Monterey Bay Kayak Fishing Tutorial

The Spring and Summer Season fishing is upon us. I want to write a comprehensive tutorial for fishing Monterey Bay. (This article is over 1400 words long.) You will need to visit my blog for the full article. This post is too comprehensive to post it all here. This area is a gem of Northern California and should be shared and enjoyed by all of us.  I will continue to update my blogs and tutorials over the years to keep them updated. Good luck and tight lines --TLA

Monterey Bay Kayak Fishing Tutorial
Written by The Lost Anchovy 4.2.2019

Full Article Here: http://thelostanchovy.com/kayak-fishing-tutorials/monterey-bay-kayak-fishing-tutorial/

Introduction
There are few places in the world that can out beat Monterey bay for its beauty and attraction. Monterey began as a small fishing town focused on the large sardine runs that powered the local economy.  Although the large sardine runs and fish canning industry have since left Monterey, this city continues to thrive because of the abundant sea life that fuels its economy and the tourism that feeds of it.

For local Northern Kayak Anglers, Monterey bay is the equivalent to the lush beaches and kelp beds of La Jolla, San Diego.  The local and migratory fish are abundant as the lush kelp beds that grow along the coastline, and the sea otters that inhabit this area.



The Fishery
Monterey Bay is the most ecologically diverse body of water in all of Northern California. The Bay, when conditions are right, becomes teeming with life from small sardines, anchovies, and squid to larger predatory fish like Salmon and White Sea Bass.

This tutorial will cover methods to catch these fish, starting from smallest to largest. Let’s get started!

Forage fish
Sardines
Mackerel
Anchovies
JackSmelt

Many people enjoy foraging and eating smaller fish. The most common method to catching forage fish, on a kayak, is with a sabiki lure.  Locate the fish with a fish finder or by looking at the surface of the water for teeming fish. Seagulls, pelicans, and sea lions will often be found attacking large shoals of forage fish often giving away their location.  Look for these signs and try jigging up some bait with a sabiki lure.

If you plan to use live bait to catch larger fish remember to have a dedicated live well system or a minimum a fabrill bait bucket. Bait fish such as anchovies and sardines are prone to die offs if not provided with aerated water, adequate circulation and space to swim.

On land, if the fish are near the pier, throwing a cast net can be much more effective. Piers such Santa Cruz and Capitola can be ideal locations to cast net when the sardines, anchovies, and mackerel school up over the summer months and are within cast netting distance.

Sand Dabs

Sand Dabs tend to be afterthought for most of the season in Monterey, and are mostly targeted over the winter months in conjunction with coastal crabs.  Often Monterey bay charter boats can be found offering crab and san dab combo trips for their customers.

Sand Dabs are found in depths above 120+ and are caught with a Sabiki lure tipped with squid.  Honestly, a small hook with tip squid will usually do the trick to catch these small delicate fish.

San Dabs make excellent table fare, and resemble small halibut. These fish can be easily cleaned, gutted and fried (whole) for a tasty treat.  They can also be steamed and poached whole for a healthy alternative.

Rock Fish

Rock Fish are plentiful through out Monterey Bay; however, there are MPA (Marine Protected Areas) that anglers should be aware of, such as the Lover’s Point MPA. These areas are restricted fishing boundaries by law.

Rock Fish can be caught using a High-Low rig with shrimp flies and tipped with squid. This is the most common method that people use to catch coastal rockfish.

Tip: If at all possible, try to tie your own rigs. I will help you save money in the long run, and make you a competent fisherman.

Lingcod can be caught using artificial lures such as diamond jigs and swim baits, or  by drifting live/dead bait such as sardines, anchovies, smelt and a sex herring.  Lingcod are not very particular about their meal source and have been known to bite simply by pure annoyance. They are one of the most aggressive bottom fish in the ocean and it is not uncommon to catch a hitchhiker lingcod when targeting them. They will openly attack other wounded fish looking for a free meal.

How to catch Rock Fish
http://thelostanchovy.com/kayak-fishing-tutorials/rock-fish-fishing-tutorial/

Striped Bass

Stripers routinely cruise the surf line looking for an easy meal over the summer months. Striped bass are a favorite target for the surf cast fisherman using, pile worms, sand crabs, swim baits and buck tails jigs.

The best time to target these fish is early at grey light.  My personal preference is to fly line a sardine, anchovy or smelt around a distressed bait ball.  The stripers will often be attacking the bait ball from underneath causing commotion that will attract birds and sea lions.  Mooching bait outside the surf line can be effective if the fish are around and feeding.

California Halibut

California Halibut start making their migration into Monterey Bay in early spring and will stay until the fall. Halibut will follow the influx of bait, such as sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and squid. When the large shoals of bait start inhabiting Monterey, it is a good time to start targeting these fish.

Current California regulations allow multiple rods when targeting California halibut in the ocean. There is no seasonal restrictions on halibut, and the daily possession limit is currently three per day.

Man, that was really informative.
Thank you for writing it. I’m learning more from you every time I read your articles and when I fish near you.

I hope I see you on the water soon.

Good stuff, thanks!
Still haven’t seen a striped bass caught by kayak on this side of the bay. But they are definitely out there! I’ve tried trolling the surf with various lures/bait but no bass yet.

This is badass!! I just sent my buddy who is moving to Monterey in June the link to the full article. He already purchased a kayak here and it’s sitting my my backyard waiting for him haha

Good stuff!

That picture if the bounce ball rig seems to show up everywhere. It’s good except that on a kayak, I don’t think you should be using anywhere near that amount of weight. I typically use a 10 ounce sinker, rarely 12, and have experimented with 16 oz. Even on the AI, I find 16 oz to be way excessive. I’d also suggest shortening the leader to the sinker to more like 8-10 inches, and I’d never go over 4’ on the leader to the dodger—gotta be sure that you can get the fish close enough for the gaff shot!

Good stuff, thanks!
Still haven’t seen a striped bass caught by kayak on this side of the bay. But they are definitely out there! I’ve tried trolling the surf with various lures/bait but no bass yet.

My first season fishing MBay, I had that same though and trolled a floating Rapala just outside the breakers around MBK.  I was delighted by a surprise halibut (my first), and thought "Ok. Halibut are easy to catch... 

Then reality set in.  Also never caught kayak striper.

Woohoo! Thank you for the tutorial!

Dang Keith sharing all his secrets 

No fish here.

Very good reading! Thank you!

Does Keith even fish here anymore? 

Does Keith even fish here anymore? 

Haha I Do!! sometimes...when there is big fish...sometimes...

Hey, i wrote your how to fish Santa Cruz Article that you requested on my blog. I want you to read it and review it. It is a pretty lengthy one too, but i may keep it for my book or ebook. TBD.
If i post all my articles, what would i have left for my book. 

Monterey in NOT northern California, not even close.  Monterey is central California.  Have you looked at a map of California lately?

Central Cali just doesn't have the same ring to it.

and if we say its NorCal then SoCal will stay away.