Santa Cruz Harbor Saturday morning

    I plan on going out of Santa Cruz harbor Saturday morning. They tell me you can get a $5 all day meter pass and park 30 yds from the boat launch if your kayak is on top of your car. This is my first time out. Would be nice if there were outhers out there to say hi and meet. I'll be the guy in the big 15' yellow Necky tandem barge. I was told to try between the harbor and the SC Pier in about 40' of water. I'm trying for halibut and maybe some kelp fishing. Mostly I just want to get out and back safely and meet fellow kayak fishermen. I was also thinking of Capitola but not sure about launching such a big kayak and were to go. I have not rigged my boat yet. Going to do that one step at a time.
   Any advice would be appreciated. Is it ok to list your phone no. here?
Thanks

Joe,

Yes, you can park in the harbor parking lot but the launch can get hectic with all the power boaters, jet skiers, sailboaters, etc... We launch across the harbor (where Aldos restaurant is). To get there, don't turn off Eaton, continue over the bridge and in about a half mile you'll come to Seabright. Turn left and go down to Atlantic. Turn left, and the end of Atlantic, you'll see Aldos straight ahead and on the left is the driveway down into the harbor. Continue towards the bridge and you'll see a small steel launch ramp. Its metered parking in there, so you'll need quarters. Last time I launched there, I fed the meter $3.00 in quarters, lasted more than 3 hours. Here you can have a much more relaxed launch.

Fishing wise, its still pretty slow in Santa Cruz, there are a few halibut showing up and a few rock fish off the local reefs.Fishing is more productive in Capitola, but for your first trip into Big Blue, SC Harbor is a good place.Straight out from the harbor mouth you will find the one mile buoy. Heading north along the coast is a reef that runs towards Natural Bridges.

Welcome to the madness !!!

Rich

Hi Joe:

    Bayside Marine (AREA7) is open at 6:00 AM. and you may pickup
Bait, Tackle, Parking Pass ETc..
    The free launch is at AREA2. The ramp is right across from the Coast Guard.
    When you Kayak Santa Cruz if you go East to Cap. you will fight the wind back to the West Harbor. It's easer to go West and let the Wind help push you back to the West Harbor.
     I would join you but, I'm saving my gas Money for VanDamm on the 4Th.
                                                                Sea-ya
                                                                            Ernie   
Area Map fo Santa Cruz .                                                           
http://www.santacruzharbor.org/maps/bus_map.html


http://www.baysidemarinesc.com/

   Thanks for the tips! I just got back from the capitola wharf. Saw two very nice halibut caught by kayakers. Boy did that get my chest pumping. I'm now going to launch there Saturday and maybe even Sunday. I don't have a portable wheel set for my kayak yet. So unless someone else is there to help carry it down the wharf ramp I will pay the $15 dollar launch fee. Not comfortable yet with a surf launch. Joe

I'll be there Joe, just got off the phone with Ed at Capitola Boat and Bait and heard the same report.  Got to mount my transducer and get ready for am launch.  I can help you with the yak.  Mines a Hobie so I don't think the cart will work for you but we can carry yours down.  I bet we will have all kinds of help.  I'll monitor 69, what time are you entering?

OK here's the scoop

Drive to bayside and get the day pass $5

drive across the harbor  and turn left at the light at seabright go to atlantic turn left, go to the end of road near aldos. drive down the grade to the end of the road at "f" dock. You can park there in the metered parking right across from the coast guard house.
It is about 20 feet to the water on a sloped ramp.
Piece of cake launch

One guy can launch easy alone there. Much easier than "A" dock which takes a little carrying

I'll be there at around 6:30 or 7:00

I plan on going to the lighthouse and to the mile buoy try for some rockfish for a while and drag the bottom for some butt.

My luck has to change sooner or later.
I'll be on ch 69

Stoggie
feel free to call if you want to hook up

831.325.8948

If any of you are going to try on Sunday too let me know I might be able to join you

I'm hoping to go both days.

The women in the house (wife and daughters) will most likely be shopping, so I will try my luck

Stoggie