Hello from Santa Cruz Mountains

Growing up I would go salmon fishing once a year with the family and have loved fishing ever since. In my 20's my buddy and I would hit up percolation ponds and go bass fishing in our float tubes, what a blast! Now I'm married with kids and fishing is unfortunately low on the list of things I have time to do.

A few years ago my 40th birthday present to myself was going kayak fishing with a guide. What a blast that was! My boy is 7 years old and he caught an 18" trout in Montana this past summer and reeled it in by himself, he's now hooked . He tells me he wants to go Kayak fishing so I'm trying to learn more about it. I have basic fishing knowledge and am new to kayak fishing on the ocean. I'm also interested in shore fishing.

Welcome to NCKA Tom 

Hi Tom -

I'm another newbie to this forum that joined for advice and have gotten plenty.  These guys have a great community here, and I've been super grateful for everything I've learned in a few short days.

Others will have more kayak info than I, but I wanted to chime in on kids and shore fishing on the Monterey bay, as I have been taking mine to the beach and surf fishing a lot this year.  I'm pretty new to surf fishing (fished a lot from boats both marine and lakes in my teens and 20s, took a long break, getting back into it last little while), but it has been awesome with the kiddos.  Mine are 2 and 5 and can't handle the big surf rod by themselves, but they like playing on the beach and participating (reeling while I help, seeing the fish come in, etc.) from time to time.  Definitely helps get them out of mom's hair in a way that's super fun for all of us.

I did a writeup from a relative newbie perspective on gear and rigging for surf perch fishing from the beach for a friend a month ago, I could send that to you if you like, let me know.

Anyway, seeing the shore fishing and young kids thing I wanted to chime in as it's been a great thing for me and my family over the last year or so.

Welcome to NCKA Tom 

Welcome, t-m. Another mountain man here...

Welcome to NCKA Tom. 

Hey Tom, welcome to NCKA!

Hi Tom -

I'm another newbie to this forum that joined for advice and have gotten plenty.  These guys have a great community here, and I've been super grateful for everything I've learned in a few short days.

Others will have more kayak info than I, but I wanted to chime in on kids and shore fishing on the Monterey bay, as I have been taking mine to the beach and surf fishing a lot this year.  I'm pretty new to surf fishing (fished a lot from boats both marine and lakes in my teens and 20s, took a long break, getting back into it last little while), but it has been awesome with the kiddos.  Mine are 2 and 5 and can't handle the big surf rod by themselves, but they like playing on the beach and participating (reeling while I help, seeing the fish come in, etc.) from time to time.  Definitely helps get them out of mom's hair in a way that's super fun for all of us.

I did a writeup from a relative newbie perspective on gear and rigging for surf perch fishing from the beach for a friend a month ago, I could send that to you if you like, let me know.

Anyway, seeing the shore fishing and young kids thing I wanted to chime in as it's been a great thing for me and my family over the last year or so.

SandyToes,
I'd like to read the write up if you'd be willing to share. I mostly salt and freshwater spearfish and sometimes cast from jetties, but a local perspective on surf perch fishing would be nice as an introduction for me. I'd like something to do when visibility is too poor spearfishing.

No prob, here is what I wrote up a few months back for a small g-chat group of some old friends when a few of them were asking.  I am a relative beginner at this, so if any readers have corrections or things to add please do!  I have learned a ton from the folks on this forum in the short time I've been here and am excited to learn more.

Along those lines, if you have any advice on beginner spear fishing I'd love to get it.  I have a lot of water and dive (mostly scuba) experience, I worked as a scientific diver in my early 20s, but only spearfished a few times for scientific collection.  Freediving and spearfishing seems like a fun way to get back underwater, I haven't dove much in the last decade.  Let me know if you have tips.  Thanks!

Here we go:

Ok here is my rundown on a surf perch setup.  Please remember that I'm pretty noob on this, I've taken a deep dive over the last couple months as I have re-caught my fishing bug and realized this is the most accessible fishing for me, but I'm by no means an expert:

First, you can get by with any rod that casts at least 1/2 oz of lead and is at least 7' long to give it a shot, especially on steep beaches or where there is a hole close to shore.  But if you want to buy gear specifically for this:

Here's the uglystick combo I have:
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/shakespeare--10-ugly-stik-bigwater-spinning-combo--17812405

I might get a lighter rod for perch if I were buying again, especially for beaches where I don't need a really heavy weight.  Something like the bottom one here (MODEL # USESSP902XH)
https://www.uglystik.com/uglystik-rods-spinning-rods/elite-salmon-steelhead-spin/1363809.html

(I like ugly stik stuff because it's cheap and unbreakable, I've had my 7' rod for 20 years, but obviously there are a lot of brands and they're probably all fine)

You could go lighter and it would make the fight more fun, but being able to throw at least 2 oz (that second one goes to 3) is good for distance and staying in place in bigger surf.  I really haven't ever wanted more than 3 oz of weight, but it's been summer and the surf has been small.  Humboldt beaches probably indicate more weight and a longer / heavier rod in general.

