I thinking about cruising up this Sunday to fish S.B. Whats a good place to get your feet wet, so to speak, in the area?. I've heard about carp reef, campus point, the harbor, etc.. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks guys,
Andy

Andy,
You got it. Harbor, campus point, goleta beach... The harbor's been kind of off and on. I got a legal and a short wsb yesterday but was surrounded by another kayaker, a float tuber and two small boats and nobody else hooked a seabass so it's pretty slow. I haven't heard anything on campus point lately. You can usually pull some halibut at Goleta beach, there's also an underwater pipe that's out almost directly off the end of the pier by 350 yards or so. There's usually quite a variety of fish at this spot, anything from halibut, calico, sandbass, barracuda, white seabass to rockfish. Might be worth a shot in the kayak.
-Brian

...I'd probably go to Goleta Beach. Launch at the northern end of the parking lot, paddle out to campus point and try for some seabass and/or calicos. If that doesn't pay off then work the shoreline back to Goleta Beach paying particular attention to the wooden blocked off stairs at U.C.S.B. and the beach just north of where the cliff starts at the north end of Goleta Beach. Actually, from there all the way back to your car is usually good halibut ground. Right in front of the big rock at the north end of Goleta Beach (where the cliff starts) can be productive also but there's a lot of kelp. Jigging a plastic straight up and down near this kelp has produced some nice 'buts for me. Anywhere from shore to 20 ft. (or more) depths will produce but I've had my best luck in 5 - 10 ft. not too far from shore.

I went out to Goleta last Friday afternoon and in just a few minutes I had two shorts. Then I hooked a bat ray (50 inches) lost one of my fins and that ended my trip.

I've caught halibut on a lot of different colors of plastics but my favorites are Channel Islands Chovie, Sardine, Keylime, and Olive.

The harbor is kind of tough for 'yaks (my friend has one and brought it once - now he sticks to the tube). It's such a confined area that you'll spend more time with your paddle in your hand then your rod. Especially if there are other fisherman there. If there's any kind of current or wind forget it. You could anchor but if you hook a nice seabass there is a lot of structure around there (not to mention boats) and you won't be able to follow the fish.

Pete

You can't catch tomorrow what you kill today - please practice catch and release.