New & Looking For Guidance!

Welcome Ryan. 

For the crab opener, I'm taking a group of kayakers new to crabbing with me up to Bodega/Doran.  You're welcome to join as I'll have plenty of traps for everyone to share. 

Otherwise, I'm across the bay in El Cerrito and you're always welcome to join me.  I typically fish Ferry Point, Richmond Marina, Albany, Berkeley, and Emeryville.  But I do enjoy Tomales a lot, but it's a place that needs a bit more experience.  Normally target striped bass, Halibut, perch, and Dungeness/rock crabs. 

PM me if interested and we can hook up.

Kevin

Welcome Ryan. 

For the crab opener, I'm taking a group of kayakers new to crabbing with me up to Bodega/Doran.  You're welcome to join as I'll have plenty of traps for everyone to share. 

Otherwise, I'm across the bay in El Cerrito and you're always welcome to join me.  I typically fish Ferry Point, Richmond Marina, Albany, Berkeley, and Emeryville.  But I do enjoy Tomales a lot, but it's a place that needs a bit more experience.  Normally target striped bass, Halibut, perch, and Dungeness/rock crabs. 

PM me if interested and we can hook up.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin - I'll definitely be on touch.  When is the crab opener?

I live in Novato.  Love learning this area.  So many spots so little time.  Welcome to the boards.  Sounds like you've fished before?   

This thread might get you started.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=85514.0

Thanks Eddie. I feel like there aren’t any spots! Where do you usually go in Novato or Marin? I think it’s crazy none of the lakes can be kayak’d...


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Mcnears or Paradise, Black point, Tomales, stripers and sturgeon and halibut, but I venture up to 1.5hrs to fish also.  Gotta study the tides and figure out your anchor system before you mess with the bay.  She's no respecter of kayaks...

I'm guessing you park at the parking lot at McNears and put it on the dock? Looks rocky on the beach in most places.  How's the water out there typically?

Same question with Paradise - park at the lot and put out at the dock?

What do you use for tides and wind info the day you're going out? I used to use a phone app or two but didn't find them too useful

I live in Novato.  Love learning this area.  So many spots so little time.  Welcome to the boards.  Sounds like you've fished before?   

This thread might get you started.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=85514.0

Thanks Eddie. I feel like there aren’t any spots! Where do you usually go in Novato or Marin? I think it’s crazy none of the lakes can be kayak’d...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mcnears or Paradise, Black point, Tomales, stripers and sturgeon and halibut, but I venture up to 1.5hrs to fish also.  Gotta study the tides and figure out your anchor system before you mess with the bay.  She's no respecter of kayaks...

I'm guessing you park at the parking lot at McNears and put it on the dock? Looks rocky on the beach in most places.  How's the water out there typically?

Same question with Paradise - park at the lot and put out at the dock?

What do you use for tides and wind info the day you're going out? I used to use a phone app or two but didn't find them too useful

What I do is make little recon moments, say if I have an hour, I'll run to said location, do a quick visual scan and drive away with a launch and landing plan.  Sometimes I'll take a pic and contemplate the chanllenges.  I wouldn't bother paying the fee to enter lot, park and plan.  10 minutes at site maybe...navigating rocks and finding that little kayak width area of smooth is doable in most spots discovered.  I am a google satellite map gazer...I sit and zoom and wonder and go and go again and find spots that work for different days of tide and species.  If a ranger is attainable at these spots they are loaded ish with info...

I live in Novato.  Love learning this area.  So many spots so little time.  Welcome to the boards.  Sounds like you've fished before?   

This thread might get you started.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=85514.0

Thanks Eddie. I feel like there aren’t any spots! Where do you usually go in Novato or Marin? I think it’s crazy none of the lakes can be kayak’d...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mcnears or Paradise, Black point, Tomales, stripers and sturgeon and halibut, but I venture up to 1.5hrs to fish also.  Gotta study the tides and figure out your anchor system before you mess with the bay.  She's no respecter of kayaks...

I'm guessing you park at the parking lot at McNears and put it on the dock? Looks rocky on the beach in most places.  How's the water out there typically?

Same question with Paradise - park at the lot and put out at the dock?

