May 2, New Brighton State Beack Rockies

I didn't manage to get a big ling and make the mooch cry 
But one cannot have everything.  It was, after all, my first outing on the kayak in over a year.


Got out late, around 9:30, and the waves were rolling.  I knew the swell was up but figured I'd be okay at New Brighton because it's pretty sheltered and I'm familiar with the surf.

10 minutes later I recovered most of my stuff from the beach (except sunglasses and net).  I love making a mess of things, particularly with a bunch of tourists watching.  Rod, the NBSB guy, had launched about 10 minutes earlier so I'm sure the beach kids were wondering why I was such an idiot.

One sandy and wet paddle later I was rewarded by Rod's excellent company and a couple of skiffs from the Capitola wharf.  There was an adequate supply of power boaters without braincells around, too, but they left us little folk alone.

Score:  2 brown rockfishes (C&R) for me.  1 pair of sunglasses and 1 collapable net for Davy Jones.  I didn't see if Rod got anything since I had to come in around 11:00.  Maybe he got a free net in the sand.

I was fine on the return through the surf.  I'm not sure my delicate ego could have handled a second roll in the waves.  Now I need to concentrate on getting out more.

Nice one. The Capitola kelp has a lot of grass rockfish in there. You picked a good spot for learning how to do a surf launch. It's quite forgiving and you can see the swell coming. It's where I learned too. And stick with it, it's just not the biggest hotspot for them but there are lings and flatties out there.

Z

bigred,
my son and I looked at the capitola beach launch, and decided "not today."  It was doing shore dumps with a reflex wave coming sideways.  We opted to lauch out of the harbor for squat.  So dumping it at NB makes sense!

Try launching from Capitola sometime. It's a quick run to New Brighton and Seacliff from there. It probably wouldn't have helped today, though. When I was in Capitola yesterday, there were some evil looking shore breaks pounding the beach.

Try launching from Capitola sometime. It's a quick run to New Brighton and Seacliff from there. It probably wouldn't have helped today, though. When I was in Capitola yesterday, there were some evil looking shore breaks pounding the beach.

Yeah, I wouldn't really recommend that beach unless you're confident w/ New Brighton first. The problem w/ Capitola beach is that it goes from deep to shallow really fast. So you'll get waves that pop up out of nowhere which makes it not only hard to time but also some thumping shorepound. If you stick right next to the pier you might be able to see it coming better but still watch the surf for a while before launching to time it right. Yard sale-ing on the beach sux!!

Z

Well, I've launched out of Capitola (to the right of the wharf) numerous times...  also I've gone down Ed's stairs to launch from the wharf itself a few times.   I've got a solid set of consistently producing Capitola waypoints up from the wharf near the mile reef.   But...  I'm just fed up with the parking issues in Capitola village and with the construction it can't have gotten better. 

New Brighton is free (I have a parks pass) and there's always parking on weekdays so I'm trying to make that beach launch my new default location.  I like the harbor, too, but there's so much fishing pressure between pleasure point and steamers that the few fish I pick up there must be lost.

I think I would have done better today if the water wasn't so cold.  The bait we marked wasn't biting except for a single smelt Rod was using to try and find an early halibut.  Once the water gets warmer and the bait move in I suspect it'll be wide open.

This was my first beach launch out of NBSB and I did it with style.  Tomorrow I go to find some new sunglasses.

WTG, Joel!  I had to laugh the way you wrote that up.
another benefit of launching at new brighton is the stretch to capitola outside the kelp can hold halibut.  that little corner at nb just as the kelp starts is also a famous 'chicken ranch' for small flatties.  kelp edges r=there also feature the occasional ling.

glad you made it out!

Allen

I'm tripping on the fact that I was in Monterey at a conference this morning, bailed to head home after lunch to avoid traffic, and was driving past all your guys' fishing spots, specifically noticing Crapitola exit, in the early afternoon and thinking of who's out where yakfishing!  Glad to know you guys got out.   

Well, I've launched out of Capitola (to the right of the wharf) numerous times... 

I meant when there's some swell, it can be rough launch at Capitola beach. And that NB under that same swell will still be a nice launch. But anywho.. And yeah like scallen said... chicken butts!

Z

I didn't manage to get a big ling and make the mooch cry 

 

Joel, It's nice to see you out on the water again....and I hope you prove me wrong - about the "fishing" in that area someday