Santa Cruz tips. Taking a half day while in town.

[HobieFishin]

Hey all. Taking a week trip to Santa Cruz later this month and going to get on the velocity for a half day nearshore rockfish ride while there. This will be the third time on this boat. They rent Senators with ugly sticks.. nothing wrong with that but I’d rather bring the temple reef elevate / Penn fathom 15 (20 lb spectra w/ 30lb mono leader) since I didn’t really get to use it last time out. Went on the pacific dream recently for what was supposed to be deep water exploring but ended up in 12 ft of bay water fishing halibut due to weather. Not exciting..

The velocity is weird, they are a fun but touristy boat and have a rule of no braid so I’m thinking I’ll just add a top shot of whatever the deepest depth is in the area and call it good. What line would you recommend? What jigs would you bring? I have a case full of various colors and weights, uv etc. and I’ll gladly pick up a suggested jig. Anyone out in Santa Cruz spj?

Thanks!

 

[7emptsT]

Rule of no braid? Weird even the pangeros in Mexico have accepted braid.

 

[Cactus Chris]

Weird to not allow braid if they were doing deep water trips. Fishing deep with mono isn't fun imo

 

[ripped]

I recently moved to Santa Cruz and stopped in at Stagnaro’s to ask about the no braid thing. I was told they’ve had issues with braid getting wrapped around the props needing someone to physically cut it off while on a trip. It sounds to me like they are hovering over rock piles as opposed to setting up on a drift. SPJ would be kinda tough with mono, but maybe worth a try?
I was told 30# mono for shallow and 40# for deep drop will get it done. Weight ranges between 6-10oz depending is what I was told. Bring some small zip ties to dazy chain your weights together if you have to go heavier. I’ve been out a few times up here and white feathers with longer fringe are good producers.
I’m going on a 6 pack this Sunday and stopped by “Miss Beth” when they came in to get the skinny. Their boat rods are loaded with braid, I told them I wanted to use my own setup. “No problem “, I was as told 50# braid and bring 2+ pounds of lead cuz we’ll be going deep. Will give you an update when I get back. G

 

[HobieFishin]

I recently moved to Santa Cruz and stopped in at Stagnaro’s to ask about the no braid thing. I was told they’ve had issues with braid getting wrapped around the props needing someone to physically cut it off while on a trip. It sounds to me like they are hovering over rock piles as opposed to setting up on a drift. SPJ would be kinda tough with mono, but maybe worth a try?
I was told 30# mono for shallow and 40# for deep drop will get it done. Weight ranges between 6-10oz depending is what I was told. Bring some small zip ties to dazy chain your weights together if you have to go heavier. I’ve been out a few times up here and white feathers with longer fringe are good producers.
I’m going on a 6 pack this Sunday and stopped by “Miss Beth” when they came in to get the skinny. Their boat rods are loaded with braid, I told them I wanted to use my own setup. “No problem “, I was as told 50# braid and bring 2+ pounds of lead cuz we’ll be going deep. Will give you an update when I get back. G

THANK YOU! I’m fully set up for shallow or deep. I have lead for my conventional jig rod up to 30oz and up to 500g for the spj. Idk for sure but I think the ground fish area will include the shallower waters by time i go and it won’t be the deep stuff like in the outer gulf of the farallons. I have a fathom 2 speed 15 with 20lb braid and planning on adding 100ish ft of line, maybe a little more.. Prolly 30lb mono. It’s dumb and I’m hoping to get a bow seat so they care less about my braid. It’s odd but I get it. Touristy boats have to plan on prop snags right…? Please! I’ll snag a few lures or colors of flies as needed. Thanks a lot!

Also it’s not too late to for me to change boats. I take the velocity when in Santa Cruz as it’s $67 and an easy half day that barely impacts the family. By time everyone is awake and moving, I return usually with fish. I have to stick to half day for this reason but not tied to the boat. If there are others suggested, I’d be game to try em out.

 

[Cactus Chris]

I wouldn't want to fish on a boat that's gonna micro manage me that way. I get that braid can cause issues, but the entire rest of the fleet has learned how to deal with it. Not sure why they are unable to especially if they do bottom fishing

 

[HobieFishin]

I wouldn't want to fish on a boat that's gonna micro manage me that way. I get that braid can cause issues, but the entire rest of the fleet has learned how to deal with it. Not sure why they are unable to especially if they do bottom fishing

Any suggestions for a half day out there? We have an Airbnb a mile or three from their marina. I’ve never bothered to change it up as I come home with fish and am just happy to get out. I usually fish from the boats in Berkeley marina so anything different is a treat.

