The surf fishing has been pretty good since last Sunday over at Pacifica. And the water conditions are perfect. Sunday (7/7) there was a big run of stripers just north of the pier. Over 50 stripers and about a dozen salmon were caught. There have been smaller runs off and on for the last few days. Last weekend there were over a hundred salmon caught off the pier. There have been consistent catches of salmon off the beach for the last two days. This is very unusual for the salmon to be close enough to be caught from the sand. The best area has been from the pier north to Mussel Rock.

Nico

Thanks for the update. I was in Pillar point harbor last weekend buying some fresh salmon and the pier over there was elbow to elbow with people jigging up anchovies and shortbellies (small rockfish). Maybe the increase in bait in the area has brought in all the fish up close.

I live in Pacifica and recently tried Rockaway and Mori Point....but nothin'. What are all those salmon and strypers hitting? Topwater SuperStrikes? Hair-razers?

I'm going tonight. I went last year and got skunked. That bite is super hit or miss it seems. Talked to Nico and he was on his way there an hour ago. Crockodiles, kastmasters and stuff like that have been working he said. Basically something that imitates baitfish and that you can cast a long way. Of course I don't have any of that stuff, so I'm bring some megabait jigs, some big hammer swimbaits, and some hair raisers. Will report later.

Sounds like it's on again! I'll have to get a good one so I can replace my Barnyish pic from last year. Are any coming on the big topwaters or is it mostly a Heavy Chrome bite? Nico, can you post the same driving instructions as you gave me last year to Mussel Rock? Does anyone want to try to meet either up there or in Santa Clara Co. to share the ride?
Last, but not least, can anyone in the greater Santa Clara Co. area loan me the use of a laithe? I lost my last home-made Pencil Popper 3 weeks ago at San Luis Res. which isn't looking good below Romero's Overlook for the morning bite. The water level's right, but they just didn't show, also the water was kind of cruddy with floating dead gray and orange moss. If someone will loan me the use of a wood laithe I'll make them a lure or 2, or I'll rent it if they'd rather. I have a few chisels and gouges if that's a problem.

Tight lines,
Wade

Tight lines,
Wade

I was thinking about yak fishing at pacifica this saturday. I live in lodi so if there is anyone along the way that wants a ride drop me a line. I have a trailer so I can haul up to 4 yaks. 209 518-1194

-Brian

Brian G,
You might reconsider trying to kayak at Pacifica. It's generally very rough there. It's a straight beach break and the waves break up to 100 yards offshore. I don't have much kayaking experience but I'd think it would be a death wish to try to launch there.

I'm no expert, but I agree with Swimbait that a Pacifica launch could kill you, Easily. If you're very intent on "Yaking it up", you might try launching on the Lee side of Mussel Rock if you have a strong back and can carry your yak a couple country miles downhill and back up afterwards. Even here it will probably get hairy. If you would rather paddle all day than climb mountains you might also put in at Fort Point below the Golden Gate. Here again, you better have a very good life insurance policy. I don't know too many other spots up there but none of them look like a passable spot to launch a tube or 'yak and still make it to the fish.

Tight lines,
Wade

Tight lines,
Wade

I strongly agree with everyone's warnings about launching a yak in the Pacifica area, or for that matter anywhere in the ocean north of the Santa Cruz area.

At very rare times it can be like a lake in the Pacifica area, but this is unpredictable. Also be leary of the strategy of taking a yak there and planning to launch only if it is very calm in the early AM. You may get out OK but typically a stiff late morning or early afternoon wind kicks up and conditions can get very bad very fast for your hasty return.

About the only safe yaking in the area would be in Princeton Harbor, if you stay inside the harbor. (Princeton Harbor also has yak rentals.) There are stripers there, but they are rarely caught. Action can be better for halibut, but this too is spotty. Sometimes it is calm enough to venture somewhat outside the harbor for halibut, rockfish, or short lings (lings love swimbaits)at the tip of the breakwater (the one with the bell) but waves or wakes from speeding boats can crash a yak into the breakwater if you get too close (where, unfortunately, many of the fish are).

Be safe, not sorry.

I have never been to pacifica so I thank everyone for the warnings. I have heard of people going out of pacifica so I guess in theory it is possible but hard launches and landings are not worth it. Guess I will stick to monterey bay where it is almost always nice. Thanks for saving me a trip out there.

-Brian