One bit of advice I can give you from going out on my dad's boat is to purchase a little hand-held marine radio and an air-horn. The marine radio will always have the weather up to the minute, as well as the emergency channel so that you can call for help. You can go to Coast Chandlery in the harbor and ask them what channels you should tune into. Also, you can ask them or other boaters how to understand what it means when the wind is blowing hard at the "East Channel bouy" versus at the "West Channel bouy".

Another bit of advice, you can always stop at the harbor patrol office in the harbor before you go out, and ask them what to expect. They'd be more than happy to help you be prepared rather than have to motor out and pick you up a few hours later.

Another suggestion, check out the Santa Barbara Sportfishing Club, as there are a lot of small boaters in the club that fish locally and can give you the best advice. The website is: http://www.west.net/nonprof/sbfish/ , or you can call my dad, Tom, at 967-3503 and tell him that Daniel referred you to the club and you'd like more info.