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Messages - DaveTheSynthGuy

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 27
1
RIGHT ON!  (I get to say that now.)  :smt044

2
General Talk / Re: Finally got a Kayak Trailer
« on: March 13, 2024, 09:16:40 PM »
Suite .... (said the musician)  :smt005  I'm only mildly jealous.   Every time I hoist the Outback up on the Prius I think about getting a trailer.  I certainly know why they call it an Out Back.  "Mildly jealous" might just be an understatement.

3
AOTY / Re: 2023 AOTY Results!!
« on: January 18, 2024, 09:38:22 AM »
Congrats to all!  WTG Poupsmith!!

4
Hobie Kayaks / Re: Hobie Mirage Passport 10.5 R
« on: December 28, 2023, 10:22:37 AM »
Find a used Hobie Sport.  I love mine.  Light, easy to use.   They shouldn't've stopped production on it. 

5
General Talk / Re: Nature Calls.
« on: December 28, 2023, 10:19:55 AM »
Been away from reading NCKA ... just now seeing this.  I have a PVC pipe cut to the right length to reach the drive slot in my Hobies.  Now I just go with the flow.   :smt044.  As an added extra I put the CDFW fish measuring sticker on it.   :smt004

6
Idler repair OTW... nice.   I have an idler cable on back order now for .. many months.... meanwhile that bungie fix is working fine on the spare drive that gets used whenever I take 2 boats out.

wig!

7
Great work!  I love the the re-edited photo that shows Yaad in the background!  Nice stringers!

8
More photos .. last time didn't post.   I stole the last photo from Eric's post.   :smt003

9
This is a “sequel” post to Loleta Eric’s “Lost Coast - 8/13/23”  - I was the “client/friend” on that wonderful Cape trip.  I first met Eric through NCKA back in 2011.  I still lived in LA at that point.  He’s been a great friend and guide through the years. ——— Thanks, buddy for another Epic Cape Trip! ——

Last Friday I learned about the CDFW early, unanticipated closure of the near shore boat-based rock fish season for the Northern Management Area.  That covers the Northern California coast from Cape Mendocino to the Oregon Border.  It meant that rockfish season would be over for kayak anglers within one week.  The very next day Eric contacted me about one last opportunity to get on the Cape on Sunday.  I immediately said, “YES, I’m in.”  No hesitation!   

The Cape is a special place. Its rugged rocky coastline, with just a few access points, is a challenging place to fish on a kayak. Wind, tide, current, and swell conditions determine where and when it’s safe to go, and those are dynamic. Conditions can change throughout the day.  I will only kayak fish the Cape with someone like Eric who grew up here and thoroughly knows the place.  But the rewards of fishing the Cape are great.   Eric knows it’s one of my favorite trips and I’m really glad he got hold of me for this one last hurrah for the season. 

Sunday morning, I was up before sunrise and made it to his place by 7 am. We transferred my gear to his truck and made the trip over the Wildcat and down to the coast in short order.  When we arrived it was very foggy but not windy.  It was difficult to see beyond the close rocks.  We checked out several launch sites and he made the decision on which one was best for the conditions.  We reviewed our potential landing “plan B” and “plan C” in case conditions go south.

We schlepped our gear down the small cliff to the rocky launch site (no small task, that!), gave it one last look and then launched.  I went first, Eric followed.  Once I was out far enough, past the near shore rocks I deployed my mirage drive and rudder.  Conditions were “sporty.”  Wind was not an issue and there were not huge swells but the seas were “confused” and “crunchy,” they were not smooth at all.  But it was absolutely no problem.  The kayaks handled it well and I’m not prone to motion sickness.  We were good to go!   There’s an exhilaration that comes from a successful Cape launch.  Because of the fog we stayed close together, using our electronic nav-aids and sight when possible, to keep track of our location.

Once we were on the water I knew this was another epic day at the Cape. It’s enough just to be there.  But angling is the purpose and we were on it quickly.  My first catch was a greenling that ate a whole herring. I took its photo and released it.  We opted to stay in a bit closer because of the surf conditions and visibility.  However we had a great day catching a wide variety of rockfish. We were selective with our take. I brought home four black rockfish, a vermillion, a yellowtail rockfish, and a small (but legal) lingcod.  I’m not sure how many fish I released, quite a few.

We saw two dolphin, likely a mother and calf.  As we headed in there was one post card moment when a large sea lion posed on a rock, above a rowdy ocean.  With the coastal mountains in the background it looked like a painting.  Eric and I both took that photo.

We landed back at our original launch site, no need for plan B or C.  The swells were a bit tricky and the breeze and ocean was picking up so it was a good time to end the excursion.   There’s also a thrill that comes from a successful surf landing at the Cape.  It’s a rewarding moment to celebrate.
Next comes the schlepping of the gear back to the truck. This is definitely the most physically taxing part of the day, but I have to admit, I was so pumped up from the great day, it was no difficult task at all.
After the gear was loaded on the truck we drove up the road just a short hop to Eric’s favorite spot for the tailgate fillet station.  This is a favorite time, we take the “hero” fish photo, and the professional guide fillets the fish.  I’ve been known to help but this time I just bagged fish while Eric did the filleting.  We both have our favorite cold beverage.  It’s a time of celebration, conversation, and friendship.   Once the catch is filleted and on ice, Eric heads to the ocean for a quick dip. On this trip as I stayed with the truck I watched a lone buzzard riding the ridge wave above the cliff.   

It was a moment of mindfulness.  I’m concerned for the ocean, for the fish, and for this place.  I’m grateful to have such a good friend.  I’m grateful to be in this amazing place, and I’m grateful for this excellent day.   I am especially grateful that Kristin bought me a guided kayak fishing trip with Eric for our 41st anniversary.   Life is very good.  Retirement is awesome.  :smt006

10
It was a GREAT trip.   They always are.   Thanks again, Eric.    I'm going to make a "sequel" post with my photos and write up so for now I'll just re-post a reprise of some music I created with video and images from three previous Cape trips with Eric.

I love kayak fishing at the Cape.



I'm not sure if that YouTube link is working.  It's not showing up in my various browsers.  "".

11
CA Regulations / Re: Rockfish Identification
« on: April 12, 2023, 10:30:15 AM »
This quiz from Oregon DFW could be useful.

https://myodfw.com/articles/rockfish-identification-tips


12
It's not so much of a channel as it is a repository of misc stuff, including some music.  :smt044

But I'm glad you enjoyed it.   :smt005

13
Coastal Cowboy!  LOL. Thanks, buddy.

Glad to see you getting to the Lagoons.  Keep those reports coming.  I think I'll be up to hitting them next week, but then I thought that LAST week.

Just making this got me all excited to get out on the ocean again.


14
This is a compilation of images and clips from three different kayak rock fishing trips at Cape Mendocino with Loleta Eric, the “other Erik,” and Yaad.  They are from last year.

I tossed it together in a post-covid malaise this week. It was a relatively mild case but still kicked my ass for a few days. The music was my attempt to create a “surfer music” sound in GarageBand.

Please use full screen and nice speakers or headphones.

This really gets me ready to get out there again this coming season!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/BMQML_ASr6g

15
Hobie Kayaks / Re: idler cable for early (2016) GT drive
« on: January 19, 2023, 06:15:14 PM »
Those are turbo fins on the one drive on the right.  I broke the idler cable on my one drive with turbos.  :smt004

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