2/17 Salmon at Shelter Cove

Heard the bite was on for mostly small kings in the 20-22" range with one 20#er taken.  I had some business to do down that way so I threw the boat in the truck and hoped for a nice enough ocean to justify a solo-trip.  Got my business done and hit the boat ramp at 4PM.  Before I headed down the hill I talked to a PB'er at the cleaning table with 2 of the scrawniest looking "legal" kings I've ever seen--looked like half-pounder steelhead!  But that and the relatively calm ocean were enough to encourage me to go for it.  I headed out at 4:10.  As I approached the bell buoy at 4:30 I hooked up--running a banana weight a few feet ahead of a flasher and then a double-hook rig with an anchovy.  I was excited to have a fish on, but I figured it must be a little snapper or something because it didn't fight much at all.  Well it and I were surprised when we looked at each other boatside!  It was a little king that had basically swam in with my reeling action, and when I reached for my net it shook its head, turned, and was gone.  I was stoked.  I re-baited and got to trolling again.  The seals on the bell buoy were barking, but I won that vocal-duel!  You can't out-bark a solo kayaker who just had a king to the boat!     I trolled another hour--went halfway out to the whistler buoy and finally as I was about to head in I hooked up again right by the bell buoy like before (we know where I'll be fishing next time!).  I didn't get this one to the boat, but I'm sure it was a salmon--I wasn't near the bottom and bait was popping here and there.  Having a fish on that close to sunset can be dangerous--I wanted to spend the night!  I knew though that I had to get home for the Survivor premier, so I bailed.  Great time.  Two different times dolphins cruised by me, but the camera was stowed in the bag.  Can't wait for flat water to return...

Thanks for the report Abking!
Read an article about Shelter Cove in Pacific Coast Sportfishing - a virtual untouched fishing paradise. As I recall, there's an area w/ HUGE lings just waiting for you. Hope to make it there one of these days.

Eric-How far of a paddle is that?  How far offshore?  Sounds super fun.

Sean, it's so close to shore, that it's making me crazy!  It's about a 1/2 mile paddle south-south-west out of the harbor to the bell buoy, and the whistler is probably 3/4 to close to a mile due west of there.  I paddled out solo at 4:10 and hooked up very near the bell at 4:30--that included baiting up and putting my line out 40-50 pulls.  The key is the fishable water--it's been sketchy lately and is right now again...  When I called you for Tuesday it sounded like it was going to be sweet, but it did 't pan out--same thing the next day...   Then Thursday I saw it coming together weather-wise and heard a powerboat report of a good bite, so I did my business really quickly and went for it.  The bite was good--I wish I'd had more time.  It got huge Friday, and I think it's been pretty gnarly again today.  I was hoping to hit it againt tomorrow based on the report earlier this week, but now it sounds like it'll be nasty.  I'll call you if it shapes up.

I am in if the stars align.  What were you dragging?