Lurkers - Come Out Of Hiding for Cod Opener

"Hello" to all the lurkers out there.  Noticed LOTS of "Guest" traffic lately so wanted to encourage you to register/post/etc. and just come out with it already.

Rockcod opener right around the corner, among other bites about to pick up.  By now youv'e got your boat, rod, and tackle all square (so you think).  You've read all the past posts in your preferred areas like 10 times over.  Like the rest of us, youve been waiting since last fall to get it on.  You think your ready to go.  You probably are, and we hope so.

Still, please post up!  Pretty sure everybody is looking for more paddling/carpool/dive buds.  Anyone who wants to fish with somebody for the opener (or all season for that matter) should be able to hook up.  Just want everyone to have a safe productive season.

So all you Lurkers, get your first post out of the way already!!!  Congrats to the likes of
"Jimmydee" and others who recently registered and posted.  http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,12625.0.html

See you on the H20

[NOTE: I'm not the official welcome wagon by any stretch.  Nor am I saying you shouldn't be yakfishing if you aren't registered.  Just wanted to lower the anxiety threshold for newbies and encourage them to come out of hiding!! .  It's a good bunch here, as you'll surely find.]

PS.  I don't where the hell I'm headed yet for the opener...

Hey Yakuza,

I joined a couple weeks back and already have benefited greatly from the wisdom and experience of so many here.

We're looking forward to heading out of Santa Cruz Harbor next weekend  to the mile buoy and then who knows.

Does anyone have any suggestions on lures, bars and colors that are effective around the Santa Cruz reef structures??

I also here the white seabass are coming in. What do we need to entice them??

Thanks everyone!!!

Rich

Hi Rick:

         Live Squid works best if you can find it! I have seens
schools of WSB around Pleasure Pt. but, you will be fighting the West Wind on the way back to the Harbor.
        It might be too early for WSB?
        I use Owner Ringed #1 live bait Hooks with a Treble 4-5"
spacing on a 25 Lb  4' Leader w/ a loop on the end. I use Egg
style weigh with a Bead in the middle and a brass #5 Snap swivle on the end. I have tried Plastic Sliders w/ weight tied to them but, they seem to become intangled with my Leader. 

                                                               Good Luck
                                                               Ernie

Thanks Ernies and yeah, its a bit early for the wsb's.

I'm more curious about what colors and lure types are being used for rockfish in our area?

Rich

Thanks for encouraging me to come out from under my rock Jus posted my first report...

I'm waiting for Bsteves or someone to come out with the clip from Wizard of OZ, of Glenda the good witch singing " Come out Come out where ever you are" or How  about the Same from Deniro in "Cape fear".

I'm just joking around here...but...of all people, a 'lawyer' is the last one I would expect to see encouraging inexpereinced kayakers to enter the Pacific Ocean in early May!!! Hahaha!
(-;
PK

Rangerben:

Best bets for Santa Cruz area rockfish are small metal jigs like the megabait, in 3 to 4 ounce models, they're chrome with blue/green backs, sort of a baitfish imitation. Lots of folks like to replace the treble hooks with single hooks to make em easier to break free if you hang up on kelp or rocks.

Also try plastics like Scampis or Fishtraps on one or two ounce leadheads. The rootbeer color is a favorite. It's a bit harder to fish them deep if there is current or drift. You may want to try fishing braid to decrease drag- that means you can keep your lure vertical, which helps avoid snagging, and helps to get down where the fish are.

Rockfish do school up in the middle of the water column at times, but until you find that hot bite, you want to be fishing a few feet from the bottom, or near kelp or other structure.

Either way, you can also try adding a but of cut squid (find it frozen at Safeway) to whatever you're using. That will increase your percentages.

Keep moving...and good luck!

Tallpaul,

Thanks so much for the tips and tricks.I've got a lot of lures and jigs, but bigger stuff when I was fishing off Chris' boats in Monterey some years back.

Guess I'll just have to go shopping!!

See ya out there!!

Rich

Tallpaul,

Thanks so much for the tips and tricks.I've got a lot of lures and jigs, but bigger stuff when I was fishing off Chris' boats in Monterey some years back.

Guess I'll just have to go shopping!!

See ya out there!!

Rich

My opinion is remarkably similar to tallpaul's regarding braid, metal jigs, plastics and rootbeer as a good color. I just go with heavier versions when doing the vertical jigging thing. I've got 3-6 ounce metal jigs, and jigheads from 2-8 ounces for plastic baits.

If I'm specifically going to be targeting suspended fish near kelp, a'la Stillwater Cove in Carmel, I use a Medium-Medium light spinning rod, again with small metal jigs and plastics to 1/2 oz. I've found that I get very good results with the colors silver and blue for this type of fishing, as well as the ever present rootbeer.


Regards,
Scott

Best bets for Santa Cruz area rockfish are small metal jigs like the megabait,

Are there really rock fish in Santa Cruz???  I personally haven't never caught one since.........
...
.............................anyway, how are the Niners doing these days? I hear Joe Montana is playing well

You just have bad Santa Cruz mojo, cuz you keep dissin' the place. Embrace your inner Hippie and the fish will come to you

Mooch,

Just because Santa Cruz is considered to be the country's largest open air sanitarium doesn't mean the fish are lost.....just a wee bit confused, maybe..

Rich

Best bets for Santa Cruz area rockfish are small metal jigs like the megabait,

Are there really rock fish in Santa Cruz???  I personally haven't never caught one since.........
...
.............................anyway, how are the Niners doing these days? I hear Joe Montana is playing well

Don't forget to wear your tie-dyed wetsuit.

Hey Yakuza,

Your post applies to me perfectly (although this is my second post)!

I moved from TX to CA in November. I have been studying the saltwater fishing regulations and checking this site to learn about launch sites and fishing tackle. I would like to hook up with some fellow yakkers soon.

I spent the winter learning how to kayak surf. Hopefully there are a few others here with the same interest.

I have a truck, camping gear, and an extra set of saddles in case anybody from the peninsula area wants to go on a road trip.