dumb question #42

I'm headed to San Jose next week to see my daughter in college there.  I'm looking for some suggestions:

#1 Is there a place near San Jose State that RENTS kayaks?   
 #2 Is there a place nearby that you would recommend going?  (bay or freshwater)

I'll bring my little hobie sport with me but will need to rent a kayak for my daughter who I got hooked on this 2 weeks ago when she was visiting down here.    Any suggestions for places to go in that area? -- not ocean beach launch, but bay or freshwater ok.  Even a municipal park with a lake ...  We will fish, but that is probably secondary to just getting out and having a little fun on the water.

I'll be in San Jose on Monday, then Asilomar on T/W of that week and may be able to hang around through Thursday.

All suggestions welcomed!

DaveTheSynthGuy   

Few options come to mind    You can goto Del Valle and rent kayaks there at the water and go out for the day.  You can also goto Mel Cottons in SJ and rent them as well.  If yer in SJ your close to some decent bass lakes, but you will have to put up with inspections and high fees.  Guess the same goes for DV.  You can reach Santa Cruz harbor in about 45 mins and go out in SC for free.  You can also rent kayaks there in the harbor at Kayak Connection, or you can also rent of Capitola Wharf and SC Wharf.  Which of course you can also rent boats too   

Aquan sports on peninsula is will rent you a kayak as well.  Make sure you call them ahead of time, last time I spoke to the guy there he said if they don't have it they will bring it over from their san mateo lagoon location.

Note, if you rent and then decide to fish a lake that has inspections, make sure to go above and beyond to dry out the inside of the hull!  I'd hate to see you rejected because there was a little water inside.  I've rented from Mel Cottons before and their hulls aren't always dry.

GREAT STUFF == Thanks -- and so fast! !! 

Looks like everything is working out for a short trip up from LA.  I should be able to get OTW on Monday -- and I'm thinking we might go down to Santa Cruz and rent a kayak for my daughter here

http://www.kayaksantacruz.com/

And I will bring my little hobie along.

*IF* I do that -- I understand there are some local fishing restrictions -- places off limits - Where can I get that info?

Does this sound like a good plan for an afternoon's outing (knowing the wind can come up, I bet)... ??

Dave from LA

*IF* I do that -- I understand there are some local fishing restrictions -- places off limits - Where can I get that info?

Does this sound like a good plan for an afternoon's outing (knowing the wind can come up, I bet)... ??

Dave from LA

the wind does tend to come in the afternoon.  The only no fishing zones are the intertidal zones near natural bridges, I believe out 200 feet from shore.  That area is a decent paddle away from your launch and with cliffs getting pounded, you most likely would not be in there anyway.