Pismo Beach

I'll be driving from San Diego up to pismo to camp with the inlaws... I'll be bringing the fish n'dive with me in hopes to try my hand at finding a fight.  Any suggestions?  I have it fully rigged (flushmount rod holders, bait tank, fishfinder/gps) although I assume my bait tank wont be necessary...  Not a big fan of rockfishing but if all else fails I can try for a big ling or red to bring back to camp.  How's the salmon fishing up off pismo?  I also see some kelp off shell beach south of SLO bay.  I probably won't find any pelagics but what are my options?

Unfortunately you probably won't have much luck with salmon fishing off the coast of pismo.  usually people leave out of port San luis but you got to go pretty far out and the pb's have had less than stellar reports on salmon take.  but if you do bring your bait tank you can buy live bait from the dock next to the port san luis pier (the last one down), and drift inside the bay for Halibut or make your own bait and try down the coast from pirates cove to shell beach.  You have to go a good mile off shore at least from that kelp in shell beach to find deep water and structure for good rockfish such as big ling's and reds.  I fished that kelp yesterday from the stairs in shell beach all the way past the cliffs Hotel( has the huge american flag in front.)  sabiki'd up some jack smelt and drifted right outside thew kelp but no hali love.  all that kelp is in pretty shallow water 35 Fow or less.  I was a 6/10 of a mile off shore and still only in 35-40 fow.  I have only caught smaller nearshore rockies in that kelp.  but there are guys who say they do well out there so i don't know.  good luck whatever you do.

The distance isn't really an issue unless the weather doesn't cooperate.  I paddled 4 miles just to check out some fishy water out of La Jolla on Sunday.  I may try for some jumbo lings....  Thanks....