What to fish for while crabbing?

I had been hoping to get out for crabbing & rockfish, but the swell kept me away, and now I see that rockfish season is over. 

What fish should I target while waiting for crab pots to soak? My wife likes mackerel, I presume those are always available? I'd eat most anything at least once -- I don't consider any fish to be "trash fish" -- there must be some recipe that makes just about any non-toxic fish decent. So I'd be up for croaker, ray, or most anything, but I'm not sure what's around these days.

I'd probably be launching out of HMB, if that makes a difference.

Thanks for any tips!

I'm thinking about the same question.  I do some diving so a shore dive spearfishing still a option.  Same issue conditions not good enough to go out.  I have been working on little projects on setting up my kayak. Thinking about some local lake fishing just to get a line wet.

Sand dabs.

Sand dabs.

I just ate a sand dab the other day super good!!

Halibut

There are lots and lots of jacksmelt schools in HMB if you're really looking for any fish whatsoever.  It's quite easy to sabiki up a ton of them.

Perch and striper

Perch and striper

Now there's an interesting idea. Are you thinking surf casting, or from the kayak? If the latter, how would you go about it?

Stock up on bait  for the up coming season. Herring, mackerel. Vacuum seal and get ready for the opener in april.   

Perch and striper

Now there's an interesting idea. Are you thinking surf casting, or from the kayak? If the latter, how would you go about it?

Both, depends on location. 
Areas with rocky coastline, Muir, Stinson, Bodega... I can definitely drop traps and pedal to nearby rocky areas to fish for pile perch and rubberlips.  Chance for rockfish is high but I release all of them.

For sandy areas, Doran, Stinson, Bolinas, HMB, I’ll pedal and stay just outside the break zone and cast a Carolina rig or swimbait towards shore and slow retrieve.   Works for both surf perch and occasional striper or halibut.