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Hey guys,
I know this isn't a Utah question, but I'm pretty sure the ocean of fishing knowledge and experience here on our board will be able to help me. Questions on the other state's boards often just sit and sit with no response. :-)
I'm taking my family beach camping next week in Northern California. The beach is called New Brighton Beach, and it is just south of Santa Cruz.
I would love to fish in the surf or off some of the nearby piers.
Have any of you had the chance to fish at a similar beach, or have any advice for this type of ocean fishing?
Thanks!
Nate
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Nate the crew gave me some great tips along this line that I bet will work for you as well, reference my So Cal post a page down. Have fun and good luck. Later J
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[#0000FF]I used to live in Sacramento and often had business in Santa Cruz or Monterrey. Always carried tackle and fished off the piers or beaches whenever I could.
The beaches between Santa Cruz and Monterrey are mostly sand...with moderate surf. There can be some good light tackle fishing for several surf perch species as well as jack smelt and other smaller fishes. But sometimes stripers will be available if they are foraging inshore for the little fishes.
Use fresh water spin tackle, light line and small jigs for the perch and smelt. Tip with shrimp, mussel or clams to increase the bite. You can sometimes do well with small spinners and spoons. Some of the surfperch give live birth and predators eat them. Something small and flashy will get quick reaction bites in swirling turbid surf. Small tube jigs in either bright colors or in subdued shades of brown or green can be dynamite when fish are feeding on sand worms or other similar goodies.
For stripers you will need heavier surf rods and either big lures or whole anchovies or sardines. Large Rapalas work well as do big shiny spoons.
There are a bunch of different species available off the piers...depending on season and movements. Most of them have tackle shops either on the piers or nearby. They sell the right baits and rigs and can tell you what is running and how to fish for them. Most will also have rental gear.
Wind and tides can play a big part in both fishability and fishing success. Always best when you can fish a high tide early in the morning. That's when the surf species come in closest to the beach to forage on sand worms, sand crabs and other invertebrates. And you can often do well with short casts into the deeper troughs just off the beach.
The opposite scenario is low tide with big waves piled in with strong onshore breezes. Tough fishing then.
Have fun and good fishing. If you have the time try to get down to the big aquarium in Monterrey. Kinda spendy but well worth the visit. Some good seafood on Fisherman's Wharf too. One of my favorite places in the USA. Santa Cruz is nice too. But unless you get to the pier early there is a severe parking problem. You can always go play on the boardwalk. Disneyland by the sea. Great eye candy being on the beach...and I don't mean the water and the boats.
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you have to have a license to surf off the beach but all piers are free to my knowledge in California, just FYI.
I've only had limited experience but had a good time while camping at San Elijo state park near San Diego. You can also add sand crabs to your bait arsenal. The kids have a fun time catching them and putting them in a bucket (some kind of strainer or caulender helps), then you can sift through, pick out the big ones, put it on a hook behind an egg sinker and swivel and just slowly drag it across the bottom. Perch love em!
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Thanks for the awesome info guys! That is just what I needed. It never ceases to amaze the amount of knowledge and experience here.
It looks like I'll take some of my spinning tackle, and give the surf fishing a shot. I'll post how I do.
Thanks again!!
Nate
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Rinse your gear. Saltwater = death
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Oooh. Thank you.
Will thoroughly rinsing my gear off afterwords get all the salt out, or is it tough to get all the salt off?
Maybe I'll just buy some inexpensive gear before I go. That will probably be cheaper than renting.
Thanks!
Nate
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[#0000FF]Just be sure your reels are well lubed before you go and try to avoid dunking them in the salt water. But after you finish fishing a simple flush with fresh water will usually suffice. Salt is water soluble. But it doesn't do metal parts much good. Sand is even worse.
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Thanks Pat!
Nate
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[#0000FF]The best time to go fishing is whenever you can get away. And if you can't fish with the one you love, fish with the one you're with...or however that goes.
Most surf fishing regulars prefer early morning high tides. But I can guarantee you there can be good fishing at any time of the day if conditions are right. The fish don't wear watches. They simply feed when the food is available. But if there is a high tide in the evening that can be good also. Many species of fish are more active during low light periods.
The main arguments for fishing early are that is when the wind is calmest...and there are fewer swimmers to mess up your sharp hooks. Once the beach bunnies show up it can be problematic to try to concentrate on fishing. And the lifeguards will run you off along some beaches.
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you might want to make sure the area you are fishing is not close off as some area are close so check the regs ?
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