SLO area

So, I was just out in SLO for a job interview.  I am wondering what the main target species are out there.  Do calico bass come out that far?  I think White Sea Bass do. 
I know halibut and Lings are in the area. I used to fish there during trips as a kid but I mostly just caught rays. I hope to return to the area after living all over the country.  I also hope to make a bunch of new fishing friends. All help appreciated.


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The main saltwater targets down there are rockfish, lingcod, and halibut. I spent a lot of time halibut fishing down there, with some good success.

It's a GREAT area for kayak fishing, with many sheltered coves to launch from.

I haven't fished down there in years, but I was all over it while I was at Cal Poly.


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Awesome!  Answers my question.  I want to know what tackle I should get rid of before I come back out.  Quick answer is: ice fishing gear. 
I might buy another avet reel and a low profile inshore rod for bottom fish.

The main saltwater targets down there are rockfish, lingcod, and halibut. I spent a lot of time halibut fishing down there, with some good success.

It's a GREAT area for kayak fishing, with many sheltered coves to launch from.

I haven't fished down there in years, but I was all over it while I was at Cal Poly.


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During the spring and summer months, the halibut come in very close to shore around Avila Beach and Port San Luis. A good way to catch them is to toss 4" Big Hammer swimbaits around the edges of kelp paddies in 5-15 feet of water just outside the breakers. My color of choice is Bay Smelt, and I like a 1/2 or 3/4 oz lead head for that particular method. For this light tackle fishery, I just used a medium heavy bass rod (6'10" Medium Heavy Shimano Compre jig/worm rod) paired with a Shimano Curado 301 (spooled w/ 12 pound tea P-line).

Give this article a read. It tells you everything you need to know about catching halibut from a kayak in the SLO area.

http://www.swimbait.com/techniques/halibut.htm


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Love fishing that area!

yeah, what FishMaster said!
Cambria, San Simeon, Cayucos can be great spots too, all on the northern end of the SLO Coast

Looks awesome! Now, I just have to get the job! 


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I grew up fishing that area, kayak fishing has been blowing up down there in the last five or ten years. Don't count on finding many calicos. Lings have always been my main target and I generally throw big hammers on heavy bass gear (8' swim bait rod with a 300 curado or revo toro). Definitely worth fishing further north between Cambria and Big Sur, if you like a good adventure. There's good halibut fishing around San Simeon and very little pressure if you go north of Pierdas Blancas. Sharky as it gets around the elephant seal rookery, but that kinda adds to the thrill. 3" swimbaits/jerkbaits at psl are great for halibut from shore and live bait is best out by the jetty.


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