Santa Cruz

I posted previously looking for a hook up at Limekiln and I'll have to wait and see on that one however I am arriving in Santa Cruz on Tueday and will want to fish probably Wednesday and Thursday. I have been on the ocean a few times with my Yak. Most of the fishing i have done on my Yak has been Striper fishing on the river. I have many years of fly fishing experience for trout, largemouth, striper and some surf casting experience. Can I get some recomendations on what I should target and what kind of a set up would be most adventageous this time of year? While I am bringing my fly rod I think I will concentate on my conventional rods using a couple of level wind reels, a Penn 330 GTi and a much smaller Abu garcia that i have used in the past for flippin for largemouth.

Karl,
 
Welcome to the board!!

You will find a great group of folks here with tons of local knowledge.  Read the fishing reports forum and you will find what you need. Right now Capitola is a better bet than Santa Cruz. Super easy launch either off the pier or beach, and lots of kelp beds to work the edges.

Best of luck!!

Rich

Thanks Rich, I lived in Capitola many years ago. I am 52 now and that must have been 35 to 40 years ago. The last time I drove through capitola i could hardly recognize it. It looked like Provence disney style. I have one question, actually alot more but I will try and be polite and not ask to many. When planning my launches should I be basing my launches on incoming or outgoing tides or is this not neccesary. i happened to get swept down a several mile stretch of coast in Port Orford, away from my launch when i went out up there. The fact that there were no boats whtsoever in the water should have been my first clue however i was anxious to get out and well i think we all need wake up calls now and then.

Karl1

Not much to worry about in Sc area for launching.
You can launch from the SC JHarbor, Capitola Wharf of New Brighton without any incidence.

any of the three launches take you to the same basic area for fishing.
I personally launch mostly from SC Harbor and work west or Capitola Wharf and work East.

I live in Aptos, so I will probably be going that weekend as usual. Bring a sabiki rig if you are going from capitola, if launching from Sc Harbor there is always live bait avail for purchase.
If you are camping, New Brighton State Park gives you immediate access to the beach and some decent Ling and Halibut fishing, but it ain't easy, be prepared for a nice day on the water but slow fishing.

I plan on trying some of the techniques I have been reading about in Western Outdoor News, there is a great article on Lings.

PM me if you want to hook up that weekend.

Stoggie

Karl,

On the tide issues, I'll let some of the folks who have been yak fishing Santa Cruz longer than I answer that question relative to how the local fish population reacts to tides and water clarity.

I've launched out of Santa Cruz and Capitola at all times of the day, and the tides have never been a serious issue. If you want to fish either north of Capitola or North of Santa Cruz, you'll want to do that early in the day as the wind picks uyp and will blow you back to your launch site. The south to north paddle can be brutal in the afternoon.
 
If you have a handheld VHF radio (you should), tune to channel 69 and you can hook up with the local crew. There have been quite a few NCKA guys in Capitola lately so you should have company.

Rich

Thank you all for the info. I do have several sabiki jigs but I hate getting stuck by the damn things. I know that they make a special bait rod that you can reel the sabiki jigs into but that is just one more piece of equipment to carry along with me on my yak. I think I will bring one of my smaller freshwater rods and use that for the sabiki and try to learn to be carefull with them. If Limekiln doesn't work for the weekend because of fires I will try and find a cyber cafe and get in contact with some of you guys, I dont currently have a lap top. Either way I plan to get in some serious fishing. Being stuck out here in the desert without the ocean really sucks and even though i have moving and still waters all around me, it still isn't the same as saltwater and I plan on taking advantage of my time in your area.

Yeah... I hated the sabikis too for a while.  Always getting stuck on something like my PFD, rope, fingers, etc.  I have found that if I cut it down to 4 sabikis, less to worry about, but less catch too.  Another tip my friend gave me is when it comes to de-hooking the bait, just turn the rig upside down and they fall in your lap.  Seemed to work ok last weekend.  They just land in my foot wells, which on a Hobie is like a small live bait tank.

And yeah, I think ill be trying to build a sabiki rod some time soon, cause I usually only get one or two days out of each rig since they get tangled and nasty smelling...

Karl,
Didn't see your Santa Cruz thread until I had already posted regarding Wed. in Santa Cruz under the thread you had started about Limekiln. Will be on the water Wed. and company always welcome. Have not decided where yet, but we have talked about going down to Monterey. Thinking about BEan Hollow for Monday and if that turns out well might want to hit that again. What would you like to do?
Steve

Id just like to hook up with somebody on Wednesday and learn some of the tricks, some of the things I need to know. I had been told to go to Capitola as it was easy, but I'm willing to travel as long as its an A.M. thing, as I'll be leaving the wife and son back at the motel. If you guys have a spot in mind and wouldn't mind somebody tagging along I'd be really happy to go.