What do you use for tides and wind info the day you're going out? I used to use a phone app or two but didn't find them too useful

What I do is make little recon moments, say if I have an hour, I'll run to said location, do a quick visual scan and drive away with a launch and landing plan.  Sometimes I'll take a pic and contemplate the chanllenges.  I wouldn't bother paying the fee to enter lot, park and plan.  10 minutes at site maybe...navigating rocks and finding that little kayak width area of smooth is doable in most spots discovered.  I am a google satellite map gazer...I sit and zoom and wonder and go and go again and find spots that work for different days of tide and species.  If a ranger is attainable at these spots they are loaded ish with info...

I get the recon idea to plan ahead, but what about for the day of? I'll try to check wind and tides from home and then cruise to my #1 spot, if that doesn't work then I go #2, etc.

Do McNears and Paradise have a cost to park?

Do McNears and Paradise have a cost to park?

Both cost money to park, I think its about $5-6.  I don't remember. 
At McNears, there's a beach area to the left side that has very easy launch access.  However, its a long walk if you don't have wheels.
At Paradise, the launch is just to the left of the pier.  At low tide, this area is very slippery and rocky.  Small steps and be careful. 
Some free parking/fishing areas in your area:  Paradise Cay, San Quentin (West Gate and East Gate), Corte Madera Creek, and Loch Lomond.

I use two phone apps, Tides and Windy. 
Wind predictions aren't always super accurate, but you get a general idea of wind conditions and the wind direction.  If you know where you're fishing, wind direction can be crucial.  Ex:  It could be blowing 15-20mph in the east bay, making it unfishable, but it'll be 5-8mph at Paradise, Paradise Cay, and San Quentin.  For tides, each species is specific on tides. 

VERY general rule, halibut and sturgeon like small tides, stripers and predator fish like the moving water of bigger tides.  Outgoing vs Incoming tide really depends on location, structure, available bait fish, water clarity, and water temp.  However, I said VERY GENERAL, because you don't know if you don't try.  Each year, the timing is different.

Do McNears and Paradise have a cost to park?

Both cost money to park, I think its about $5-6.  I don't remember. 
At McNears, there's a beach area to the left side that has very easy launch access.  However, its a long walk if you don't have wheels.
At Paradise, the launch is just to the left of the pier.  At low tide, this area is very slippery and rocky.  Small steps and be careful. 
Some free parking/fishing areas in your area:  Paradise Cay, San Quentin (West Gate and East Gate), Corte Madera Creek, and Loch Lomond.

I use two phone apps, Tides and Windy. 
Wind predictions aren't always super accurate, but you get a general idea of wind conditions and the wind direction.  If you know where you're fishing, wind direction can be crucial.  Ex:  It could be blowing 15-20mph in the east bay, making it unfishable, but it'll be 5-8mph at Paradise, Paradise Cay, and San Quentin.  For tides, each species is specific on tides. 

VERY general rule, halibut and sturgeon like small tides, stripers and predator fish like the moving water of bigger tides.  Outgoing vs Incoming tide really depends on location, structure, available bait fish, water clarity, and water temp.  However, I said VERY GENERAL, because you don't know if you don't try.  Each year, the timing is different.

Good info. I was using an app called Ocean Watch and I didn't like it.  Just downloaded Windy, but there's a bunch of different 'Tides' apps so not sure which...there's Tide Charts, Tides Near Me, Tide Alert, Tides USA, etc.  I'm guessing you have Tides Near me?

I'll add those spots to the list to check out, thank you

Do McNears and Paradise have a cost to park?

Both cost money to park, I think its about $5-6.  I don't remember. 
At McNears, there's a beach area to the left side that has very easy launch access.  However, its a long walk if you don't have wheels.
At Paradise, the launch is just to the left of the pier.  At low tide, this area is very slippery and rocky.  Small steps and be careful. 
Some free parking/fishing areas in your area:  Paradise Cay, San Quentin (West Gate and East Gate), Corte Madera Creek, and Loch Lomond.

