Monterrey/Carmel/SWS??

Hello All,

I recently purchased my first kayak and am still working on getting the remaining gear that i will need (kayak seat, paddle, pfd, battery for the fish finder/replace a chord, and a VHF radio; any tips on a good inexpensive VHF radio would be great).  I recently had a newborn so am not sure if i will have the funds in time.  I hope to have this ready in time for my trip to Monterrey on October 9-11.  I am hoping to catch some rock fish (hopefully a ling cod, as i have never caught one before).  I am looking for any general advice on where to fish and tips on what will be good in that season.  I have read quite a bit of the previous reports that have been posted by doing the archive search. 

SWS keeps coming up, but i have failed to determine what it stands for.  Is that Still Water cove?  I also read a report about an area that is off limits to fishing near Carmel, is that referring to the Carmel Marine Conservation Area?? What are the boundaries??

Anyways, i am looking for locations and tips on where would be a good area to catch rock fish in the general area.  Any advice would be great!  If i dont receive any, i will start by calling the local bait shops.  I would not like to fish alone and will be posting a hook-up as the time gets closer.

 Sorry for the Newb questions.  I would like to be prepared and have a fun outing for my first trip out.  I am from Modesto and rarely get time to make it to the ocean

Thanks for your help,

Zach

Zach,

   Welcome.  SWS is Still Water South (Pebble Beach).  Yes, good area (generally) to launch and mostly protected BUT it can get nasty so watch the weather and hookups section for others heading that way.  The F&G pamphlet shows the areas of closures.

   A VHF radio is a very necessary piece of equipment.  Like some items, you get what you pay for.  A descent radio will be around $150 & should last you many years of service

   Another area that is a good, generally easy launch is MBK (Monterey Bay Kayaks) in Monterey on Del Monte BEach or you can launch from the Coast Guard ramp or Harbor in Monterey.  The CG ramp will save you a bit of a paddle to the 'Red Can' out in front of the Aquarium.  Good starting point for rock fish.

Bill

Wow!  Thanks for the quick reply Bill!

Thanks for clueing me in on SWS.  To access the launch, do you pay for 17 mile drive and then park at the golf course and launch at the dock?  Where is the CG ramp located and what is the red can?  Thanks for your help!!

I was able to locate the coast guard pier.  Do you launch at the beach next to the pier (the pier seems rocky)?  I am looking at the satelite mode on Google maps in front of the aquarium but cant find any buoys or anything that resembles the "red can"  Thanks for your help!

Wow!  Thanks for the quick reply Bill!

Thanks for clueing me in on SWS.  To access the launch, do you pay for 17 mile drive and then park at the golf course and launch at the dock?  Where is the CG ramp located and what is the red can?  Thanks for your help!!

You pay to get into 17 mile drive.  You can temp. park by the stairs @ the fitness area to unload but move your vehicle up to either the hedge row or by the tennis courts asap.  Don't park by the stairs.

The Coast Guard wharf & launch ramp ... take a look at the 'Harbor Map' I have attached.  It will be marked by 'Fuel Dock' or you can launch at the launch ramps within the harbor between Wharf #1 & Wharf #2.  I think it's $10/day to park there & no launch fee.

The 'Red Can' is a big, Red, marker buoy out in about 120' of water almost right out in front of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  There are several small reefs in the general area.

I was able to locate the coast guard pier.  Do you launch at the beach next to the pier (the pier seems rocky)?  I am looking at the satelite mode on Google maps in front of the aquarium but cant find any buoys or anything that resembles the "red can"  Thanks for your help!

There is a wide launch ramp and LOTS of boat dock space out @ the Coast Guard ramp (next to the CG Pier).  Look for the large CG ship.

Thank you Bill for the clarification!  I was unable to locate the attachment you are refering to but i believe i found it on google maps. Thanks for clarifying the "red can"!  Any advice on what lures/bait to use?

I haven't fished ... any (sadly) this year.  There are assorted rock fish, sand dabs & mackerel in that general area.  Mac's & Sand Dabs will almost always hit on sabiki rigs if they are in the area.  RF will take almost anything from Shrimp Flies with squid strips to jigs to artificial like big Hammer lures and even just squid on a hook.  That general area can produce Salmon as well when they are around/season along with white sea bass & the occasional Halibut.

Awesome!  I hope to get all the funds to purchase the gear in time for the trip.  Thanks for the info, i am excited to get out there

As far as tackle, you could be fishing for around $20 worth of tackle; a few weights, a couple shrimp fly rigs (or make your own 2-hook rig for strips of squid), a couple PLine Lazer Minnow jigs (I get mine at CVS for about $3 each) [I usually get a bright yellow/green color & a dark black/purple], a sabiki or two & a small box of frozen squid.  If you catch a small sand dab, they are Lingcod candy!  Send it back down & hold on!

The nice part about rock cod fishing is it can be pretty darn inexpensive, generally produces some fish and they don't become lure snobs like bass 

Another "secret spot" to catch some rock fish if it is calm is right around the tip of the rock wall by the coast guard pier.  Just as you go out, hook a left & between the tip & the fence that keeps people from walking out there any further ... just drop down between the kelp.  Always find a few small blues & the occasional Ling or Cab hiding out there.  I don't suggest that area if there is any real swell/wind or lots of boat traffic.  Also stinks becase of the sea lions.

I am glad that it is inexpensive (I am on a very tight budget with the new baby).  I wanted to go for Rockfish first because they appear to be easier to catch.  A sandab would be great to catch as i have heard they are great eating.  I have seen them at restaurants but they are usually out of my price range.

Thanks for being so open with fishing locations.  I have grown up a C&R fisherman, however, i would love to take home a ling cod or a sandab.  Being a conversationalist I will not be keeping many fish.

Thanks for your help!

I am glad that it is inexpensive (I am on a very tight budget with the new baby).  I wanted to go for Rockfish first because they appear to be easier to catch.  A sandab would be great to catch as i have heard they are great eating.  I have seen them at restaurants but they are usually out of my price range.

Thanks for being so open with fishing locations.  I have grown up a C&R fisherman, however, i would love to take home a ling cod or a sandab.  Being a conversationalist I will not be keeping many fish.

Thanks for your help!

Sand Dabs are generally plentiful just outside the harbor in about 40-50 feet of water and around the Red Can in about 100-140 feet of water.  YES, they are great eating and almost always around ... require minimal tackle ... and double as bait.  Been on the same shoestring budget for fishing so I sympathize!  Now that the budget is better, I fish less ... go figure.

Keep an eye out for hookups.  There are generally several people going out of that general area almost every weekend.  I might even try & put it on my calendar & get out this year ... at least once 

Hey Zach,

Hope you get on the water soon! Kayak fishing can be enjoyed on the cheap. You can catch plenty of rockfish without a fishfinder or any fancy tackle.

Go to http://www.dfg.ca.gov/m/MPA/Map on your phone-- this will show you all the marine protected areas that are closed to fishing.

Good luck and enjoy the ocean. 

Krishna

Being a conversationalist I will not be keeping many fish.

So, instead of eating the fish you catch, you just talk to them?

Being a conversationalist I will not be keeping many fish.

So, instead of eating the fish you catch, you just talk to them?

Nothing wrong with having a quick conversation with the fish. I talk to them right before I released them. tell your papa i'm looking for him.  =)