Monterey/SF Paddleboard Fishing

I have been paddleboarding to many of the navegable bodies of water in the SF Bay on an inflatable paddle board. Here are my 50+ trilingual (Spanish and Chinese) reviews on paddling.com  https://disqus.com/by/paddling-ff803a832bfbe06f99aa9c32ece4e158/

I also have a Intex inflatable kayak (100 dollars) that made it out the Golden Gate Bridge and back to Fort Baker (more on that later).  And now that I've paddled most everywhere, I have been extending this hobby with crabbing off the paddleboard in Baker Beach and fishing for Rockfish by Coast Guard Pier in Monterey.   Recently paddleboard fishing in Monterey myself I've only caught rockfish and spider and kelp crab but if I had someone to go with, I'd like to learn more about how to fish from the kayak/board for halibut, perch or salmon.  Honestly the recent shark attacks in Pacific Grove have got me thinking about how much I want to paddleboard fish after work at dusk, but with a buddy I'd feel better.  I have a lot of creative ideas and if you live in Monterey (or SF on weekends) and want to kayak/paddleboard for fish/crab, lemme know. 

Hi avesfinch welcome to NCKA 

Welcome aboard Avesfinch 

Welcome to the site.

Appreciate your adventurous spirit.

A few years ago when I was crabbing heavy  out of Pillar Point there were two brothers i would see at old pier launch site that would drop pots and fish off SUPS...they had those nice super sized models. I haven't see a lot of there SUP fishing but that leaves plenty of room for you.

Welcome avesfinch to NCKA.   

Welcome, finch dude.

I see that you’ve been to the SC harbor and Lexington Reservoir, which are 2 places that I frequent.

I doubt that halibut fishing is ever actually consistent anywhere, but outside the SC harbor, within easy SUP range, they are caught on a regular basis. Salmon from a SUP would be very impressive.

WTTM! Sounds interesting - tho it brings questions, I bring a lot of stuff: where do my lures/bait/net get stored? And my fish clips, etc.

Honestly the recent shark attacks in Pacific Grove have got me thinking about how much I want to paddleboard fish after work at dusk

Is it a superstition or do sharks more actively feed at dawn and dusk? I’d get a shark shield for the SUP/Paddler.

Encounters with white sharks do seem to have increased, but so does the quantity and frequency of people on/in the water. Also warmer water is reported to increase numbers and a robust pinniped population probably draws them.

Welcome to NCKA, avesfinch.

Inflatables are risky business in the ocean and with spiny fish, IMO.

I've caught many fish from my Costco foam SUP's.  Quite a few halibut, lots of steelhead, a few salmon, almost a striper - had my thumb in its mouth!  SUP fishing is a total blast, but I'd say there's no substitute for a kayak, in terms of range, gear storage, fish capacity, safety in changing conditions...etc.

Best of luck~   

WTTM! Sounds interesting - tho it brings questions, I bring a lot of stuff: where do my lures/bait/net get stored? And my fish clips, etc.

Honestly the recent shark attacks in Pacific Grove have got me thinking about how much I want to paddleboard fish after work at dusk

Is it a superstition or do sharks more actively feed at dawn and dusk? I’d get a shark shield for the SUP/Paddler.

Encounters with white sharks do seem to have increased, but so does the quantity and frequency of people on/in the water. Also warmer water is reported to increase numbers and a robust pinniped population probably draws them.

Well most fish (sharks included) are more active at dawn/dusk right?   But the shark attacks seemed to happen on clear days around high noon (also when there are most people out) when visibility is great and sharks can see up to the surface I guess. Also cause when I'm fishing from the paddleboard I'm just sitting in one spot (like a sitting duck) strapped to the kelp so its an easy target haha. Good thing is Coast Guard is right there in Monterey. But Monterey is generally calmer and less windier than the Bay or Baker Beach which is the only other ocean area I've taken the paddleboard
For gear, I've strapped a milk crate to the paddle board and can store stuff and a rod holder pretty well, also helps to carry stuff to/from the car on land. 

Welcome, finch dude.

I see that you’ve been to the SC harbor and Lexington Reservoir, which are 2 places that I frequent.

I doubt that halibut fishing is ever actually consistent anywhere, but outside the SC harbor, within easy SUP range, they are caught on a regular basis. Salmon from a SUP would be very impressive.

I would try again launching from Santa Cruz Harbor for Dungeness later in the year, but I've crabbed off the SC pier and didn't catch much so not sure if there are really crab in SC.     Can you fish at Lexington Resevoir? Or how is the fishing at Calero Resevoir  nearby?

Welcome to NCKA, avesfinch.

Inflatables are risky business in the ocean and with spiny fish, IMO.

I've caught many fish from my Costco foam SUP's.  Quite a few halibut, lots of steelhead, a few salmon, almost a striper - had my thumb in its mouth!  SUP fishing is a total blast, but I'd say there's no substitute for a kayak, in terms of range, gear storage, fish capacity, safety in changing conditions...etc.

Best of luck~   

The ocean in Monterey is quite calm, even the tourist rental companies rent out paddle boards around Lovers Point and the beaches around the harbor.   Where did you catch all the striper, salmon and halibut off your paddleboard?

   Where did you catch all the striper, salmon and halibut off your paddleboard?

Humboldt.

Welcome, finch dude.

I see that you’ve been to the SC harbor and Lexington Reservoir, which are 2 places that I frequent.

I doubt that halibut fishing is ever actually consistent anywhere, but outside the SC harbor, within easy SUP range, they are caught on a regular basis. Salmon from a SUP would be very impressive.

I would try again launching from Santa Cruz Harbor for Dungeness later in the year, but I've crabbed off the SC pier and didn't catch much so not sure if there are really crab in SC.     Can you fish at Lexington Resevoir? Or how is the fishing at Calero Resevoir  nearby?

The Dungeness crabs in SC tend to be in deep water which is like 5+ miles offshore. HMB is probably the place you want to go fro crabbing.

You can fish at Lexington, but I've only ever caught small bass, similar to Stevens Creek, at least for me. I go there once in a while to test out some sailing gadget (I have a Hobie AI) or to practice self-rescue or such, and only rarely fish there. I've only fished at Calero once, so somebody else probably has a better idea as to how it is there....
 

Calero has always been know for good bass fishing, but i'm not sure how it is these days.  But if I was going for big bass, that's the place I would target since it's closest to me in the south bay.

Right on, sounds like a fun adventure. Make sure you have a “net with a minimum 18-inch opening” onboard too. That is a requirement while ocean fishing in CA.
Why do you use an inflatable instead of a normal hard-shell SUP? If transportation is the reason, you might be able to store a traditional SUP at MBK or something.