks all for the weather and fishing tips!

I was using the forecast at Cowells beach which looked more promising: https://www.surfline.com/surf-report/cowells/5842041f4e65fad6a7708806?camId=58349794e411dc743a5d527f

I was surprised to see the small craft advisory on Saturday on marine.weather.gov, looks like I need to keep a closer eye on the offshore wind. I've bookmarked the other sites and I'll keep an eye on the forecast before heading out.