new brighton beach

looking for some suggestions for fishing this area. this will be my maiden voyage from a kayak. gear all ready to go. 1st surf launch! wish me luck. targeting halibut, sand dabs or anything that will bite!

Bulldog, Suggest that you have all your safety gear togeather,vhf,pdf,compass,etc.This beach could get a little rough just check out the post for the number of us who launch from there.Up north a bit is Davenport or even the Santa Cruz Harbor/Santa Cruz Pier.
Also I took a lesson before I ventured into the ocean. Especially a beach launch. So be safe and don't take the risk if your innewr core is telling you not to. Frank

got all the safety and electronics covered. my inner core is all pumped up and ready to go. got the wet suit ready. everything tied down and ready for any unexpected roll. just add water and fish. bang! I thought that it was more of a protected cove in that area from bigger surf???

It's actually the most protected place in Monterey Bay IMO. Check this cam (http://www.stagecoach-wireless.com/Cameras/SCSH/Pos1.htm) and if the surf is 1-2' then NB will be nothing. Launch as close to the cliffs as possible for the low drama launch and head straight out to the kelp beds. Sabiki for 'chovies and put them live on the hook or bounce swimbaits, scampi, or curly tail grubs on the bottom. And if none of that works throw on a tiny Kastmaster around for Mackerels. The macs are fun! Be safe and have fun!

Z

thanks for the info. i look forward to it. to bad they open the gate so late there. the live bait rig sounds great!!

What day are you going out? I was thinking about going out this weekend and wouldn't mind some company.

FF

The gate to the parking lot that leads to the road down to the beach (on the west side of the parking lot) doesn't open very early (8?), but the entrance road is open and leads up to the campground area, and there are a set of parking spaces just outside the campground where you can park (maybe by the pumpout station?), then roll your yak down the road and under the gate to the launch.  I roll down to the shower building and then back up west on the beach, but I have bounced it down the short set of concrete stairs from the road to the beach./ You can either roll back up the hill or drive down and pick up your yak (tho I haven't left my yak unattended).   I've done it a couple of times.  That's a pretty easy beach to get out from, and if you get a little swell, you can probably time it and get out, and if you don't, it's all sand, just bail to the ocean side.  There is a metal stairway railing on the way to the beach shower building that you can lock your wheels to if you can't stow them, or there are big bushes where you could lock it to a branch. 

I totally forgot that it was such a long way from parking to launch. I don't have a cart for my yak yet so I think I'm gonna bail on this idea. I'll probably launch from the sc wharf or harbor. Have a good time though and make sure to post a report.

FF

I totally forgot that it was such a long way from parking to launch. I don't have a cart for my yak yet so I think I'm gonna bail on this idea. I'll probably launch from the sc wharf or harbor. Have a good time though and make sure to post a report.

FF

The Capitola pier also has a launch if you wanted to be closer to that area.

Z

well today was supposed to be the day, but stayed up to late messing with this new fish finder and ran out of time. So i ended up playing nine holes of golf. would have rather gone fishing. So no report. The reason i wanted to launch out of new brighton was to head towards santa cruz and coast back. seems easier and i am real big on, should we say convenience. I paid my dues enough. Even though, i still look forward to that first roll in the surf that catches me by surprise. YEAH BABY!! little disappointed though, cause my next day off isn't till mon/tues. maybe we can yak sometime soon fish flogger. I am right down the street in salinas. Great to go out with someone with some experience.

Yeah, I've stayed up too late playing with my fishing gear...then slept in the next day. More than once. Just remember that the fish aren't going anywhere, so you can still launch at 10am and catch em!

Your plan sounds good. Paddle towards SC then drift back. Hopefully you'll get a hali or 2.
There are other places to fish that might be closer to Salas though. I might take Monday or Tuesday off next week if the WX looks good. If so, I will let you know. In case you want to fish Monterey/Carmel.


Good Luck! And welcome!
PK

Sorry you didn't get a chance to go out Bulldog. I'd love to paddle with you sometime. But don't think of me as an experienced paddler. I just got my first yak a couple weeks ago 

I'm usually only available to fish in the mornings on weekends as my day job keeps me busy m-f. I am thinking of getting out for some freshwater fishing after work this week. Not sure where. I was kinda thinking of going to Pinto but may give Lexington a go. We'll see. I really need to get myself a cart. I may just get out to a beach to practice launching/landing and self rescue (minus gear of course).

Hopefully see you on the water soon.

FF

thanks for the invites guys. give you a shout when time permits. you look pretty seasoned to me flogger. with that photo of a large ling. great job. thanks as well sin coast. love monterey!