I use two phone apps, Tides and Windy. 
Wind predictions aren't always super accurate, but you get a general idea of wind conditions and the wind direction.  If you know where you're fishing, wind direction can be crucial.  Ex:  It could be blowing 15-20mph in the east bay, making it unfishable, but it'll be 5-8mph at Paradise, Paradise Cay, and San Quentin.  For tides, each species is specific on tides. 

VERY general rule, halibut and sturgeon like small tides, stripers and predator fish like the moving water of bigger tides.  Outgoing vs Incoming tide really depends on location, structure, available bait fish, water clarity, and water temp.  However, I said VERY GENERAL, because you don't know if you don't try.  Each year, the timing is different.

Good info. I was using an app called Ocean Watch and I didn't like it.  Just downloaded Windy, but there's a bunch of different 'Tides' apps so not sure which...there's Tide Charts, Tides Near Me, Tide Alert, Tides USA, etc.  I'm guessing you have Tides Near me?

I'll add those spots to the list to check out, thank you

I use windy and tides4fishing.com

Good info. I was using an app called Ocean Watch and I didn't like it.  Just downloaded Windy, but there's a bunch of different 'Tides' apps so not sure which...there's Tide Charts, Tides Near Me, Tide Alert, Tides USA, etc.  I'm guessing you have Tides Near me?

I'll add those spots to the list to check out, thank you

I use Tide Charts.  Simple and easy to use.

I live in Novato.  Love learning this area.  So many spots so little time.  Welcome to the boards.  Sounds like you've fished before?   

This thread might get you started.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=85514.0

Thanks Eddie. I feel like there aren’t any spots! Where do you usually go in Novato or Marin? I think it’s crazy none of the lakes can be kayak’d...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mcnears or Paradise, Black point, Tomales, stripers and sturgeon and halibut, but I venture up to 1.5hrs to fish also.  Gotta study the tides and figure out your anchor system before you mess with the bay.  She's no respecter of kayaks...

I 2nd the Bay doesn’t play nice....same with Tomales Bay.

Welcome.

If you're looking for a pedal kayak, I'm a Hobie fan. But it sounds like you already have a decent paddle kayak, so you might want to use that for a season before spending the big bucks on a quality pedal kayak.

Welcome.

If you're looking for a pedal kayak, I'm a Hobie fan. But it sounds like you already have a decent paddle kayak, so you might want to use that for a season before spending the big bucks on a quality pedal kayak.

My 10' Sun Excursion isn't anything more than a slow cheap kayak from Sports Authority, and my 13' Malibu 2XL is a tandem that I could take solo but it feels like a tank not moving that fast in the water.  Going to keep those yaks for the friends I go out with, but I want something I can rig and cover ground with easily.  I've been told Hobie by a fair amount of people, need to justify that cost.  I've really been looking at the Riot Mako 12', and for $1700 I can get the angler version delivered to my door (originally $1300, + S&H).  I wish I could demo it.  Need to demo the hobie for the push/pull system I don't think I'm a fan of compared to the standard [bike] cycle.

What Hobie do you have? The Mirage Compass comes in at $1950, the Compass Angler (with reverse) is $2300, Revo is $2450-$2700 depending on size, and the Outback is $2800. 

Never heard of ISE - I would imagine there's not area to actually demo kayaks though right? Waiting to Q1-Q2 it's almost like I should wait on 2020 models to come out?

Haha.  A handful of people have contacted me about dealers and names/numbers, I'm grateful for the help.  I definitely should figure out when I can take a day to drive around the bay area and demo kayaks.  With that, I'm fairly ready to pull the trigger on this Mako due to the price, design and reviews, although there aren't many reviews.  Part of me is worried I'm going to demo an expensive yak and want to purchase it on the spot lol.  Maybe I need to start out with a Corolla as my first pedal* yak instead of a Ferrari...

Rig that Malibu and fish it till you're crazy with success, find spots, land some fish, share the journey and pics....that Malibu has a middle seat for solo does it not.  I dare you to land a late Hali in that thing and cheer in victory.  While you're searching, start drilling holes in that malibu.  I understand if this is not the path you choose, I wish I never got rid of my Malibu so I could fish with my son.  Commercial guy told me, despite all the details, if you don't have bait in the water, you aren't going to catch any fish...