Santa Cruz skunk thursday

I was going to launch from the municipal wharf -- but I was intimidated by the massive sealion party being held on the platforms.  Plus, the platforms were 10 feet from the surface and I wasn't sure how to get the kayak down those ladders...   People who have launched there might be able to give me pointers, it was my first time.

Anyway, launched out of the harbor instead and headed right to the Halibut Honey Hole as told to me by SCAllen.  Found a friend, Charlie, fishing out of his brother's prowler 13.  We dragged squid up and down for 3 hours with only a few tiny kingfish.

Water was very bumpy, with wind coming from shore and swells coming around the point.  A tough paddle back!

There's meterd parking at Cowell's (norht side of beach).  The meters do not kick in until 10 AM. 

soooo, if you want early on and early off, you can meter park for free and bone out before you get made by the traffic cop.

Parking there would let you just dump your boat onto the sand, and also put you near the showers.

It's been awhile since I've launched from the wharf but if I recall correctly:


1. Lineup your kayak with the ladder opening and slide it through the ladder opening until the other end touches the dock.
2.  Slide it until the handle you are holding is next to one of the ladder's side rails.
3.  Turn around so you are prepared to climb down the ladder.
4.  Pinch the handle between the ladder rail and your hand and climb down the ladder as far as you can without letting go.
 
Your hands should now be at the top of the ladder and your feet are three or four feet above the dock.

5.  With your free hand, grab a rung (or side rail) at chest height and then lower the kayak until your arm is hanging at your side.
6.  Now for the slightly tricky part...lean into the ladder so you  get your weight over your feet and quickly grab a lower rung with your free hand and bend at the knees as the kayak tries to pull you off the ladder.
7.  Repeat (6) until your feet are on the dock.

If you want to fish all day and don't mind a 5 minute walk, you can park on Bay street, just up the hill from the hotel.  When I parked on Bay, I always kept my paddle and rod(s) with me and walked them back to the wharf so that they wouldn't grow fins and "swim" away while unattended.

Joel:

There should be a floating dock there below the platform..  Is it not deployed yet?

If it is, I usally stand on the floating dock and pull my yak down to it, after leaving the end projecting over the edge of the platform.

Sorry to hear about the skunk, conditions were tough yesterday as well.

Oh ya.  If the dock isn't there DO NOT follow my instructions!  lol

Well part of my issue is I'm not sure which stairs to use down... none of the ones I saw had a pad at the bottom.  With a pad I would definitely have made a go of it!

Should I use the pad by the kayak rental place?

A little further down on the same sifde.  it has a sign that says something like "public access" or Public Dock"

Allen