I'd like to take the float tube just outside the breakers and was wondering what the rules are. Are the life gaurds going to tell me to take it out? Is it allowed in LA county beaches? Pretty much what can i expect from law enforcement? Places I'd like to go are Marina del rey around the jetty and maybe in the harbor, Long beach marina, seal beach, newport beach & harbor. Any info would be great.

Thanks in advance

Anchovie

Not sure on your question, It sounds cool but If you are going to fish break waters like Marina Del Rey, Try Venice Beach break water too. It holds some good Halibut now and then. I have had some Awesome Surf perch (barbed perch)in early spring fishing there too. I just went back down there and tried my luck in may. I was on my honeymoon and visiting old places I grew up. Broke out the rod for a hour or so and got just one 18" flatty on a swimbait (from shore). I hit one there before that went 18 lbs. That was when I was 17 years old LOL!! You need to watch the tides there when the tide starts going out the waves crash the rocks pretty good. If you do it I would like to know how you do.
Best of luck!

Don

Anchovie,

Welcome :) I wouldn't stress too much on rules, there are very few places in the ocean that I have ever heard of where float tubing is not allowed. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head would be areas like the reserve at La Jolla where no fishing at all is allowed at all. If you have an area in mind, just search it on google and you can probably find out all you need to know. Starting out in some bays or sheltered areas is always a good bet. From there you can look for areas in the surf with small waves and keep branching out. Ocean tubing is a blast because its so simple and there's a lot of great fishing opportunities to be had inshore.

The only things I've had problems with is
1)In Santa Cruz Harbor they consider tubing to be swimming and it's not allowed. Of course they waited until I was at the mouth of the breakwater then the harbor patrol picked me up, took me back to the dock and told me I could launch from the beach and fish the outside of the breakwater so long as I stayed away from the channel going into the harbor. Kickboating is allowed so long as you have all required safety equipment.
2) No fishing is allowed in the Monterey Harbour, but it's not posted anywhere I saw except at the entrance to the parking lot along with 5 other signs.
Tight lines,
Wade

Float Tubing is not allowed in King Harbor either don't ask me why because I don't have an answer for that one. I could see how tubing in areas with strong currents say like river jetties or harbor entrances might raise some safty concerns depending on the fluid dynamics of the waterway. Also it raises saftey concerns in areas with a lot of boat traffic. Of course most lakes in California have plenty of weekend warriors who are oblivous to the words boating saftey. You would be supprised how many yaught captains fail to see small boats, kayakers, and especially float tubers. You would think they would be more attentive especially when navigating waters where there is a lot of boat traffic but based on my experencies this doesn't seem to be the case. Breaking surf depending on the size may also raise some saftey concerns for float tubers. Just know your limits and avoid exceeding them when at all possible.

I got to give Wade credit I don't think I would venture in to the waters of Santa Cruz in a float tube. Some big weather that goes from good to dangerous in seconds up there, Strong currents, high surf, high surfers, and a considerable number of great white sharks that are known to frequent that area.

JerryG

Thanks every one, this is all good information. Well here's my first report on float tubing in the ocean. Went out at marina del rey at around 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM. With good smart advice of all of you I stayed away from the boat traffic areas. aporx. 100 yds out from shore. Fished for halibut using Big hammer swim baits. No halibuts but plenty of mackerel. Wind picked up around 1:00 PM and lots of white caps so called it a day.

Thank you all
Anchovie:-)

Right on. Sounds like you had fun. Did you just fish the Venice side or Ballona Creek side? Any problems with boat trafic?
I fished all that area as a kid. I used to fish on Capt. Frenchy's Bait Dock there in the marina. Fishing there was fun back then. I would take fresh dead bait and cast with a 1 oz weight and drag for but's on those rocks.
Hope you stick a Barn Door soon.

I don't think I would try top water Great White lure in Santa Cruz ether LOL!

Don.