Santa Cruz, Otter Cove, Monterey 7/16-21

My father-in-law rented a house for the week in Aptos and I was wondering if I could join anyone fishing any of these areas.  Otter Cove sounds great if anyone is up for it.  Looking to catch rockfish, lings and maybe halibut.  Would love to join anyone who could show me around a spot or two. I don't have a cart though.  Really excited about fishing down there but just don't really know any of the spots.  Willing to be up very early.  How far is Aptos from Otter cove?  Any info and guests would be appreciated immensely.  Please give me an excuse to spend time away from my in-laws.

dang, i'll be going down there saturday. if you do otter, its handy to have a friend along. its got stairs although if you are not weak like me you can handle it yourself.

otter is like 1/2 hr 45 minutes from aptos thereabouts.

im heading there saturday for some fishing and maybe diving.

in the cove there is not much but north or south of the cove might be the luck spots. if the water is clear look for sand flats and start bouncing bait over them.

i once was freediving on the reefs just outside of the cove to the north and saw a pretty good sized, way bigger than legal halibut skimming over the reefs on its way to the point. no speagun in hand i was pretty bummed. later that hour a guy speared one. i think its a perfect place to practice flatfish fishing.

go out deep for some rockies or work along the shore south for some lings. always a nice cabezon here and there as well.

i think plastic swimbaits work good there for the calico bass. cast out and retrieve slow over the reefs. lots of kelp there probably now.

john

Thanks John,

I can fish from Sunday-Friday, but Sat. is the day were diving down there.  I didn't even realize calicos could be there. I grew up fishing the Channel Islands (mainly Catalina, Clemente and Santa Barbara).  Its been awhile but I used to be pretty good about catching them.  Are there any sardines or anchovies outside the cove?  Anybody else? Santa Cruz? Other spots in Monterey?

Joe

Hey bluefin,  I'll be fishing around Otter Cove Mon and Tuesday.  You are more than welcome to join me.  I haven't fished that area for very long (from a yak) but I've found a few good spots . .and even the bad spots are pretty good, anyway.  I usually go before work but if it's nice I might go after instead.  I'll post on Sunday night when I get back from camping this weekend.

Chris

Thanks John,

I can fish from Sunday-Friday, but Sat. is the day were diving down there.  I didn't even realize calicos could be there. I grew up fishing the Channel Islands (mainly Catalina, Clemente and Santa Barbara).  Its been awhile but I used to be pretty good about catching them.  Are there any sardines or anchovies outside the cove?  Anybody else? Santa Cruz? Other spots in Monterey?

Joe

come to think of it, i dont remember ever catching bait out of otter cove. i have seen them freediving down there but never when fishing. once i was freediving at lovers point and saw a big tornado of baitfish but nothing was chasing them. i dove through and they disappeared.

I went thought that area yesterday 7/14 didn't do good do to the wind  tide and moon phase but i did mark a good amount of bait. as for calico's yes they are around but in very few numbers i catch one here and there.

steve

MByakker - Monday or Tuesday sounds fine to me, morning is probably better for me though.  Just PM me and I'll get you a number where I can be reached. If you have directions from Aptos, that would also be great.
I'd like to try Santa Cruz area later in the week if anyone is up for it.  Maybe drift for some halibut ??

Hey Bluefin,

Welcome to town, I'm fishing Saturday for sure, trying to figure out where right now, and maybe Sunday too.  Drop me a pm if you want to hookup.

Pete

If you want to go again Wednesday or Thursday or Friday after the rest of your guided tours I probably could do one of those unless you're tired out from going the rest of the days.  I can take you out from Monterey Bay Kayaks on Del Monte beach. I haven't been able to write a report of last Thursday yet because the camera is gone every time I try to do it but I caught a couple lings and more than enough rockfish and was only a stone's throw away from where you can catch some halibut as well. I'm not positive I'm open for all of those days but at least one (depends on the girlfriend's work schedule...gotta keep the GAF high or else my kayak is the only "she" I'll be able to call mine  ).

Hope your vacation is super.  Sorry that I am out of town with all of this midweek fishing folks available.  Any of these folks can show you some good spots.