Capitola Hali Report-Back for another round!!

Been finally feeling healthy enough to get out on the water this summer, so I've been going fishing 2-3 times a week. Being on disability is kind of hard, but all the extra time is nice, and I'm using it to slowly get my health back.
I've got a new logistical plan for targeting seabass and halis in the Capitola kelps and off Pleasure Point. It involves locking a bike down near the Capitola Wharf, then driving back up to the Moran Lagoon parking lot, near 26th St in Live Oak. This allows you to launch south east of blacks point. I would then paddle up onto the blacks point reef, drop   my baits in the water then drift back across Blacks Point, Secrets Beach, 26th street and down into the Pleasure Point Kelp. From there I would paddle out to the hali and seabass grounds in front of Pleasure Point to start another drift, wind determining its direction. Interesting to note that a lesser wind intensity from the NW will spiral around Capitola Bay and send you drifting back into the pleasure point kelp, and a more major one will send you towards New Brighton and the Cement Ship. Regardless, your fishing a really productive hali and seabass spawning ground, and the chance for a big fish is definitely there. The bike parked down in Capitola allows you to fish the shallows in front of the wharf, and the productive kelps in front of New Brighton. Just don't depend on rockfish, they aren't there. This area is best for targeting the big fish, and ith the water being around 62 degrees in the bay, its ripe to go off.

Wednesday I launched around 4 pm with a 5+ high tide at 748, giving an optimal chance of catching a big hali in its feeding mode on the incoming tide. Bait was jumping everywhere and the water was looking quite lively. Dropped a 7 inch live smelt down on a fluoro leader, carolina rig, and 1/0 gamakatsu treble. I was drifting along, thinking its time  to change spots when my rod doubles over, clicker goes off, and the drag starts peeling like its attached to a freight train. After a few runs the fish sarts to make some large circles, I get it in view and its by far the biggest halibut I've ever caught. It looks to be from 35-40 lbs by my guesstimate, with a little bit of fishermens creative license to make the story better. Gets up to the kayak and dives three times before its tired out. I try to net it, only to find that my salmon net is to small. At this point I'm scared of losing this big fish, so I pull out my gaff, stick it in the belly and start to pull it into the boat, only to have it drop off the gaff and spit the hook. Bummed to all ends, I set a few more drifts and land at sunset with no fish taco fish for the night.   

Friday revenge was to be mine. Launched at 7 am from Moran Lagoon beach and ran into Ernie on my way to the PP hali grounds. We fished together for awhile for a few small rockfish, and then we parted ways. While I was out there I was two huge seabass landed from a whaler not more than 200 ft away. They're out there, and I have a feeling that with the warm water we're going to have a huge seabass bite later on this year when the squid spawn shows up. Could be 2001 all over again. Anyhow, set a few more drifts, and on one of them I manage to hook and land a 15 lb hali in front of the middle ground help off Capitola. Wasn't as big as the hali hooked the day before, but it tasted just as good on the BarB last night!

Bummer about the big hali Brendon! Sounds like a couple of good days on the water though.

nice system with the bike.  land anywhere and still be mobile.  Perfect.  I wasnt kayak fishing when the seabass went nuts, I hope I get a chance to try it out this year

Eugene