Surf Fishing In Santa Cruz CA.
Recently retired and looking forward to surf fishing. I need advise on reasonably priced rod and real, what weight line and tackle to use. Tips will be greatly appreciated.
flyguy
Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!
Brian 2058 wrote:
Recently retired and looking forward to surf fishing. I need advise on reasonably priced rod and real, what weight line and tackle to use. Tips will be greatly appreciated.
Welcome to the Forum, Brian. Google Surf Fishing Rigs, a 9' - 10' rod, 1 - 3 ozs., a 4000 series reel, some live shrimp, a beach chair, a 6 pack, some ice, and you will be in business. Good Luck!πππππ
flyguy wrote:
Welcome to the Forum, Brian. Google Surf Fishing Rigs, a 9' - 10' rod, 1 - 3 ozs., a 4000 series reel, some live shrimp, a beach chair, a 6 pack, some ice, and you will be in business. Good Luck!πππππ
I'm jealous. Have all of the above but NJ shores I fish do not allow alcohol on the beach. Waaaaaa
I fish from the beach down here in So Cal... I tend to go fairly light! That said, I catch halibut up to 12lbs, decent size stripers and at times big surf perch among other species. My set up; 8β6β Okuma salmon rod, 2500 Shimano Sedona spinning reel, 10lb Izorline XXX copolymer. My lure is simply a Lucky Craft Pointer 115 ( colors vary on you baitfish/location). Pretty simple set up and I catch a lot of fish on it!!! Good luck π£π
kandydisbar wrote:
I'm jealous. Have all of the above but NJ shores I fish do not allow alcohol on the beach. Waaaaaa
That's why they make small coolers and can cozies. π
Brian 2058 wrote:
Recently retired and looking forward to surf fishing. I need advise on reasonably priced rod and real, what weight line and tackle to use. Tips will be greatly appreciated.
I've been going to Santa Cruz since the late 50's and am very familiar with the area. My best advice on fishing there is to start at the fishing store on 41st avenue. It is manned by some of the most helpful people I've ever encountered. not only will they set you up with gear but will give you excellent advice on when and where to fish the area.
second stop: there's a bait and tackle shop by Johnny's Harborside Cafe at the Santa Cruz marina. the guys there get all the reports from the local area fisherman, including shore people. they will also help you out with lining/cleaning your reels.
third: the pier at Santa Cruz is a great place to catch small live bait (anchovies? shiners?)with a sabiki rig. keep them alive if you can (you'll need a bubbler and a pail) for casting in the deeper water off the end of the piers or elsewhere. (I hook up a giant slip bobber and let them swim freely 20 feet or so below) most people bottom fish 30-40 feet out from pier with two hooks of squid, shrimp, mussel, live bait pieces, ??)
depending on your mobility, if you can make your way to the end of the SCruz marina jetty on the Crow's Nest side, you can catch flounder/halibut off the bottom in the back wash of the waves using 3 inch creme colored plastic grubs with a small jighead hook. that was the first advice I was given by the guy at the 41st avenue shop and it was awesome. I caught several fish with my kids playing in the waves and volleyball at the Crows Nest beach. I even got one of my daughters to work her way out to me and make a few casts of her own. Always nice to fish close to where you can get a little bourbon to help celebrate or bemoan.
as far as I know, the best surf fishing for stripers is a Manresa beach about 20 minutes down route 1 on the way to moss landing (where you catch the boats to go whale watching-highly recommended. also a very good Mexican food place ("the whole enchilada") at the entrance to the Moss Landing marina. As far as Manresa, the only time I was there it was very windy and the surf was helter skelter. the walk to the fishing areas was also a bit of a challenge for my 72 year old knees, so I begged off, but I will return due to the many good reports from there.
There are about 20 fishable beaches north on Route 1 to Pescadero and beyond. It's a beautiful drive along the coast. It's just a matter of picking one and going at it. for an interesting short side trip check out the local store at San Gregorio (off 84-Honda Road)
kandydisbar wrote:
I'm jealous. Have all of the above but NJ shores I fish do not allow alcohol on the beach. Waaaaaa
Sandy Hook National Park not only allows alcohol, they sell it. Fishing there can be decent.
Re: Flyguy: In SoCal we mostly go light in the surf...many surf fish in between 1st and 2nd breakers..trout rod 5lb test and youβre in business and maybe the ride of your life..5lb Corbina in 3ft of water stripping line is akin to a bonefish on the flats + swell + waves + rip... and you donβt have to hire a guide for $600...Itβs free! Just step up, dig up and bait a sand crab right at your feet and cast away inshore..in shorts!
Be ready to run down the beach..but no slack or your off!
Bear,
Great local info..thatβs the goods..Thx!
Yep! 8β6β Okuma salmon rod, 2500 Shimano Sedona Spinning reel , 8lb Izorline xxx and a 10lb halibut ... zzzzzzzzzzzzπ£
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