Capitola Halibut!

So this is actually my first post up on the site but just moved to Santa Cruz a few months ago and will hopefully have many more positive fishing reports to post!  I came up from San Diego so still learning the where to fish.  I went out Wednesday off Capitola and had no problem making bait.  Caught more dines right off the pier than i knew what to do with and headed off to New Brighton for some hailbut drifting.  The weather couldnt have been better all morning but around 1 the wind picked up and without a drift shoot could not keep off the beach.  Picked up a couple browns but not what i was looking for...  Decided to pick up and move inside the kelp to throw some swim baits.  Within 15 minutes hooked up with a halibut who tragically spit the hook.  Kept bouncing away and then bam...another one!  After getting it to gaff...bam spit the hook again!  There was probably smoke coming out my ears and I was pulling my hair out with frustration!  Since I knew there were fish in the area I kept at it and about 20 minutes later hooked up with this guy that I finally boated.  I was really shallow, probably 6-7 feet of water.  You know the point where your fish finder starts freaking out cause its so shallow?!  To make this catch even better I landed this fish on a rod that I just finished wrapping about two weeks ago.  I made it for lake fishing and the blank was rated for 8 to 10 pound test.  Matched with a small calcutta 400 it has to be the most exciting rod/reel combo for flatties ever.  EVERYTHING you hook puts up a great fight! (granted you might lose a few but come on...makes everything you hook feel like your up in Alaska battling a huge barn door!

Giving up the yellowtail and seabass off La Jolla to move up here was really tough but the halibut fishing just keeps getting better! I had no idea how many flatties were up here!  Ive heard many stories/seen pictures of HUGE ghosts up here.  When do those guys starting coming into the kelp beds or do you have to cruise down to monterey?  I would love some insight from all you experts up here!

Hope to see some of you guys out there!
 
Came into Captiola pier to get the fish bled and ready for the grill.  Measured 31" but did not get a weight on it.  Cooked it up with the recipe our taco lady in Mexico gave us a few years ago and turned that guy into some of the best tacos ever!

Oh yeah...didnt have a camera so stole the pic from here....

http://capitolaboatandbait.com/2010/06/09/capitola-there-are-of-course-always-exceptions

Great first report & Welcome to NCKA! 

Dude, it sounds like you are tuned in. Welcome! Theres lots to fish for up here. Plus if you ever go back down for a visit , I for one would love to fish south. Check out the Albion Open in Nor-Cal fishing tournaments.

Awesome!!!!!

Nice fish!!!

Are you living in the Capitola area??

There are a few of us around here, so let us know when you are going out next!!
 

Also...hope you can make it to this event we are putting on in July!!

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,24675.0/topicseen.html

Congrats again, and hope to meet you soon!!

Sincerely,

Jim

Awesome first post and intro bro. Welcome aboard Hope to fish with
you soon.

Jedmo

Nice job.  Look forward to seeing you out on the water.

Nice f'n work bro. And cool intro too. Welcome!
But don't think you left the seabass behind in SD. There is a downlow fishery in Mbay and Cap is likely their home due to water temp and a few other factors. But we only get 30-60lbers up here, no little socal seabass. Disappointing, I know. 

Looks like it is time to walk the beaches ...

-Allen

I'm seriously looking forward to some of those monster sb! To make a long story short I live/work in san jose during the week and cruise over the hill where my old ladys family has a house in capitola.
So anytime anyone wants to hook up for some fishing I'm always down. I've probably seen a few of you out there already. I was totally suprised how many yaks are out on a regular basis.  Totally digging the scene up here

Welcome and WTG!

I'm seriously looking forward to some of those monster sb! To make a long story short I live/work in san jose during the week and cruise over the hill where my old ladys family has a house in capitola . . . Totally digging the scene up here

Good that you brought up your lady friend b/c you wouldn't be digging the scene in Man Jose if you were single.  Its a total swordfight. 

Nice hali intro!  Look forward to someday adopting your routine of going over the hill to kick it at a Capitola weekend beach house.

Haha yeah I hear yeah. Man jose is the worst girlfriend or not! Thank god for sc being a short drive back to some place with women ocean cooler weather and fish that don't live in perk ponds

Congrads on your Hali!!!  4 times trying this year for Hali's so far and not a one for me.  Maybe this weekend    I know what ya mean about the SJ, I'm trying to move over the hill myself by the end of the year

If you're over this weekend try jigging 5 or 6 inch swim baits vertically off the bottom. I too have had no luck on bait but my last two were both on lime green/yellow bellied swim baits