salmon fishing info / tips needed

hey folks, so i want to learn to catch salmon on my kayak. seeing all the nice pictures makes me really want to get out there come salmon opening. i had thoughts of going out of moss landing, the sandy launch area by the jetty just to the north of Phils seafood restaurant. (that place is real good by the way but the only icky lookin thing i have seen there is the monkfish pieces, they looked really slimey)

has anyone paddled out of there before? i see guys fishing on the jetty there but never saw anyone kayak out to sea from there. also, how far out does one need to go to get salmon being that this is one of the closest places to launch to the edgs of the deep submarine canyon? i know for halibut moss landing is a real productive place in relatively shallow waters. i know salmon are out in deeper waters.

also, do i need a special punch card or stamp for salmon?

i dont know much about salmon except they taste good.

any tips would be appreciated. thanks!

read Stuarts article from the main page:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=42

Also, you can do a "search" on the topic and you'll get ton's of info.

No need for a salmon stamp.

There may also be a closure for salmon season this year - check out the Politics section.

thanks mooch! you always have good tips! especially for newer guys like myself!

much appreciated!

John

blue, I'm not the john you were asking, but I know that area well from surfing it for many years.
you could certainly launch south or north of the harbour if the swell is not too bad. lots of free parking too.

zmudowski on the north is one good option just go right at the gas station with the flags before you get to moss landing
proper and follow your nose and the signs to the beach. lots of back and forth on roads bordering fields but it really
doesn't take as long as it seems to take if you know what I mean. 

on the south side head in like you are going to the harbour. across the bridge go left you can
park for free. further south is another parking lot, not sure of pay there.

I would like to try launching in the spring in sand city monterey, not drive all the way to the hubbub of san carlos ramp
and try drifting trolling bottom bouncing for halibut.
same kind of beach launch deal, but I don't know the parking there. the surfing sucks there because the waves really
close out, there is no sand structure to cause the waves to peel smoothly like on either side of the harbour.

best,

j

The interesting thing about the narrow part of the canyon there is you might get to see the orcas on the attack which is pretty hair-raising

We were there two years ago when a boater called in on the VHF and metioned about a pod of Orcas attacking a whale...and we were not far from the location. ChuckE, at the time, was paddling a gray hobie...which happen to look like a baby whale. Needless to say, Chuck was watching his back the whole time  

I think this is the launch John C. is talking about.

yeah Bill! thats it! thats the place. Have you folks launched out of there before?

I usually drive by there just to see whos fishin if i head to monterey with my wife and we end up at phils for a bite.

looks like a great access spot since there is that sandy launch just before the jetty wall, that spot you marked.

also, if you have launched there, do they allow driving on the sand to the edge or is it recommended to just walk it over?

thanks Bill!

John

We generally launch out of the launch ramp place and pay the $5. This year I am going to try to launch from that spot though, less boat traffic and it's free!

what exit do you take to get to that spot?

Joel here is a pic of how to get there. Basicall you go past the launch acroos the bridge,, then down in fron tof the stacks take a right. There is a Mexican restuart there I think. Then follow that road all the way around. Remeber when Pat took us out to lunch at Phil's? Same road you just keep on going past Phil's

Thanks Papa Bill! I guess this will be the "secret" launch from now on. Thanks for sharing that info John  We could have saved some major gas money from the park and launch fee that we had to pay last year - and the year before 

excellent photo!

that one lane bridge sandwhatever bridge is being re-done as a split two lane-er.
so there's a lot of construction there right now.

if you go left when you get over the bridge that's where I park when
surf or perch fish the south side of moss landing. it's free. interestingly enough there
is a little troupe of super geeky surf kayakers that hit that spot regularly and park
there. I generally glare at them, which is my duty as a misanthropic surfer,  .

Mother's Day 2 years ago.  Killer whales attacking a grey whale calf, with moma fending them off.  I was lucky enough to be out on a PB that day and got these pictures on the edge of the canyon just off Moss.

-Allen

AMAZING! But my heart goes out to Mama Whale 

blue, I'm not the john you were asking, but I know that area well from surfing it for many years.
you could certainly launch south or north of the harbour if the swell is not too bad. lots of free parking too.

zmudowski on the north is one good option just go right at the gas station with the flags before you get to moss landing
proper and follow your nose and the signs to the beach. lots of back and forth on roads bordering fields but it really
doesn't take as long as it seems to take if you know what I mean. 

on the south side head in like you are going to the harbour. across the bridge go left you can
park for free. further south is another parking lot, not sure of pay there.

I would like to try launching in the spring in sand city monterey, not drive all the way to the hubbub of san carlos ramp
and try drifting trolling bottom bouncing for halibut.
same kind of beach launch deal, but I don't know the parking there. the surfing sucks there because the waves really
close out, there is no sand structure to cause the waves to peel smoothly like on either side of the harbour.

best,

j

I spoke with a ranger about zmudowski.  It is definately launchable.  The problem with this area seems to be with crime; lots of car break-ins.  Don't leave valuables in your car.

Kevin