Hot spots in Santa Cruz? 5/13/11

Hey anyone know good spots for Rockfish in Santa Cruz.  I am new to the game (just bought a Hobie with mirage drive after going out with a buddy a few times last summer.  I hit up mile buoy, westcliff off the point, and Capitola kelp beds and have been skunked each time (except for an 18 inch ling which had to let go).  Any advise for the area would help!!!  Please help a newbie out!

Keep an eye on the hook-ups for others in your area and go through some of the old posts from Santa Cruz (lots of info there)

Depends on who you ask, Mooch will tell you there aren't any fish in Santa Cruz.

I don't know SC, but how bout SWS?  Good fishin there and it's nearby.

Peace, y'all

santa cruz is tough, but for rockies west cliff between the lighthouse and natural bridges is the best bet.  Got to find the rocky bottoms.

 What is the definition of an oxymoron? Answer: Santa Cruz fishing hot spots.

  I think there may be hots spots, but they are downtown somewhere.

  Actually, straight out from the harbor by the buoy to the east about a quarter mile out is good ,as is out front of the Light house, and the mile marker. Just watch where everybody else is fishing and if you have a fishfinder stay on the reefs or close by. There's a reef 3/4 of the way to mile marker to the east.
   Or you can travel. Oneil's by Pleasure Point is good, on the east side of the kelp bed. If you launch from Santa Cruz it can be a  training for a prize fight workout getting back if you time the wind wrong.
  All the way to South Rock is an option. Ditto, Natural Bridges.Be careful with South Rock, you could get caught in the wind out there ,if it came up quickly, and it's a long way back. I don't know how much kayak experience you have. Never been out there myself.


 
 
Basically, I think Santa Cruz is kinda of a crap shoot, maybe you win, maybe not.
 





 Read the fishing reports everyday.

http://www.baysidemarinesc.com/

http://capitolaboatandbait.com/fishing-report

Cool thanks for the help everyone!  Sounds like general consensus is that fishing just aint the best out here .  Next I might try packing up my van and heading to Monterey!

Cool thanks for the help everyone!  Sounds like general consensus is that fishing just aint the best out here .

If you REALLY must fish cruz, best get yourself some live bait.  Either jig it up yourself or get some at receiver in the harbor.  That'll substantially increase your chances of hitting something in that fish-forsaken area.  Of course zero times zero = you guessed it ...

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,30975.0.html
Their are fish there! Just paddle to the rest of the fleet  and use squid on a stinger setup. Frank

Hi Yakers:

           
  I have only caught 1 large Butt in SC.
I did a Diag.drift from the 1 Mile can to the SC Pier.
Ranch99 Squid 4Ft.  20 Lb. Leader with a Egg Sinker, swivel Snap,
Owner ringed live bait Hook.
                                                            Good Luck
                                                            Ernie

people catch good fish everyday in santa cruz. find where the bait is and you will find quality fish

people catch good fish everyday in santa cruz. find where the bait is and you will find quality fish

Wait, do you work at Bayside? 

I keed, I keed!