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Messages - billyabe

Pages: [1] 2 3
1
General Fishing Tips / Re: sea trout
« on: March 07, 2012, 03:48:32 PM »
I'm another fan of eating sea trout--they do have a little different flavor that may take some getting used to.  I find it enhanced by some fresh herbs in the body cavity, then bake or fry.  Like ling cod, they turn white when cooked.

Need to be careful with the DFG 12 inch/2 fish limit, also that they are classed with rockfish for open/closed season when fishing from a kayak.  The smaller fish do make great bait for big lings, but I guess that would not be legal anymore...

They are fun to catch by poke poling.  I stick my hoochie & bait in crevices & under rocks for eels & cabs, & into clumbs of brown kelp for sea trout.  It's true, they usually launch a bang/bang/grab attack.  Unfortunately, the beautiful colors fade quickly.  (By the way, most people poke pole at low tide, because it's easier to get at those hidey holes, but it's also effective at high tide, just fishing straight down into holes and channels...)

Tight lines, loose women...

2
mr. mooch--

served my country as a coastie aux and middle school teacher.  now retired to pass on the mistakes & insights of the past 69 years along with the unmitigated holy experience of returning to the ocean, pedal to the metal.

tight lines, loose women...

love & blessings, billyabe


3
I second the emotion about Pine Beach.  We always stay in the roadside rooms because of aging wonderdog Sophie who hates to be left behind (who does?)  A very easy roll down the path to the beach with your kayak.  Great little cove with (usually) a very easy launch.  Owners low-key and helpful.  Bargain rates off-season and weekdays.  The Thai restaurant nearby is a little pricey but absolutely top-notch super.  There are also very funky tennis courts with free rackets and balls for you to use.  Good bbq facilities where people can gather and be social if they wish.  Older roadside rooms are pretty basic and fiftyish, but plenty comfy and clean if you're not too fussy--and truly pet-friendly!

Tight lines...

4
Places to Launch and Camp / Re: Fort Bragg
« on: August 22, 2010, 01:27:04 PM »
Navarro River is also very nice.  Sandbar across the mouth has turned it into a 3 mile long lake that (though Hwy 128 runs pretty much right alongside it) feels like you're in the wilderness.  Camping right on the beach with porta-potties (no water) or upriver a little ways at Van Damme.

Have a great time!

Tight lines...

5
Safety First / Re: My Good Deed for the Day
« on: August 02, 2010, 11:55:45 AM »
Good job Jim--we all need to look out for each other and you done good.

As far as boarding technique goes, anything that works is the right way.

Given that your pfd may sometimes be uncomfortable, hot, or chafe your armpits after an hour of paddling, it still really does come down to a Darwin decision about survival, doesn't it?  Keep on living, keep on spawning...

Even so, I have to say I have done many stupid and short-sighted things in the water, risking life, limb & the opportunity to spawn in the process.  I was lucky but I certainly understand the brother who did not wear the pdf--more than likely, he was wanting to enhance that feeling of freedom and maybe too wanting to put a little spice of danger on top.

Not smart, but most of us have been there...

Tight lines...

6
Sorry to miss the madness...doctoring took longer and more involved than expected.  See yall in Albion!

Tight lines...

7
Just a reminder to newbies and others:  we call it fishing--not catching--for a reason..

Tight lines...

8
Good luck and be safe.  Good crabbing off these days off 10 mile (a dang long paddle from Noyo, but often a free ride back!) and Navarro out of Albion.  Dunno about Casper.

9
Yo Mr. Mooch,

I have a medical scanning procedure scheduled for tomorrow morning (I know you know what I'm talking about, bro!), but I should be able to make the lake by 11 or 12.  Is there a meet up place or just listen for the whooping and hollering?

I live not too far from the lake and can help out brothers and sisters stuck for a place to park or crash.

Tight lines...Billyabe

10
Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / Re: Casper 6/4-6/8
« on: June 09, 2010, 01:16:22 PM »
Thanks for the great report!  I love this place--operators of the campground are very cordial & helpful.  Kayaks to rent if you need an extra for a friend.  Seems like the camp atmosphere is extra-friendly, especially to kids.  Good hot coffee and lots of hot water in the showers.  Reasonable rates for ultra-compact but nice campsites.

Tight lines, loose women...

