Not a bad morning at SC Harbor on Sunday, July 13th

Launched my kayak at the Santa Cruz Harbor this morning around 8am.  While paddling out talk to a fisherman who said he scored yesterday right in front of the Lighthouse in about 40 feet of water.  Caught a 16lb Halibut, Lingcod and a huge Black Rockfish.   Well I took his advice and the area was full of boats.  I dropped my drift anchor on the inside of the group of boats right next to a larger boat.   Not 10 minutes after dropping my line did I get a bite.  Pulled up my first Brown Rockfish.  Dropped my line again and again pulled another Brown.  All in all in about 2 hours I caught 3 Browns, 1 Gopher and 1 Black.  Kept 2 Browns and 1 Black.   Very satisfying morning.

I walked out with my coffee to see what I could see from the seabright beach stairs and I saw a LOT of boats (like 40) and at least 4 kayaks fishing today.

I also saw what was probably you exiting the harbor, 

straight out of the harbor to the mile bouy and the lighthouse reefs were positively blanketed with boats.

I guess those halibut reports on bayside have folks fired up, 

congrats on having fun out there and thanks for the report!

That's better than stoggie and I did. We pulled out of the harbor at a respectable 8:00am. Conditions were glassy fantastic. We paddled out to the first armada at the mile buoy and veered west from there. We very slowly trooched/trolled our way in 55 feet of water in the direction of the second armada at the lighthouse. Stoggie did pull in a legless-starfish-urchin mutant (dude, I think we're trolling too slow... what was that thing?) As the bottom got more rocky than not, we started drifting our offerings. All for naught. Couldn't even sabiki any bait up (seriously, how bad is it when bait won't bite?). Finished off the outing moving to 40 feet of water drifting in front of the wharf. Our parking meter time limit was rapidly approaching, and we were content to drift where the wind took us.

I'll fess up. I wasn't paying the best of attention and drifted into a lone frond of kelp. Had to hand-pull my line free. As I freed my line there was quite a bit of slack. It was soon thereafter that I could see a nice keeper 'but spitting my hook 10 feet below my kayak. Doh!!! I'm still trying to talk myself into believing it was a really big kelp leaf... a really big one... with a white belly... and pulsating tail. Crap. But it was nice to confirm that keepers can be had right out in front of the boardwalk. I always wondered why we'll fish in 8 feet of water in berkeley, but never seem to target halibut in anything shallower than 40 feet in the big blue. Anyone have a good explanation why? Personally, I'd like to try just outside the breakers sometime. Then again, I'm probably a moron... grain of salt.

I caught my first halibut on the inside of the kelp @ capitola, that is no more than 20 feet of water. people catch them from shore in less water. it's just there is so much water out there, it's hard to resist! 

I caught my first halibut on the inside of the kelp @ capitola, that is no more than 20 feet of water. people catch them from shore in less water. it's just there is so much water out there, it's hard to resist! 

I walked down Capitola pier today. There were huge schools of anchovies with dozens of pelicans working them. I could actually see large halibut working the bait balls. Quite a few people caught them today. I saw one guy pull up a 22 incher right on the wharf.

last year I kayaked fished my brains out all day off New Brighton only to come back and find by brother in law and friend on the beach with a flattie they caught from the beach while I was out paddling.  I got nothing but spiny dogfish.  I've sat on them before in 2 ft of water off Monterey bay Kayaks coming in to take my fins off.  I know they come up shallow.  I know some guys who freedive and target them at Cowell's way inside.  I don't see why you couldn't kayak fish it.
Dave

Very cool. Sounds like some good fun. Way to catch and release. Thanks for the report.

 I always wondered why we'll fish in 8 feet of water in berkeley, but never seem to target halibut in anything shallower than 40 feet in the big blue. Anyone have a good explanation why?

you have come across the grass is greener on the other side of the fence principle.  Surfcasters launching as far from shore as possible yets boats getting as close to the surf line as possible.  Dave and Jmairey are right, fish can be found really shallow.  The question is can we go to all the trouble of launching a boat, but still think like a shore guy?

maybe that is fishing enlightenment. Go for it Gelbyak.  Free yourself from the deep water desires