NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing Zone => Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) => Topic started by: LoletaEric on August 23, 2017, 10:56:28 AM
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Long report gives a good idea of what's up at the Cove right now.
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August 15th at Shelter Cove was the salmon re-opener - the season is on again!
Last Tuesday was a pretty crazy day at the Cove. There were several of us there who have been fishing for kings at the Cove for many years, and anticipation was high for the salmon bite since lately some big fatties have been hooked while rockfishing. With a small craft advisory up the seas out front were pretty nasty early. Throw in some pea-soup fog, and the conditions were challenging for sure. No sweat though - we know the place.
Domenic got on the water first right around 615, and I jammed out to meet him by the moorings. I figured the other guys would see us on the water, but the pea soup got thick out around the lighthouse corner. As Dom and I made our way out in front of Point Delgada the current was ripping hard - very soon we were heading toward Abalone Point on a natural tramway going about 2 knots.
We got away from some clouds of black rockfish on the reef in front of The Tides, and soon we were on our target water. We worked any baitballs we saw, and any birds on the surface were definitely getting run over as we continued our quest for chrome.
David soon showed out of the fog, and as the three of us worked the inshore area we spread out a bit and the fog lifted some. Soon Dom and I were heading for the Whistle where we could now see Pete and his friend Tom. As we cruised along we heard David hollering at us from his Hobie a hundred yards behind us. When I looked back and saw that his net was in his lap it was apparent that David had scored on something good!
David had an 18 pound king in his lap! As happy as Dom and I were for him, we wanted ours!! We all three continued to work the area where David scored, and soon hours had passed - time is weird when you're in bloodthirsty killer mode...
About an hour and a half or two hours later we were again working our way to the outside, and Dom had just caught a wonderful surprise of a 32" California halibut when David is on a salmon again! I'm trying not to use too many exclamation points, but it's legit!
David boats his second hookup, another stout one at 15 pounds, and Dom and I are still trying to get a bite - that's how salmon fishing goes sometimes, and what was really cool is that David came into this day as the least experienced kayak salmon troller in our group. This is what's up though - David is now a veteran salmon troller!!
A few nice fish were lost over the next several hours, and Dom and I and all other yakkers at the Cove went on to get skunked for salmon but for one silver that I shook boatside around 1PM. David was gone by then, having wisely taken his limit ashore to process the meat and move on with his day. Uh, I mean "Day of Glory"... That ain't tongue in cheek either! I'm so stoked for my buddy, David the Super Salmon Samurai, and he worked his gear and the bite like a pro.
You don't always get the nice fish - doesn't matter who you are. I can live with that, and now my Need-A-Salmon meter is pegging in the red zone. I can handle that - it's a good problem to have.
Love this sport, and I look forward to getting my guests out there on some better water later this week.
Some nice Cali's still being caught, a thresher was played by LilRiverMan Kirk for 20 minutes, and the salmon are there if you have the right stuff that day. Get. On. It.
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Friday, August 18th - Shelter Cove with Ken:
- the NWS forecast for today went from "5 to 10 knots" yesterday to "15 to 25 knots with gusts to 30" at the 3AM update today... We went on to fish all day with no wind.
- slow to average early bite turned off almost completely for all species, but we scratched out a decent stringer of blacks and lings.
- with one likely shaker halibut hooked and lost and several short bites from salmon, the hot bite of the day was a thresher that jumped five or six times and hid under my boat before going on a strong run and cutting me off - here's a video clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsLU4kJfbLs
Ken's first time kayak fishing on the ocean went well - I look forward to a future trip, and, Ken, I'll stand behind my guarantee of a better bite next time we go!
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Saturday, August 19th at the Cove with Phil (who just got 3rd at Albion):
- once again, the National Weather Service issued a forecast of 15 to 25 knot winds with gusts to 35... We fished all day with no wind.
- the outside water was very rough, and the fog was thick.
- although we were fishing right where I wanted to be and very close to where an 18 to 20 pounder was boated, we didn't get any salmon bites.
- we picked up 5 species including a few nice keepers on the outside, and we had one hot thresher hookup on the inside.
Good Times, Phil - thanks for coming up from Woodland to check out the Cove with me.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvT1m2Q0PN0
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Tuesday, August 22nd at the Cove - with no guest to guide I hung out with my buddies and a pretty good powerboat fleet as most mooched for salmon out north of the Whistle. A good number of fish were caught overall, but the bite was far from hot. The previous day my friends Eric (Yakhopper) and Matt (Whiz) both got limits, so Monday was the hottest salmon bite of the year - hopefully to be eclipsed soon...
I managed to bag a nice king, and friends caught a few salmon, a few halibut, quite a few lingcod...etc. I've got some open dates in the next couple of weeks and look forward to getting someone on it - Go Cove!
:smt001
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Last two 8/15 pics and some from 8/18:
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8/19 - Phil's trip:
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Yesterday:
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Cove Special for NCKA members - Free GS11 Hoodie (XL or XXL) or T-shirt (availability of styles and sizes varies) with a guided trip this season. Call me up and we'll make a plan for going on your adventure. :smt001
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YEEESS!!!
All around awesomeness!!
Sweet Salmon Success!!!!
:smt007 :smt007 :smt007
Stoked that PK got some goodness as well!!!
:smt008
:smt006
Sincerely,
Jim
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Beautiful! Thanks for sharing this.
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Immersive report dude, I love it!
:smt006
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Sweeeet... Glad you guys are getting some!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Good stuff, E!
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Boom! Good to see a chromer report from ya Eric! Looks like the cove fishing is pretty darn good.
Thanks for sharing brother.
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Thanks for the report from paradise Eric :smt007 Life is good at Shelter Cove!
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Nice write up and report! 'glad the wait is over.
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You can't help but have a good time on the water with Eric. Keep us posted!
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Nice report Eric. Always look forward to reading what's happening up North. Thanks for sharing.
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Love reading your reports! and nice photos too!
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Nice read as always Eric. Thanks :smt003
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Looks like the cove is ON! Thanks for sharing, Eric. I need to get up there and see you.
Norm
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Great report! I won a 2 night stay at the Tides during the GS11 raffle. I'm thinking I need to take advantage of it while the bite is going on. When do you recommend Eric?
-Schills
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way to go Eric...glad salmon season is back for you guys. Can't wait to hit it next month and hopefully bag a 30 lbers to get Keith off my back lol j/k
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I had a great time and learned a TON. I'm actually glad the water was rough the day we went out...got some rough water experience and now I know what to expect. If anybody wants to up their game and improve, definately head up the the cove and head out with Eric. You won't be disappointed!
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When do you recommend Eric?
Soon.
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I had a great time and learned a TON. I'm actually glad the water was rough the day we went out...got some rough water experience and now I know what to expect. If anybody wants to up their game and improve, definately head up the the cove and head out with Eric. You won't be disappointed!
Thx, Phil. :smt001
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Great report
I love the variety of fish in the bag. You do a great job of inspiring myself and many.
jim
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Another great report, good times
One of these days we will get a chance to fish together
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Great Report man. Glad you guys were able to bag what you aimed for.
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One of these days we will get a chance to fish together
+1, buddy. :smt001
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Thanks for sharing a view of the Cove...that place is sacred waters for many. Great seeing your posts,
D