Dana Point harbor is about as benign as it gets. You can launch at the launch ramp, park by the sportfishing place, and go through the pedestrian gate, or off the rocks by the fuel dock, a little tougher and no free parking, but also popular. Dana is nice because current is not a problem like in some harbors. All of long beach is pretty easy too.

As far as waders go, most guys do wear them, they keep you from contact with possible pollution, are warmer, more comfortable, and totally safe. The best are dry-breathable waders, cost about $150, but way worth it! I often wear mine to and from the beach, if it's cold, they dry off almost immediately, and are just like wearing a light wind-breaker on your legs and chest, nice.

There are also neoprene waders out there still, but they are nearly as uncomfortable as a wetsuit, and although you may find them cheaper, I have read that they are being phased-out by most manufacturers in favor of the much more comfortable and versatil dry-breathable style.

They can fill with water all they want, they CAN'T drag you down or drown you, that's an "old wives tale" that still persists despite numerous tests and demostrations to prove it untrue. ESPN just did a show on this myth. It is actually pretty hard to fill waders, if you have a waist strap, and in fact they trap buco air, and float you great!

If you do searches you can find various stunts where people have jumped off bridges into rivers, rolled in the surf and all sorts of things to show that they CAN'T drown you. I fell off my Kayak in mine, in deep water with the waist strap totally undone. I just popped back to the surface, grabbed my 'yak, flipped it over and climbed in. Budda-bing, woop-de-do...

Even if they somehow eventually DID fillwith water... the water inside the wader has the exact same density as the water outside, so you are neutral at worst.

In short go with what most everybody has found, waders are much more comfy, keep you dry and warm, and you can use them for surf-fishing, kayaking and of course, wading!

I did wear a wetsuit my first few times, because I surf/scuba and had one, but switched as soon as I got savvy to what most people were using, and how much better they are.

quietman

Quietman

http://www.kayakfishingpro.com