Oregon Coast?

Its going to be hot in Portland tomorrow and my wife decided that we are going to the coast and hang out on the beach.  I'm thinking I might try and get some fishing in if things work out.  I have never fished in the ocean and could use a little help.  I'm looking for a place that the family (2 little kids) can hang out on the beach and I can run out and fish very close by.  I have never been fishing in the ocean but am itching to try.  I was thinking maybe Ecola State Park by Cannon Beach but any other suggestions would be appreciated.  Second question is what do I fish with?  I'm going shopping tonight but am really quite clueless so an ocean fishing 101 suggestion would be great.  Finally if anyone would like to join us let me know.  I think the day will be more about hanging out on the beach and a little fishing thrown in.

Matt

Here's the forecast for the offshore buoy nearest to Cannon Beach.

SAT
NW WIND 15 TO 20 KT...EASING TO 10 TO 15 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 2 FT IN THE
AFTERNOON. NW SWELL 7 FT AT 10 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG IN THE
MORNING.

SAT NIGHT
NW WIND 10 TO 15 KT...EASING TO 5 TO 10 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. GUSTS UP TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT
9 SECONDS.

SUN
NW WIND 5 TO 10 KT WITH GUSTS TO 15 KT... BECOMING 10 KT
IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT. W SWELL 4 FT.

SUN NIGHT
NW WIND 10 KT...BACKING TO SW AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND
WAVES 1 FOOT. W SWELL 4 FT. PATCHY FOG AFTER MIDNIGHT. PATCHY
DRIZZLE AFTER MIDNIGHT.

Things tend to be a little better nearshore, but I would say Saturday wouldn't be a good choice for a first time in the ocean and Sunday is looking pretty good.

As for ocean fishing, I imagine you'll be fishing for rockfish.  You should do fine with any rod that rated for and has 12-20 lb test on it.  A few jigs in the 1-3 oz range with swimbaits or scampis on them should do fine.  Shrimp flies are another good method for rockfish.  You could also try larger jigs for lingcod, but if this is your first ocean experience I think you'll find rockfish plenty of fun.

I'd love to join you, but I haven't been home the past three weekends and I owe my family some of my attention this weekend.

Brian

Ecola State Park is a fishy looking place, with a mix of rocks and sand. It's a day use park only, if you were thinking of camping. Indian Beach (name?), approached from Cannon Beach, will be kind of protected from the NW.

If the ocean is too rough, Nehalem Bay, 15-20 miles south, may be your next best bet. Even if the salmon aren't cooperating, the crabs might. Nehalem Bay state Park is large and nice and you might get lucky and find space there for camping. The park is on the spit between the bay and ocean. There's a launch on the bay side, S of the campground.

Good luck, and post a report.

Dress for immersion.

Be ready to carry your yak up and down the stairs both at Indian and the north end of Cannon Beach. 

Secure everything you want to keep.

If you opt for Indian:
-Show up early as parking is hard to find in the afternoon.
-Launch right along the rocks on the north side of the bay and ride the rip out.
- Try to stay north of the center of the bay coming back as most of the waves get hollow south of that point
- MOST IMPORTANT: Have Fun!

I ended up leaving the boat at home.  We went to Neskowin for the day.  It was nice and cool but quite foggy.  Most the day you couldn't see past the breakers.  Even if I had brought the boat the fog would have kept me away.  Maybe next time . . .