Hi StayingBent, welcome to the forum, I too have fished in San Diego and LA more than a decade ago when I lived in LA... I love fishing but 2017 for me was very slow I hope to change that in 2018; I have a 17.5 ft boat and I mostly take it to Lakes Lewisville & Grapevine and you are welcome to join me, when I go is usually Sundays when not windy nor very cold.
My boat & trailer are also okay for salt water and would love to try the bays in the Golf in 2018, for that I'll try to find people who are familiar with how to catch them in those areas, but when I go I will try to bring someone along to share the driving (and cost for gas
). Happy fishing this 2018
Carlos