 

[FlatPack]

Maybe these charter operators/crew need to go fish more on SoCal 1/2 Day Cattle Boats with 30-35 people with various fishing skills level…they need to see how our crew work on those braid & mono lines efficiently.

 

[sealskinner]

Weird to not allow braid if they were doing deep water trips. Fishing deep with mono isn't fun imo

Braid is too new for some landings

 

[HobieFishin]

Braid is too new for some landings

They say it’s cuz braid / prop snags require a person and time where mono they just melt it off when they spin the prop up. I get it, less headache for the crew on a tourist boat. It’s $67 bux and they rent ugly sticks lol. If the happy hooker told me this or any other serious day boat I’d reconsider my options. Dumb but I’ve still enjoyed the time spent with the velocity.

How new is braid? I figured leadcore for freshwater was newer than that and even then that was the 70s ish afaik.

 

[sealskinner]

They say it’s cuz braid / prop snags require a person and time where mono they just melt it off when they spin the prop up. I get it, less headache for the crew on a tourist boat. It’s $67 bux and they rent ugly sticks lol. If the happy hooker told me this or any other serious day boat I’d reconsider my options. Dumb but I’ve still enjoyed the time spent with the velocity.

How new is braid? I figured leadcore for freshwater was newer than that and even then that was the 70s ish afaik.

It was a joke

 

[HobieFishin]

It was a joke

Oof. I’m new here..

 

[hbouldin1216]

Didn't think nearshore opened up here until July 16th?

 

[HobieFishin]

Didn't think nearshore opened up here until July 16th?

I’ll call the boat today.

 

[hbouldin1216]

I’ll call the boat today.

You're good, Santa Cruz is in the central management area and they're open. Pigeon Point and north doesn't open until July. These new regs are tough to keep track of

 

[HobieFishin]

You're good, Santa Cruz is in the central management area and they're open. Pigeon Point and north doesn't open until July. These new regs are tough to keep track of

That’s what the boat said. Oct 1 the change happens. Nice!

 

[ripped]

Ok, left at 7:00 and back at 10:30 with limits for 6. A nice grade of Yellow Tail Rockfish and assorted bottom grabbers. We took out 3 boys ages 6-9 and let them do most of the work. We fished in 300’ of water with 1# weights to hold vertical. Fortunately we didn’t need heavier weight to hold. They deployed a sea anchor to slow our drift. The fish were mostly suspended 10-50’ off the bottom. It took JP as long to cut our fish as it did for us to catch them. Have a great trip!

 

[HobieFishin]

Ok, left at 7:00 and back at 10:30 with limits for 6. A nice grade of Yellow Tail Rockfish and assorted bottom grabbers. We took out 3 boys ages 6-9 and let them do most of the work. We fished in 300’ of water with 1# weights to hold vertical. Fortunately we didn’t need heavier weight to hold. They deployed a sea anchor to slow our drift. The fish were mostly suspended 10-50’ off the bottom. It took JP as long to cut our fish as it did for us to catch them. Have a great trip!

Hey sounds like a good day out! I’ll bring my lead and some clips.
300’ sounds great for my spj setup.
thanks!

 

[HobieFishin]

Ok, left at 7:00 and back at 10:30 with limits for 6. A nice grade of Yellow Tail Rockfish and assorted bottom grabbers. We took out 3 boys ages 6-9 and let them do most of the work. We fished in 300’ of water with 1# weights to hold vertical. Fortunately we didn’t need heavier weight to hold. They deployed a sea anchor to slow our drift. The fish were mostly suspended 10-50’ off the bottom. It took JP as long to cut our fish as it did for us to catch them. Have a great trip!

got any pics of the catches?

 

[ripped]

Here are a couple

 

[HobieFishin]

Nice! Good fish! I love Santa Cruz! Always a good time to get on a boat there.

 

[HobieFishin]

…..aaaaaand they canceled my half day due to low ticket sales. LAME! I only have tomorrow morning open and the other boats in the area are not going tomorrow. The good news, MOMENTS after stagnaros called, the happy hooker hit me up for a 4th of July deep water trip so it’s not all a loss. Going to surf cast some while we’re here.

 

[ripped]

Bummer that they canceled… halibut are in the Surfline right now.

 

[HobieFishin]

Bummer that they canceled… halibut are in the Surfline right now.

We’re going to head up the coast a bit and find some open space on the beach. I have some surf tackle I’ll tie on and see what comes of it. Really looking forward to the deep water on the 4th. Last time I tried to go deep, weather kept us in the bay.

 

[ripped]

Bayside Marine, Santa Cruz, California