Where can I fish for bass?

I live in Santa Cruz and just got my kayak………..now I am learning that it still isn't easy to get on just any water. 

Here's the deal……I want to fish for bass within an hour or so of Santa Cruz, and as we know the invasive species initiatives are making it ridiculously difficult to fish if everything isn't lined up with their regulations. 

According to the "official" ruling for Santa Clara county, inspections are mandatory……..which I knew……..however, one thing I didn't realize was that if you have a non-registered vessel (like a kayak) the vehicle that brought said vessel needs to be registered in this area…………and mine is registered in Alabama still. 

I know that some lakes are going to be more strict than others on this rule………does anyone know of any lakes in the area that might overlook the fact that my truck isn't registered in this region? 

Im looking at Vasona Res., Quarry Lakes and some lakes around this area………any thoughts.

I miss not jumping through hoops.

Shadow cliffs is about an hour from Santa Cruz and doesn't require inspections: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/shadow_cliffs

That said people have been catching mostly trout recently, but I imagine if there are bass you could find them.

SLR has striped "Bass"...

Dude I had Montana plates for the 3.5 years I lived in CA and never had an issue...except for that one time that the inspector lady at the Forebay opened my hatch and got a shower

No one ever hassled me for not having a vehicle registered in CA and I would be surprised if they gave you any trouble. Just make sure the yak is dry

Shadow cliffs is about an hour from Santa Cruz and doesn't require inspections: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/shadow_cliffs

That said people have been catching mostly trout recently, but I imagine if there are bass you could find them.

All I've ever caught at shadow cliffs are bass

I think inspectors might actually give you a hard time.  I've seen them turn boats around for out of state stickers, and on their inspection forms they're required to fill out your license plate.  do you think registering your truck in CA is way too expensive?  is that why you're not doing it?

Quarry Lakes holds some bass.  I've caught some nice small mouth there.  These were incidental catches when I was targeting trout.

Unfortunately the bass population there is not in great shape.  People keep them despite signs to release their bass catches.  Also EB Parks only plants sterile trout and catfish to prevent invasive species escaping to nearby Alameda Creek.

shadow cliffs does actually have a lot of bass.  I catch lots of them.  But they're all 8-10 inches .  I don't really target bass there, but I've seen plenty of nicer sized ones, from 1-10lbs, cruising here and there.  I was there on Tuesday evening and saw a nice one approx 3lbs chasing something right next to the boat launch.  I think it could be a fishable place for bass, but i don't know how overall successful you would be, primarily because its got such high water clarity most of the year.  the bass can see you coming from a mile away.

Most of the local southbay lakes don't ask for vehicle reg when launching a kayak. You just pay the mussel inspection fee and let them check your kayak, then go launch.
Local places to launch a kayak have been reduced by ~80% in the last 10yrs, thanks to bullshit quagga & zebra mussels, combined with the drought. Only places open are Calero & Coyote, and Stevens Ck closes Sunday. But also consider checking out San Luis Res, the Forebay, Los Banos Res. The closest to you is probably Pinto Lake. Then there's all the EBRP lakes...but if I'm gonna drive that far, I'd rather hit one of the foothill reservoirs like Melones, Don Pedro, Commanche, etc. 

Most of the local southbay lakes don't ask for vehicle reg when launching a kayak. You just pay the mussel inspection fee and let them check your kayak, then go launch.
Local places to launch a kayak have been reduced by ~80% in the last 10yrs, thanks to bullshit quagga & zebra mussels, combined with the drought. Only places open are Calero & Coyote, and Stevens Ck closes Sunday. But also consider checking out San Luis Res, the Forebay, Los Banos Res. The closest to you is probably Pinto Lake. Then there's all the EBRP lakes...but if I'm gonna drive that far, I'd rather hit one of the foothill reservoirs like Melones, Don Pedro, Commanche, etc.

Anderson & Coyote are closed for the season as I am told

Forgot to say: no inspections in the delta!!!

No mention of loch lomond?

No mention of loch lomond?

Loch Lomond has been closed for the past 2 years.  Don't know what next year will hold.

Prior to that, the only way to put a kayak on Loch Lomond is to store it there and the fees aren't cheap.

That, or you can rent one of their boats.

South San Jose, Calero Res. hold's bass.

I think inspectors might actually give you a hard time.  I've seen them turn boats around for out of state stickers, and on their inspection forms they're required to fill out your license plate.  do you think registering your truck in CA is way too expensive?  is that why you're not doing it?

Yeah, that's exactly why.  I went through the whole process, and was about to cash out and without batting an eye the clerk at the DMV said the total will be $2600………..I thought I was going to have a heart attack at 29 years old!!  They wanted me to pay the difference in sales taxes for the truck I bought in Alabama when I wasn't even a resident…..nor even thinking of becoming one. 

Outrageous.  I could understand if I was a resident and then made an out of state purchase, but to tax me for a vehicle I bought when I was a resident in another state doesnt make sense to me.