Must have gear for rockfishing: Now that we've talked about all the tackle that's needed, we'll go through and see what else is needed for a rockfishing trip. You must bring more than one rod and reel setup and probably different types for shallow and deep water fishing. Sometimes the fish are deep and sometimes they are shallow. Also sometimes you just might snap a rod or two especially with light tackle graphite rods.

Your tackle box or bag should have an assortment of lures and be sure to carry a few of the same size

Lures are already mentioned but I'm going to include this in the must have section because I've taken anglers out before that aren't too experienced and they only come with two or three jigs. Bring an assortment of sizes and have a few of the same size. When bottom fishing you're bound to lose a lure or two or even three within a short period of time. So having many lures in your tackle bag is a must have.

A drift sock is a must have when the drift is too fast

When rockfishing in fast moving waters you aren't able to keep your lure on the bottom and it makes vertical jigging very difficult. A drift sock will slow your boat down so that you can keep the lure at the optimal level. Be sure to get the right size for your boat.

A net along with a gaff is another must have. Net the smaller fish and gaff the big ones that won't fit in the net

Other miscellaneous gear that one must have onboard. A tape measure since some species such as Cabezon and Lingcod have a size limit, you must measure your catch before throwing it in your cooler. A gaff and net. A few sets of pliers because you do not want to stick your fingers into the mouth of a Lingcod. And lastly because of California's tough fishing regulations on bottom fishing, a rockfish identification card or book so you won't get fined for taking the wrong species or sub-species of rock fish. I'm sure there are other must haves but these are the most important ones.

Another look at a light tackle combo that's great for rockcod fishing along the coastal waters

Ocean conditions: Conditions on the water can make or break a day. Picking your days to get out there will be beneficial especially when taking out new anglers. This is purely from my experience through the years I've been fishing on the West Coast, especially for locations around Half Moon Bay. The times that fishing can be tough are when there is no drift or it's too fast. Rock fish do not move around much and if you're not drifting then you're not covering much area looking for these fish. If the drift is too fast you will not be able to keep your lure near the bottom even with heavy weights. A slow-medium and steady uni-directional drift is preferred.

When you find the right locations you can easily load a cooler full of an assortment of rockfish

Large swells also make rockcod fishing more difficult. Either the fish are bunkered down in their hole because of the rough surface waters or it's the ability to keep your lure constantly at the bottom to get the fish to bite, and it could be the combination of the two. But for whatever reason these aren't the ideal ocean conditions for rockcod fishing if I had to choose the day to go out.