newbie fishing question

 I'm new to this great sport of kayak fishing, went out last Monday 10-26-09 out of New Brighton caught my first ever series of Rock Cod. My understanding is that the season for kayak fishing for cod ends Nov. 15, do yak fisherman fish off the coast for anything during late fall and winter? and I hear alot of talk about GWS around New Brighton and Capitola kelp beds, was out there for 5 hours and did'nt see any, is that anything to be concerned about? Thanks

Not much salt action after the 15th. You can always target crab, sand dabs or perch. Inside the bay you got sturgeon, ray's and sharks. Oh and stripers. Just wait and see all the stir crazy posts that show up on the board after the 15th.

This is the time of year for the GWS (thats why they call is Sharktober). You can worry about it and not go in the water. Or just accept the fact that they are there and hope for the best. (I think a few ppl here use the sharkshield) But in reality if the landlord want to collect rent. Your gonna pay up sucka!

WTTM!

Roge,

 Welcome to the madness!!! (WTTM)

This site will answer all your questions.

Are you a Santa Cruz County resident?

And yes, if the water is salty, there are sharks..of all kinds.

Landlord (GWS) sightings start up in September, then in Sharktober it's pretty common.

Rich

Welcome aboard, roge.  Fishing opportunities are great, but you may find that just being out on the water becomes one of the main draws.  Be sure to start thinking about how to get some photos to share with us.   

Oh, yeah, regarding sharks...  get a picture when you do see one!   

regarding sharks...  get a picture when you do see one!   

...or at least a drawing!

    The only time that I've seen a (probable) GWS was in early May several years ago.There was a dead baby Grey Whale over at Capitola and there were a number of Orcas about out in front of Santa Cruz.
     This was an approx.  2 1/2 foot tail fin seen out in front of the lighthouse from about  one hundred yards that was headed up the coast. It looked exactly like they do on the Discovery Channel and PBS, so I guess that's what it was. Only on the surface for about 20 or 30 seconds.
    

Hey Roge, winter salt action from the yak is mostly sand dabs in the Monterey bay.  You can paddle way the hell out there in SC or go to Monterey, where it gets deeper faster for dabs.  Seems 100 FOW in sand is the key.  You can also try around Moss Landing for flounder and dabs. 

as to the GWS unless there is an active shark warning, I wouldnt worry too much about it at New Brighton.  Kind of a calculated risk kind of thing.

and as Abking says, sometimes its just cool to be out.  So drag a chovy around in the sand and see what happens.  Worst case, you get on the water and relax!

Eugene

You got sharks and rays inside Elkhorn Slough too (legal inside the SMCA and also way back there past Kirby Park).

You got sharks and rays inside Elkhorn Slough too (legal inside the SMCA and also way back there past Kirby Park).

pretty sure you can only fish the very front of the slough now, the kirby park area is a no fish zone.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/jpegs/ccmpas/elkhornmoro_chart.jpg

The boundary for the SMR is right at Kirby Park. So you can still launch there and paddle about 200yds inland to get to legal water. Just make sure to do it during a flood or slack tide (not an outgo)--or else the current will continually pull you towards the SMR.

One stayed around those guys in Australia  

a buddy of mine saw one on a private boat off of one of the channel islands.

Those whussy GWS are overrated !(JOKE). If one does try and chew on ya, poke em in the eye, thats what I did. It released, but stuck around for awhile.

There are people in NCKA like Sharky and Dan who have had shark encounters but it is very very rare. Just google it for the facts. Averaging less than one GWS attack a year in California and that's with millions going in the water. You're more like to get run over by a train.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/White/USA.htm

Those whussy GWS are overrated !(JOKE). If one does try and chew on ya, poke em in the eye, thats what I did. It released, but stuck around for awhile.

Sharky, was that considered a CR or were you bait rejected?