Parajo Dunes

Found out today my wife rented a place for a week at Parajo Dunes(sp?) in July, been checking the threads for fishing the surf there ( not sure if I`ll kayak there ,as my ocean experience is pretty nonexistent ) anyway any input on restaurants ,surf fishing,etc..etc.. would be helpful.. Thanks Vic

Phils Fish Market in Moss Landing (on the island) has great seafood -- informal atmosphere.  'The Fish House' in watsonville has good seafood as well.  You ren;t all that far from Santa Cruz or Monterey with plenty of great places to visit & eat & FISH (of course).  Pajaro Dunes area is fairly secluded with the only nearby services is the Chevron gas station for drinks, ice, snacks, etc...

~Bill

Good surf perch fishing on that whole stretch of beach. Some stripers too, especially by the river mouth.

for sure go to phils...really good stuff...surf perch/stripper casting right down the beach from phils

Phils Fish Market in Moss Landing (on the island) has great seafood -- informal atmosphere.  'The Fish House' in watsonville has good seafood as well.  You ren;t all that far from Santa Cruz or Monterey with plenty of great places to visit & eat & FISH (of course).  Pajaro Dunes area is fairly secluded with the only nearby services is the Chevron gas station for drinks, ice, snacks, etc...

~Bill

Some stripers too, especially by the river mouth.

Was down there with the fam the other day...right down the road from my house...think I need to do an afterwork dip over there and scope it.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Poke poling is your best bet at the jetty.

Why not fish off the kayak in the harbor, near the mouth of Elkhorn Slough?
-Amos

The Whole Enchilada across from the power plant and Oyster Bar on Moss Landing Rd were the places to go for me. But, Yelp them as that has been quite a while ago .

Must have been a long ass time ago! .. There are no fish in the harbor.

I've fished Elkhorn but it was back when you could fish all of Elkhorn.

The Whole Enchilada across from the power plant and Oyster Bar on Moss Landing Rd were the places to go for me. But, Yelp them as that has been quite a while ago .

Went to the Whole Enchilada recently and was disappointed. Pricey too.

Be prepared for lack of sunshine. July is when the marine overcast will be the greatest and the lack of sunshine is the worst around the Pajaro Dunes area. Better in the fall from September on or before June in this area.

In Moss Landing their is the Whole Enchilada for Mexican style food including seafood, and a great Thai restaurant and the Sea Harvest which does fish entrees very well and good battered fresh fish and calamari and has a great view out over the harbor to watch the marine birds, sea lions, and sea otters yards away. Phil's is good for bouillabaisse.

I live 7 miles from Moss Landing but we usually go to Marina for seafood except lunches at the Sea Harvest restaurant. For breakfast there is a nice cafe at the south end of Moss Landing just past the cemetery and another place in Watsonville there is the Red Apple Cafe which is also very good for breakfast.

For bait and fishing tackle the liquor store at the south end of Moss Landing has a pretty good stock, better than most of the tackle shops in the area. 

Pajaro Dunes is only 30 miles and 35 minutes from Monterey where you will have more dinning options. A fun place for breakfast is on Wharf 2 that is small but has outdoor seating (like Sea Harvest in Moss Landing) and is good for food and people watching.

Good fishing for rockfish and ling and cabezon just outside the Santa Cruz harbor and you can rent kayaks there from Kayak Connection and get the use of a farmer john wetsuit as well.

Even if you don't bring a yak, you can borrow one of mine if you wanna try for some rockies/lings out of monterey/carmel...

Fishing the kelp beds is easy and fun and if my 8 year old daughter can do it anyone can! 

Let us know when you are coming down and I'm sure we can get one of us (AHulls) to take you out and get you on some fish.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

PM me when your down this way I will put you on some fish. . And have an extra yak as well.

we'll be camping in the area with kayaks (and daughters) this Sun through Wens. Finding fish would be awesome, but I don't want to ride in the kayak with you BIG Jim   Three girls first time on the ocean (and Elkhorn Slough)  and Emma (13) wants to catch fish (me too!!!)