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Topic: Las Vegas Hobie PA 17t Owner - Ocean Newbie  (Read 630 times)

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VegasVec

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  • West Coast Fisherman
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  • Location: Las Vegas, NV
  • Date Registered: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 7
Hey everyone,

I live in Las Vegas, but I was born and raised in the Bay Area.  I go back to the Bay several times a year, mainly the northern peninsula (Sonoma County) as my wife's family still lives there.  I have been primarily a freshwater fisherman most of my life - fishing all over Northern California since I was a kid - Del Valle, Amador, Lake Shasta. 

I purchased a Hobie after trying them out in San Diego.  On the demo trip I caught a halibut and I was hooked (pun intended)!  I often fish Lake Mead for Striped Bass and hit up lakes in Utah and Southern California for Trout.  But I have a real itch to get to know salt water.

I have a Hobie PA 17t on a modified Zieman trailer, with Hobie cradles.  This limits my ability to launch in some areas, especially when I am by myself.  I typically launch from boat launches, which takes a lot of the fun out of owning a kayak. But the 17t is way too big to put on a cart - unless you buy the over-sized cart with cradles which runs over $500.  So for now, I try and stick to boat launches.  It is just easier that way.

Looking for some advice on places to fish along the Sonoma Coast.  Also open to suggestions for Southern CA too, even though it might be outside the scope of this forum.

Thanks in advance!
VegasVec
Hobie Pro Angler 17t


NowhereMan

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That's a big beast of a kayak. I don't know anything about the Sonoma coast (I fish mostly in the Monterey Bay), but I'm sure somebody here will be able to help.
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Dub The Boat

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  • Location: Vallejo
  • Date Registered: Dec 2013
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With a Yak that massive, I'd make sure not to launch if surf is over 6'. Even the smaller PAs can be a little squirrely out there in the ocean. Also, make sure you're never alone and invest in a Marine Submersible radio. Keep it on Channel 69 for fellow NCKAers, or on 16 for emergencies. I like swellinfo for that forecasting info:

http://www.swellinfo.com/surf-forecast/sonoma-county-california

That said, the most popular spot for rockfish by far is Timber Cove. It's small, but it's an easy launch and a reasonable fee. The fishing is great, and if I recall correctly, someone pulled a 40"+ ling out of there this year.

Another nice spot is Anchor Bay. It's technically Mendocino county, but it's south of Pt Arena so it has the same fishing rules as other areas.

Bodega Bay (Doran Beach, specifically) is our spot for Crab, but as you've heard, there's not much of that going on this year. It generally sucks for fishing, although I think people get salmon and flatties out of there occasionally.

Hope that helps :-D
'15 Hobie Revo 13
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VegasVec

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  • Location: Las Vegas, NV
  • Date Registered: Nov 2015
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Thank you for the replies.  Yes, the 17 footer is a beast.  But it is very stable and I enjoy having the extra room.  I don't think it is very hard to maneuver and it doesn't take much effort for me to pedal from the rear seating position.

I have been looking at launching from Timber Cove, but is it friendly to trucks with trailers?  It appears it is ok for up to 18 ft boats.  Not sure how close I can get to the water line with the trailer.  Even though its only 200 lbs (without gear), it is still...200 lbs.

VegasVec
Hobie Pro Angler 17t


Dale L

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Timber Cove, used to launch trailered boats with a 4wd for a fee, not sure if they still do.

If you have your own 4wd it would be a snap, if not you're still about as close as you can get anywhere except a full blown launch ramp.


Duckguy

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At Anchor Bay Campground, they have a "beach trailer" or they can haul yours using their Honda ATC down to the safe part of the beach for launching. They charge $10 to do that. The water there is often very flat, but check well before going out, just like anywhere else. Fish the kelp bed edges for rockfish and Cabezon, and around rocky reefs for lings. There are a few halibut and sand dabs on the flag bottoms, and, if it ever opens, the crabbing can be great.
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Sailfish

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Welcome to NCKA VV  :smt006
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain."


 

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