Seek for bait fishing tips

If you are interested, Irongate Reservoir out of Yreka has a lot of yellow perch, easy to catch (great eating). I don't know where you are located but it would make a good camping trip when the weather dries out and warms up.

The closest but least convienient would be to park and launch from the pier at the public landing. Its gonna cost $$$$ (summer rates are the worst), you have to haul the yak down the stairs to the dock and, depending on when you show up, it can be pain to find close parking.  On the bright side, the paddle is short, easy launch, no boaters or breaking seawall to contend with and when you do catch fish you can clean them at the fillet table and chuck the scraps down the chute.  Second option would be at the boat harbor/boat ramp, there's a kayak specific launch somewhere on the north side(haven't launched from it yet) and parking is like 5 bucks (someone else can chime in and verify/correct that).  Paddle is gonna be a little longer but not bad, and you have the boat traffic.  Pros; If the weather is ugly you can poke around the harbor fishing for shiner perch on the pilings, afternoon n/nw winds will push you back to the harbor and no stair portage/unreasonable parking fees.       

I would think it is easier to launch yak out of cowell beach or Santa cruz beach. It just needs a cart to transport yak to the beach.  Parking will be somewhere on a street. Harbor is not a bad place to launch. With kids, it will be a little too far to paddle.  Lauching from Wharf is cool, but costly for the convenience. 

I've seen yaks beached at cowell's before but I've never attempted a launch there.  I got shut down by the lifeguard up the street at Sea Bright (too many people in water, swell up a bit) and it sucked having to lug everything back to the car to launch at boat ramp.  Didn't want to do that again.

I wouldn't use Sabiki rigs with kids. Your asking for trouble with hooks stuck in fingers and stuff. If you want to take them fishing the number one thing is to keep them entertained. So if they catch a lot of fish mission accomplished, maybe... Unless they get bored with that. So plan some other entertainment. Maybe, some balls and a ring for a target or use a ball to play tag. Kayak races?

If you take the fishing and keep them entertained,  they will remember, fishing = fun. The games will blur in their memory. When it ceases to be fun for them, take them in fast or you'll ruin the whole thing.

I have not done this myself but I bet you could catch a lot of fish around the Half Moon Bay jetties. I know Joel caught a lot of small blues while trying for perch. You can rent gear and kayaks from HMB Kayak Company. If you are up for a longer paddle you can head out to the green bouy and fish the kelp beds.

I think Bill's suggestion in right on the money. THe parking and the launch is free and very easy. Just paddle along the inside of the rock walls and your kids will get to see lot's of crabs and starfish. You can even paddle close enought to the birds that hang out on the rocks. The fishing can be good on the outside but you need to watch the weather - ton's of king fish just outside of the mouth of the harbor  (line up next to the fog horn) Just use strips of squid for bait and you can use it all day. If the kids get bored, just paddle around the boat docks and you'll see some resident sea lions up close.

And if you guys get hungry, try the HMB Brewery nearby - my buddy Chris - bartends there. Ohhh....and let's not forget Ono Hawaiian Grill.....just a few miles South of Princeton Harbor 

- ton's of king fish just outside of the mouth of the harbor  (line up next to the fog horn) Just use strips of squid for bait and you can use it all day.

what season(s) are good to see and catch King fish at the mouth of the harbor? Are there any other small fish such as anchovies or sardines (bait fish) at HMB. Got to ask locals for local fish.

wherever you catch 'em, I do think kingfish are the way to go for kids.

my wife had only ever caught 1 fish in her entire life (a golden trout tho) and
caught literally more than a dozen kingfish in no time, and from a kayak, unaided.
They have no spines, they bite readily, and actually fight pretty well for a tiny fish.
If I decide that the ocean is safe enough
for my 6 and 8 year old sons that is what we will fish for unless there
is a hot crappie or bluegill bite or something in a nearby freshwater lake.

Btw, capitola is basically santa cruz, just further into the bay. you drop the kayak off
at the wharf (pier) (I think a wharf allows boat launching and a pier does not, not sure)
and go park your car up on the mesa (flat raised area to the north west), then walk
back down. there are two wharves in santa cruz/capitola. either will
work. I think the half moon bay option sounds good too but it better be real calm
if you go outside the harbour with kids.

for kingfish, use a small hook, like a #8 or #10 baitholder and a strip of squid not much
bigger than the hook.