11
Out of Albion, a little south of Salmon Creek, a very cute big-eyed seal stole a nice ling from me last year and busted my pole in the process.  These guys are not only cute, they are tough and badass strong and they swim better than Esther Williams or Johnny Weismuller (or do I date myself too much here?)

Comments are right that they have learned to follow boats (including kayaks), stealing bait and catch and discards.  They are smart and the ones I have encountered have split and dove down when you first draw your slingshot--like they know what is coming.  (I think the party boat deckhands have trained them in marble avoidance!)

I have also read accounts of seals "playfully" holding divers down (I think they may be territorial in their hunting areas?) and I suspect that some unexplained diving deaths may be the result of these playful seal encounters.

The lions are obviously potential bad news, but I think the seals (which seem to be so much more at ease with close human contact) are way more dangerous.  I suggest picking up that slingshot as soon as you spot one, and please o please do not flip your leftover bait to these cute round-eye ocean babies.  You will be training them to climb into your lap...

Tight lines, loose women...

12
Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / Re: Elk 5/30
« on: May 28, 2010, 08:58:27 AM »
Starting to look like I may not be able to make it on Sunday due to family holiday blackmail.  Can you believe they want to do something "together as a family" other than watch me launch, capsize, gather spilled gear, launch again, then paddle out of sight for several hours, freezing their little tushies, until I ride a wave back in, capsize, gather gear and fish bag, recapture kayak then suggest they haul kayak up the hill while I change out of wetsuit?

Sheesh!  If this isn't "together as a family" what is?

Shucks, another time, I hope.

Tight lines, loose women...

13
Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / Re: Elk 5/30
« on: May 25, 2010, 03:39:20 PM »
Hope to join you all this Sunday.

To launch, park in the lot directly across from the Elk Store.  The trail down heads straight out, turns left and goes on down.  Almost to the bottom there is a lip and dip on your right for the trail on out to the beach.  As you get closer, there's often a pretty good washout where Greenwood Creek cuts into the bank.  I guess if you fall in, you can just paddle on out.

After a bit the trail peters out and you climb up over a little ridge then on down to the beach.  This is where those pricey Wheeleez earn their pay.  Usually the calmer water to launch is over to your right in the cove, but if you go too far right you run into some reefy rocks.

Fishing is good to spectacular both to your right and your left.  Because of the prevailing NW afternoon winds (and my general laziness) I like to paddle north to fish and let the waves give me a free ride back home when I'm done.  I think you'll find that landing even in pretty good swells is not too bad if you watch for the rhythm of the waves and agressively paddle yourself in during the lull.

Hope to see you all between 8 and 9...

Tight lines, loose women...

14
Great photos--those sunnies and crappies are great eating--and great practice to hone your filleting skills!

I trolled around the NE shore and up and down the channel for stripers without a nudge or nip Saturday a week ago.  Saw some awesome schools of basking carp--I would say up to 40 inches and over 20 pounds.  Talked with a yakker who fishes for them with light tackle, a black crappie jig baited with corn.  Said he hooks up pretty regularly.  (I have tried pretty much everything in my box without success...)

Not much to offer on preparing the carp for the table.  They are usually classified as trash fish and condemned for stirring up the bottom sediment and eating spawning eggs from nests of game fish.  But local Hispanics angle agressively for them for dinner and they do feature in European and Oriental cuisine.  I myself have eaten carp just once as Szechuan hot and sour fish and it was mighty tasty--but with the garlic, hot pepers & vinegar, gym shoes would probably have been mighty tasty too.  A friend says bleed them from the gills and the tail right after catch, then soak in milk after gutting 7 scaling.  Don't bother filleting because you will never get all the bones out.  Just figure on picking them out after it's cooked.

Tight lines, loose women...

15
I totally agree about the crab trap gear hassle.  These little boats get crowded pretty quick and I seem to be able to whack my knuckles or rip a fingernail on almost anything remotely in the way of paddling.  So I have cut back to just 1 trap, bait it & set it all up before I go out and place it first thing.  Everything's out of the way then for the day's fishing or diving fun.  Pick it up on the way back and sort through your catch.  Toss any uneaten bait unless you have a pet buzzard at home.

I am a novice at trapping so I always try to ask someone knowledgable about where and how deep to drop the trap.  (BTW, a good idea to mark the location on your GPS).  Most of the time I get good advice and there's nothing like fresh crab to share.

Tight lines & loose women...

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