I would pair that one with any kind of 3000 reel (2500 - 4000+ is probs fine).  I don't know a ton about best value for money here, but the penn battle is supposedly good.  Don't want to go too expensive for salt and sand exposed gear.

https://www.amazon.com/Penn-1338218-Battle-Spinning-Reel/dp/B00LDYJ6JS/ref=psdc_3409711_t1_B07W9FC6QW

I have been fishing 20lb test mono, I will probably try 30lb braid soon as it supposedly casts farther.  10 to 15 mono is probably fine for perch (they are like 2 lb max fish and some people use less) , but they're supposedly not line shy so I figure why not have heavier line for durability and that random big halibut I'm hoping for.. Plus I don't really want to huck 3 oz of lead on 7lb test.

Terminal tackle is simple.  I've mostly used a carolina or fish finder rig (same theory, both are slider rigs, images below) with anywhere from 1/2 to 3 oz of lead depending on desired casting distance and the surf size / current, a #4 to #6 circle hook (bigger up to 1/0 works too apparently and probably helps keep little guys off the hook), and Berkley Gulp! 2" sandworms in camo color for bait. A lure like a Lucky Craft 110 or similar minnow like lure apparently works well too, but requires you to be actively fishing rather than soaking bait and building sand castles.

You can do other stuff like a 2 hook drop shot rig other plastic baits, natural baits like beach dug sand crabs or store bought bloodworms, other lures like krocodiles or kastmaters, etc, but a variation on the slider rig with a gulp worm is solid.

Then you also want a sand spike if you want to be able to put your rod down, you can buy one, but I have just been using a piece of PVC probably 2.5' long with and angle cut at the butt and burying that in the sand.  The way I have it now I dig like 8 to 10" down, push it in from there and bury it, but I'm gonna experiment with cutting a narrower spike into the plastic so I can push it in without digging.  May also try rebar or angle iron with a small piece of pvc and some zip ties.  I'll see how that goes.  But you want to make sure it's secure so you don't dump your reel in the sand and salt water.

Speaking of which, put a water bottle in your backpack, both for obvious reasons and to rinse that reel if it does get dumped / when you are done.  Because you know it might not happen when you get home, especially if kids are part of the equation.

I got a casting glove recently to protect my finger from cuts when hucking heavy weights repeatedly since that was a bit of an issue a few times, but actually haven't used it since I got it.

I've just been using an old school first gen leatherman for utility knife / fish bonker / gill bleeder, but a nice pair of rust proof pliers would be cool, as would a nice bait knife.

I also keep a small tackle box, a tape, and a plastic bag for fish in my little pack.  I put keys, wallet, and phone in there too so I don't soak them when I wade out to cast.  I usually leave the pack on the beach, especially when I'm with kiddos.  I'll wear it when I'm alone to stay mobile.

Waders are nice probably and the hard core regulars often have them, but stay frosty and wear board shorts.  You can always back out of the water after casting if you're cold.

In terms of fishing, look for rips or holes and cast on the edge of these.  Slow, steady retrieve if actively fishing, or just let it sit and build a sand castle.  The heavy weight getting pulled by the waves sometimes feels like a bite and tricks you, but you get used to it and real bited become obvious.  The circle hook is self setting so don't jerk the rod, just let the fish hit until it is stuck.  Then keep a tight line as you bring it in, reeling faster when the waves push the fish in and slacking off when they draw out to keep the fish on.

Surf perch feed on the stuff (worms, crabs, other sand dwelling invertebrates) that get stirred up by breaking waves, so think like the fish.  They sometimes bite really close to shore in super shallow water if that is where the waves are breaking hard.  They school too, so ideally you should move around and find them if you are not getting bites.  It's like a 90% of the fish are on 10% of the beach thing.  But you, like me, may happen to be busy with sandcastles and sand filled toy dump trucks that preclude moving around a lot.  So just try to pick a good spot and get lucky.

Anyway, that's my spiel, let me know if you have questions.