AOTD 2008

As usually the weather forecast was not as bad as what was reported.  We launched at first light to calm winds and a small swell.  We knew we had our work cut out for us when we pulled into the Fort Ross parking lot to find that Patrick and Allen where already launching.  Those guys are hard core.  Naoaki (uminchu) allen(alshobieoutback) and I launched and headed south from the Fort to join up with the legends to find they already had points on the board.  Once the group all arrived at ling alley, Nao and I ditched for our secret fishing grounds....082 on the GPS, where legends are made.  Nao hooks up a nice brown and I follow up with a big red.  We fished North till about 9AM with a handful of decent rockies and I had a barely legal ling.  We then moved in shallow and met up with Justin and Adam in the kelp to hunt down the elusive cabazone.  Fished till 12:30 and got off the water just in time.  Saw white caps as we left the loading zone.  The BBQ was classic NCKA food fest, with fresh fish tacos, tri-tip steak etc.  Thanks to Allen and Patrick for taco fixings, Adam for tri-tip and Mike for more steak.  I hope I didn't forget anyone.  And now for what you are all waiting for.  The winner of the 2008 AOTY is (drum roll)  Allen (otobepelagic) with a 33in ling and 19in rockfish for a total of 198 pts. 

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Nice report Jim,

Glad the weather cooperated for everyone.

Brian

Great Job Jim!!!

 Really wish I could have been there and thanks for the post..

 Congrats to Otobepeligic as the Man to Beat this Year,

 Looks like another stealler NCKA Meet...

Any chance of having a round 2 AOTD this Year?....

Greate report!  Congrats Otobepeligic!

How many end up joining?

Now that's what I'm talkin' about Allen!!
Great job!!
What was the secret weapon for the ling slaying????
Looks like you all had a great time.
I WILL be at ELK now that I am semi geared up.. ( Revo baby!! )

Great report - that looks like a blast!   

Way to go, Allen!

Congrats to Otobepeligic as the Man to Beat this Year,

Truth, but Patrick is poised to pounce...  I have a feeling that Allen's ready for that and has an awesomely proud anticipation of it.   

Great report, Jim.   

Had a Great time thanks Jim for Hosting. I figured it would take 3 species so I started up at lake Sonoma hoping to get a LMB and a smallie real quick then join the boys at Ross 1 rockfish and I would be doing pretty good. Got a 18" LMB on my first cast right next to the ramp then paddled 15 min to get to my smallie spot I got a good hook up right away but it came off just as fast, then I couldn't buy a smallie the LMB were bitting pretty good and I couldn't get past them tried everything in my box for more LMB .
It was getting late so I trolled the shore with Mooch's fav and lost a steelie after one jump, snagged a Bluegill and picked up a couple dink smallies but one was 12" I thought cool 252pts and it's only 8am and I'm headed to the salt. Well getting to the coast took forever I got behind every slow driver out there and I figured I wouldn't get in the water till about noon so I opted to try for butts knowing I could pick up a small rockie as a back up, fished Bodega rock and conditions were perfect just the drift I wanted but just got 1 underbutt and a suprise Salmon that put up a great fight in the shallow water. The wind was starting to pick up and I had no idea of the time so I hit the jetty for a small rockie got a monkey face eel but the only rockie I caught was 4 or 5" was going to take a pic just in case but I left my camera in my splash pants back in the car. Got to Jim's at about 2 and the boys were nowhere to be seen so I figured the weather was pretty good at Ross and I shoulda stuck to my orignail plan . The boys showed just before 3 and it was good to see everybody and have a killer meal the tacos were killer and Adam's TT was tasty. Thanks again Jim it was a fun day the drive home up the Sonoma Coast and the River was awesome. Adam what did you say to those cows?? Last shot for AbK

thanx, great report..i gotta make it up there soon.

Congrats Patrick! Wish I could have made it but Ive got some mending to do soon, we did a hike to Tennesee cove for some surf-casting-one nice hit- but would have much rather joined the crew. Great report and pics!
Mike- you get an A for effort and plan!

Sounds like good stuff right there.  Allen, congrats on winning, are you going to Elk?  Wish I could have come but I'm taking it easy this weekend letting my knee heal before the Elk derby.  I really like the format of this derby alot.  Good of Jim to put this together.  JTF

Thank You Jim for putting on a great event.

       The alarm was set for 3:00 am but I got up a little after two and turned it off......many, many years and hundreds of different adventures later it's still the same.......anticipation is it's own timekeeper! We made the coffee, packed a lunch and checked the buoy reports......hmmm .......still looks crappy out there.Thinking we might need some sort of live bait we checked our improvised crawdad trap in the water agency canal next to the driveway for nada, guess the little buggers don't like 3" perforated pipe with inverted plastic bottles for entrances or maybe it was the polish sausages inside.
        As we turned onto River Road my cell rings and it's Adam hot on our tail. After passing through Jenner I pulled over at one of the bluffs to get a look (more like a listen) at the ocean conditions expecting to hear thundering surf and to taste the salt spray from the wind, boy were we surprised. Arrived at the park, unloaded the gear and waited for "first light". Adam showed and after he unloaded the concensus was time to launch. We  pushed off and proceeded out the cove as Jim, Naoaki, and Justin were driving down the hill right behind us. A bit later Al arrived on his Hobie Outback.
        We started fishing in about thirty-five fow and landed the "red' in about ten minutes and the "ling" not long after...... on the teaser with a strip of squid. Soon after I landed another starfish.......damn, yet another dollar to Patrick! The water visibility and color was amazing, clear....almost a light blue (Oh Boy yet another anticipation entering my brain). I stayed in shallow for another two more legal lings (released) and then made the move to the cove hoping to score a certain elusive devil fish. While there I landed my fourth legal ling (released) that had the coolest gold and black colors. I'm not sure but I think some sort of permit is required to harvest the amount of I kelp snagged up from the depths.
         All too soon it was time to call it and hit the beach. Earlier in the morning I had taken the preparation of stowing my helmet in the forward hatch.....thank goodness for the calm conditions, that's where it remained. After landing Jim and I had a small discussion regarding the probable winner ..........Mike (Mickfish) must have done it if none of us had completed the salt water tri-fecta.  After loading our vehicles it was off to Jim's for a veritable feast. Fresh fish tacos, cold ones, and a few good fish stories put the final touches on another GREAT day on the water...........you gotta love this site.
           
       

And more

Nice shot of Naoaki and Hunter...

 Should make the Cover of " GQ KayakFisherMan "....

 
 Nice Talking with you and Toledo today...

  Thanks for the Gear.......