Santa Cruz area - What to do when January comes?

As many things go out of season at the end of December, it will undoubtedly be time to switch gears. What's best for fun in Santa Cruz in January and beyond? I'm full of questions and the search function didn't yield many answers. Buddy of mine got a small halibut near steamers yesterday and it has me wondering.

Are halibut around much to target?

Catch and release the lings and rockfish that I wish I could take home and eat?

Any good chance for Leopard shark in Elkhorn Slough?

Sand dabs from a kayak?

My brother will be visiting for a week in January and we want to take a few day trips in the kayaks. I'll probably bring the crab traps along for a good soak but what do you guys do to keep busy/have fun when lingcod and rockfish etc. aren't on the menu?

When rockfish is out of season, you cannot target them ... even for catch & release.  Best bet is go target freshwater fish or sandabs.

Jump in and shoot them.

 

Open year round for spearing. 



 

Sincerely,

Jim

Fish for Sandabs! Or go surf ing.

I dont think you can fish elkhorn slough anymore. there is always rockfish off the shore. San luis reservoir stripers. And Andy's secret striper spot.

Jump in and shoot them.

 

Open year round for spearing. 



 

Sincerely,

Jim

+1 nice vid Jim.....thinking of joining DOTY 2014

The hope was to try for a leopard shark in elkhorn slough. My 2013 sport fishing regs copy said they are open year round in elkhorn. Anyone know for sure? I figured if they could be targeted year round, there would probably be a good size population there. Anyone have any info?

Another bad ass video Big Jim. You da man bro.

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Elkhorn Slough is a NO FISHING zone & has been for a number of years.  You can fish from the Hwy 1 overpass towards the ocean.  Nothing really there though except perch along the jetty. 

Bill

Local fishing options in January:
-steelhead in rivers on Weds, Sat, Sundays using barbless hooks (and in some rivers, artificials only)
-striped bass in rivers, surf, or San Luis Res or Forebay
-surf perch from shore or other types of seaperch from the yak
-sanddabs and other flatfish (excludin petrale sole) from the yak
-trout or bass in some of the South Bay lakes
-rockfish/cabs/lings from shore or spearfishing
-sharks & rays in Moss Landing or Elkhorn Slough (which is open to fishing except in the SMR (red area in this map). I'd launch from Kirby Park and paddle a half-mile up/north then anchor along the channel. You can also try for sharays closer to Moss but the current can be strong...  http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pdfs/mpamaps/elkhornslough_morocojo.pdf
-there are more but that's the best I can help while typing on my phone & driving hahaha

Sounds good. From what I'm reading in the regs, leopard shark and flatfish can be targeted in the slough, closed otherwise.

Not sure if stuff will be in there in January, but worth a try at least.

Sand dabs sound fun too. We'll probably combine a crab/sand dab trip out of Santa Cruz and sink some squid or something in the slough.

10-4 you can fish for whatever you want in Moss or Elkhorn slough...just not in the red area of that map (Elkhorn Slough SMR).

And yes halibut are still an option in winter, but they tend to be deeper and tough to catch.

Jump in and shoot them.

 

Open year round for spearing. 



 

Sincerely,

Jim

I'm intrigued. I've got a wetsuit, flippers, goggles and I can hold my breath for a long time. Might be worth a shot.