Newbie Ocean Kayak Locations

LOL, I’ll bite,
Marty, how does a Newb get a broken window on a first-time ocean kayak fishing trip?

Best Newbie ocean kayak locations are harbors, coves, or protected beach launches.  So Santa Cruz, Capitola, HMB, Doran/Bodega, Monterey, Carmel.  From there you graduate to a harder launch spot where you probably have to have wheels, friends, and patience to reach the water and be in a remote location like rockfishing along the Sonoma Coast. Start simple is the best advice.  Dont take everything you see others take on the water in youtube videos like 4 rods tons of tackle and all the toys.  Go so simple with one rod, small selection of tackle pre-tied and rigged with minimal effort.  Catching a fish would be a bonus to making it out and back in safely.

You could also look at the delta to gain some experience too.  Many places there have mild currents and easy launches, and right now there are lots of stripers moving through the system.  Sherman Island and Benecia are my two favorite spots up there, but there are a TON of other places to launch further up from Sherman Island. 

No swells, but getting used to the boat without that aspect has value, IMO.  Plus, gives you a chance to get your equipment dialed - tackle, rod, net, immersion gear, fish finder, rod holders, etc - before upping the risks on the ocean. 

Capitola is a good starter beach launch and tends to be nicely protected from spring and summer swells. Decent rockfish action and the chance of halibut to be had by turning left at the end of the pier and following the edge of the kelp beds east toward and as far as Spongebob buoy. There's a productive nonsecret reef a couple miles out once you get comfortable. Usually plenty of people around on a nice day so you don't get too lonely, and I find the boaters much more considerate of kayakers there than in Half Moon Bay.

Loading and unloading at the base of the pier is the most strenuous part.

You can also launch off the floating dock at the end of the Capitola pier if you have a narrowish kayak and wheels or someone to help carry down. 

Probably obvious, but I am a newbie... Do you actually fish in the SC harbor, or is that the launch spot to head into Monterey Bay? Thanks all for the advice! I think I'll stick to freshwater for just a bit longer while I figure out my strategy for getting comfortable in the ocean.

Oldbie here…

No fishing in the SC harbor, but rockfish prospects are good in just about any direction out of the harbor. It’s a little longer paddle/pedal to the fishing grounds though, as compared to launching from Capitola (or Monterey Bay Kayaks, on the other side of the bay). The west side of the SC harbor, the “A” or “F” dock is the place to launch. You can also launch from the boat ramp on the east side, but then you have to deal with boaters.

LOL, I’ll bite,
Marty, how does a Newb get a broken window on a first-time ocean kayak fishing trip?

It was actually ME who got the shattered window when the newbie dumpd his boat off the roof rack onto my car at SWS lol. Thankfully wasnt the windshield.  That trip had all the newbie classix including lost gear broken rods swimming lessons and a yard sale