Newbie from San Jose

My name is Justin. I mainly do surf fishing targeting perch and stripers. But I got hooked on kayak fishing after watching guys like MooMoo, TLA, Die Hard Fishing, Fish with Ish, and Nick Fish.

With my wife approval  , I finally got my first fishing kayak (used 2019 Hobie Outback Camo). I am slowly getting all the gears prepping for the rockfish/ling season. I plan to launch out of Pillar Point. It will be my first time offshore on a kayak and I am scared shitless. I have all the safety gear (pfd, vhf, wetsuit, bilge, etc) but I know there is nothing like being out there in person. I hope to join other kayakers when I get out there. Please let me know if you will be at Pillar Point in early April and don't mind giving pointer to a newbie like me. Thanks guys. 

Practice self rescue before you go.

Practice self rescue before you go.

  100%

Camden Community Center has an open pool for kayakers every Tuesday night. Bring your kayak (wheels as well since the parking lot to pool is quite far) to practice your self rescues! 

https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/Silicon-Valleys-Western-Sea-Kayakers/events/lzlclpyxkbgc/

Welcome to the madness Justin 

welcome! excited to have you

I definitely have to learn self rescue techniques before heading out. I am practicing it in my neighbor’s pool this weekend.

Welcome to NCKA 

Welcome to the madness 

Hey Justin,

You might want to start out in the local lakes or Bay before hitting the ocean. It takes a bit of practice to figure out how stow everything, and getting to the stuff when you get a fish. A lot of logistics evolved which are better learned in a calm environment.   

New here as well and also from a similar background insofar as I've fished the surf more often.

As said, practicing launching and re-entry is important. Also, Pillar Point Harbor itself is nice and sheltered so perhaps consider a trip contained within the breakwalls first to get a feel for things. People occasionally make good catches in there!

Is it free to use it? How much?

Practice self rescue before you go.

  100%

Camden Community Center has an open pool for kayakers every Tuesday night. Bring your kayak (wheels as well since the parking lot to pool is quite far) to practice your self rescues! 

https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/Silicon-Valleys-Western-Sea-Kayakers/events/lzlclpyxkbgc/

Have fun Justin. What I did starting out was first self rescue, then fished in harbor and bay once i knew my yak i went open ocean. start slow there is nothing wrong with that otherwise you might have an experience once that makes you not want to kayak fish any more but if you take it slow you can brush it off. but always have fun out there nothing like catching a huge ling from a yak!

I first got my craigslist special paddle yak and went out on a lake 3 or 4 times, just getting used to balancing on it was good, course this lake didn't have any inspections, so it was easy.  Saw someone with a hobie peddaling at mach2 around the lake and got jelious.

Once I got my Hobie, I went out on that same lake, and had a blast peddling around.

my first salt water trip was to HMB inside the harbor I peddled around and accidentally practiced self rescue. 

If getting on the lake proves an issue with boat inspections and $, hit up HMB launch from the HMB Kayaks beach and just stay out of the way of boats/easily practice self rescue.  free parking, free launch.

I do suggest a short leash for your pedal drive.

Nice boat Justin  Welcome to the crew

Welcome and have fun.