Have you ever dreamed of being able to move through water effortlessly, while also getting the chance to catch a large fish?
Would you like to go kayak fishing in Monterey Bay?
Kayak fishing is a great way to enjoy nature and have a great day on the water. It is a truly unique experience.
There are kayak fishing tours from April 1st to all summer long.
Guides take guests fishing in kayaks in the protected waters of Monterey Bay and the surrounding areas.
In this blog post, we will share some tips on how to get the most out of your kayak fishing experience.
Let’s dive in.
What is Kayak Fishing?
Kayak fishing is just fishing from a kayak!
There is no simpler way to get on the water and Dropsingle in quickly. You can slide quietly along while enjoying the view and getting a workout at the same time because there is no motor or propeller.
Kayak fishing is a good activity for people who are new to kayaking as well as those who have more experience. It is also good for people of all ages. This is a great way for the whole family to get involved in a unique outdoor activity.
Is Kayak Fishing in Monterey Bay Worth It?
Kayak fishing has become more popular recently because it is cheaper than boat fishing and allows people to get to places they couldn’t with a boat.
Fishing kayaks have many benefits including being portable, customizable, and stable. The most important benefit is that they are safe and easy to launch.
Here are a few of the benefits of kayak fishing in Monterey Bay:
- Access to secluded waterways. The Monterey Bay area is filled with waterways that are off-limits to motorized boats but fully accessible to kayaks. Thanks to their size, kayaks allow you to access even skinny, shallow channels without getting stuck or damaging your boat.
- Kayaks are ocean-friendly. Kayaks are built for all types of water, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and ponds. All you need is an open bit of shoreline, and you can launch your kayak and get paddling.
- Access to many different fish species. A fishing kayak allows you to access many spots along the coast that might not have good boat access. This makes it possible to catch many fish species, including perch, rockfish, lingcod, seabass, halibut, and salmon. This is a significant perk for anyone who loves to fish!
- A better fishing position. Fishing kayaks sit low in the water, providing an optimal casting and fishing position. Plus, fishing kayaks rock back and forth much less than a boat, allowing you to fish more accurately and experience less seasickness.
Why is it Better to Go Kayak Fishing with a Guide?
Kayaking is great because it is so user-friendly. With just a boat, fishing gear, and some safety precautions, you can easily enjoy a day on the water by yourself.
We recommend you fish with one of our experienced guides when it comes to kayak fishing.
Here’s why:
Personalized guidance
If you want to get into kayak fishing, or even if you just want to learn some more tips and tricks, you can attend a kayak fishing clinic. There are many clinics for kayakers of all abilities.
The clinics are led by guides who will take you to the most productive areas for fishing and help you with your gear and kayak movement during the trip.
This is an excellent opportunity to improve kayak handling skills, master a cast, or catch a fish of a lifetime.
The guides will meet you at your current location and provide suggestions based on your skill level in fishing and kayaking.
If you don’t know anything about fishing, people won’t make you feel bad about it. If you are an experienced fisherman, our guides will give you a difficult time and help improve your technique.
We recommend always using the buddy system when kayak fishing on the open ocean, no matter your skill level.
Most fishing guides are highly trained in kayak rescue techniques, making them the best possible people to have with you on the water.
Fishing hotspots
They take kayakers from the Santa Cruz Harbor on a short trip into Monterey Bay during the fishing clinics.
If you are fishing in the open ocean, you will find several areas that are good for catching rockfish, lingcod, and halibut from April to October.
Educational opportunities
The fishing guides are experts in the local ecosystem. Many have biology or conservation backgrounds.
While you are at the clinic, your guide will tell you more about the other animals in Monterey Bay, such as sea otters and marine life.
You can learn about the natural ecosystem and have a fun time fishing all at once with this method.
Compliance with local laws
There is a lot of marine life in Monterey Bay, making it difficult to identify fish species and stick to catch limits.
It is illegal to take several species of rockfish from Monterey Bay. The guides are great because they tell you what kind of fish you catch and make sure you only keep the ones you’re supposed to.
You can join the guides every weekend from April 1st through summer for the fishing clinics from 6 am to noon. Participants must have a valid California fishing license.
What is the Best Fishing Kayak?
As you shop, here are a few features to look for in a fishing kayak:
- An elevated seat. An elevated seat allows you to see more of the water under and around you and ensures all-day comfort.
- Multiple rod holders. Forget rigging and re-rigging the same rod – look for a kayak that offers multiple rod holders so you can always have the perfect rod within reach.
- A paddle holder. The ideal fishing kayak should have a place to secure your paddle while you focus on fishing.
- Enclosed storage. Also known as a “dry hatch,” this enclosed storage area provides a safe place to stash your phone, keys, camera, and other valuables. The waterproof dry hatch will keep your items dry and safe if the kayak flips or gets wet.
- Deck storage. The ideal fishing kayak will have a deck storage area with a bungee system to keep items secure. This is the perfect place to keep an extra layer.
