I wanted to toon the salt and I've never done it before so i ask if there are any places that are relatively calmer than other places to first try. I wanted to try to hit up the butts in the capitola area but i wanted to get some experience in the salt before i go out past the kalp beds. Any recommendations. thanks

Two places come to mind, one of which is Capitola - which you already mentioned. The presumable location of halibut is the big sandy beach south of the pier marked on

I tubed it once with Nico. No halibut for us, but a lot of grass rockfish (aka grass bass) on big hammers in the kelp.

The other place to think about is Linda Mar or Rockaway, south of Pacifica. Nico and I kickboated there once as well. A lot of people launch kayaks at Linda Mar apparently. shows Rockaway, and just to the south, Linda Mar.

When we fished we got nothing but blue rockfish. It looked good, but the stripers and halibut were not around, and I think the better rockfishing was out deeper than where we fished. Nico has caught salmon there before from his kickboat on several occasions in years past.

At either location, you need to pick your days. Those launches can be sheltered, but that's the real ocean out there. You'll know it's the real deal because even on flat calm days, there's a surge that moves around out there to remind you that the ocean is big and you are really small. In any case, this is the time of year when good weather days occur with some regularity. Would love to hear a report if you make it out there.