Getting in slow and cheap

[jbm]

Hi there,
I've been reading this forum for about a week now and I'm very interested in getting started kayak fishing. I'm hoping some of you knowledgeable people here can help me ease into the sport without making a huge investment all at once.
I have no experience ocean fishing other than a party boat trip about 25 years ago. I spent many years bass and panfish fishing in Michigan as a kid and have been doing some trout fishing here over the last few years. The only equipment I have currently are ultralight spinning rods for trout.
I would really like to get started ocean fishing, with my goal being to bring home fish to eat more so than trophies. I'd ideally like to catch halibut, yellowtail, and anything else tasty. I'd also like to start hoop netting for lobster once I get the kayak. I'd like to start by getting some minimalist fishing gear and starting shore and pier fishing near Oceanside. Then as I can save some money, I'd invest in the kayak.

Can anyone give me some advice on what rod/reel combos and tackle to start with for a minimal entry that won't just frustrate a newbie? Any good sources of used equipment? I don't know squat about saltwater gear, so the more specific, the better.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. With 2 small kids and the associated activities, my time for experimentation is limited, so some sage advice would be extremely valuable to me.

Thanks!

Jason

[Holy Mackerel]

What do you mean by cheap? Probably the cheapest, reliable set up for YT, WSB, or Halibut is a Penn jigmaster #30-40 mono, on a no name 7ft rod ~20-50 rating. If you have a little more money to spend, check out the Daiwa Sealine 40, or Shimano TLD 15.

Check out classifieds here, or go to Squidco, they have the best prices on all levels of gear.

3518 Barnett Avenue
San Diego, CA 92110-3208
(619) 222-8955

Your trout ultralight gear can be used for surf fishing, barred surf perch, etc.

[jbm]

I guess by cheap, I mean inexpensive but of good enough quality to not frustrate a novice and to not wear out before I outgrow it.

Any shop recommendations between Escondido and Carlsbad? I live in the former and work in the latter.

Would I be fine with just my ultralight spinning setup and the 20-50# rod setup? Should I start with lures or bait? If bait, can the ultralights be used for catching bait pretty well? How many rods do most folks carry on their kayaks, and what is each for?

[Holy Mackerel]

Your ultralight spinners probably can be used for making bait. Use it as a sabiki rod. What are their ratings? My trout ultralights are Kencor 1-4lb test, they wouldnt make good sabiki rods, but I have slightly heavier spinning outfits that would.

PS: Squidco is worth the drive.

[jbm]

I don't have any fishing buddies, so I don't really talk the talk, but here is what I have currently:

Shimano Sedona 1500FB on a 6'6" 2-6# ultralight action
Shimano Sienna 2500RD on a 6'6" 4-8# light action IM-6
And for the kids, an Avocet II S500 on a 5'6" 2-8# Light action.

I think I've got 6# line on most of the reels but could easily pick up an extra spool and a different line.

When people talk about a Sabiki, is that just how you set up the tackle? Multiple hooks on a drop weight?

[Holy Mackerel]

Those ultralight reels will take a beating from saltwater, buy a conventional saltwater set up. You can use it for everything, tie on a sabiki rig to make bait, put away sabiki rig around a piece of pool noodle foam. Then rig it for live bait.

Google Sabiki Rig.

This is a good reason for you to go make friends at your local tackle shop. Drop by OEX O-side, Nate sells kayaks, but knows all about fishing gear too.

http://www.oexoceanside.com/

236 South Coast Highway
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 721-6195


Search function covers many of these topics.

[IntrntFshrman]

After being with Josh the other day when his FIRST cast to make bait had a 20+ pound yellowtail hit it (took him over 20 minutes to land it--on the sabiki!), you might want to think twice about the spinner for making bait.

As a beginner myself, I tried that and found that when you add the weight of the end weight, plus a string of 5 mackerel fighting you, it's a drag winding up. I've switched to conventional/decent rod for sabiki.

Mike

[misterjager]

My recommendation would be going into your local PRIVATELY owned tackle shop and ask for recommendations. An economical setup would be a penn jigmaster 500L reel is a good starter. Will get you into fishing with a conventional reel at a good cost. I would recommend doing some party boat fishing and stay away from the piers.

[dsafety]

Lots of people who visit this site have stuff that they may want to sell. You could post a WTB ad in the gear for sale section of this post. I am sure that someone will have something that would interest you.

Bob