- A GPS or fish finder mount system. Take your fishing to the next level with a kayak that offers built-in GPS and fish finder mounts. This gives you the option to add some gadgets to your kayak down the road.
- Retractable pedal power propeller. Some kayaks, like the Hobie line, offer hands-free propulsion to allow you to cruise around easily and quietly.
Best Places to Go Kayaking in California
Regardless of your experience level, California has the perfect place to paddle your kayak for everyone from beginners to experienced veterans. There are 16 great places in California to go kayaking, whether you want to take a guided tour, rent a rig, or bring your own kayak.
You can kayak in the alpine lakes and brackish lagoons, along coastal cliffs, down raging rivers, or in urban waterways.
La Jolla
From the countless outdoor activities to its year-round temperate climate, this West Coast city has everything you could possibly want—and more. San Diego is called The Jewel of San Diego because it has a lot of outdoor activities and a temperate climate.
There is nowhere better in the state than La Jolla for paddling as there are so many different types of trips and things to see. While floating around in the harbor, you may come across playful pods of seals and sea lions basking in the sun on top of rocks or swimming through the kelp forest in search of food.
The sea cliffs are 300 feet tall, the sea caves are dramatic, the reefs are rocky, the coves are secluded, and the sandy flats are shallow. These features attract leopard sharks in large numbers from March to October.
Furthermore, the weather is not a common reason for cancellations, and the waves are usually not too rough so that small children can join in. California offers rentals of kayaks and snorkels as well as guided tours like a combo snorkel-and-kayak tour and a seasonal whale-watching trip (December to March).
Carlsbad Lagoon
This beach town near San Diego is home to several lagoons teaming with a diverse array of birds, marine life, and vegetation – including curious seals who swim in from the ocean and surprise everyone by popping up like ninjas to say hi!
The 400-acre Agua Hedionda Lagoon is the best place to start your journey. The lagoon is actually made up of three connected lagoons. California Watersports rents out kayaks, SUPs, and Aquacycles from their location in the innermost section.
In addition to renting out boats, you can also reserve a spot on their sandy beach for picnicking. If you want to avoid feeling windburn, book an a.m. slot instead of an afternoon slot.
Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park encompasses five islands just off the Southern California coast and the crystal-clear waters and kelp forests that surround them, which incidentally are teaming with so many pinnipeds, cetaceans, bright orange Garibaldi (the state fish), giant black seabass, starfish, urchins, and spiny lobsters that the archipelago is sometimes referred to as the “Galapagos of America.”
Santa Barbara Adventure Company, the official kayak concessionaire of CINP’s Scorpion Anchorage, offers multiple excursions of varying lengths and skill requirements to explore the rock formations, sea caves, and aqua coves. One is even a combo kayak and snorkel session.
All of the trails start on Santa Cruz Island so you will need to take an Island Packers ferry from Ventura or Oxnard. In addition to trips in Santa Barbara Harbor, the company also offers trips along the coast with beach launches.
Elkhorn Slough & Monterey Bay
If you visit the world’s best aquarium, you will probably see many different types of sea life up close. You would be correct most of the time if you guessed that, especially in Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve, the remains are of an ancient river valley in Moss Landing.
Despite humans visiting the same area every day, the otters continue to play in the water, the sharks still look for food, and the pelicans still fly together. The main channel is 7 miles long, and there are many smaller tributaries that will take you further into the tidal flats and marsh.
Pay attention to the time because some of the smaller channels will be empty at low tide. Beach and dock launch available near Monterey Bay Kayaks. Kayak Connection offers tours during both sunset and starlight where you can see bioluminescence.
The Bay is also usually calm enough for those who are just beginning, and those looking for a thrill can find kelp forests and a unique angle from which to view Cannery Row and the city.
June Lake
The Mammoth Mountain communities in the Eastern Sierra Nevada range are known for having perfect powder and for wintertime sports like skiing and snowboarding.
There’s still plenty to do in the alpine region near Highway 395 and SR-158 even after the snow melts, like taking a kayak out for a spin around June Lake. The natural lake is huge, covering approximately 320 acres. It’s surrounded by stunning white-capped peaks most of the year and is one of the most beautiful lakes in the area.
You can try to catch a Sierra Grand Slam by fishing from your kayak during the fishing season. A Sierra Grand Slam is when you catch a rainbow trout, a brown trout, a brook trout, and a cutthroat trout in the same day. Rentals are available through June Lake Marina.
Russian River
The Russian River is a great place to enjoy the nature of Northern California. It runs through Sonoma County from Cloverdale to where it meets the ocean in Jenner. There are seven regional parks along the water route where you can see various animals like seals, ospreys, turtles, and bald eagles.
Jenner is a great place to visit on the weekend if you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere, plenty of vegetarian restaurants, and a less developed coastline. No matter what kind of outdoorsy activities you’re interested in, Water trees EcoTours or Getaway Adventures can help you out.
Instead of going to the coast, if you go inland around Healdsburg, you could do wine tasting. Paddling season is typically May through September.
