Fort Bragg PB trip

Went to Bragg today to try and get an early salmon and crab.  I also had some new folding crab gear for the yak that I have been wanting to try so I thru that in the boat too.

Crabbing was good we graded down to two fat limits after about three hours.  Folding yak gear worked excellent.  Salmon trolling was impossible with the 8 zillion big jellies fowling the heck out of everything.

As we trolled we found a small isolated pinacle we had never seen before.  Thought we'd try and fish around it for a but.  Caught some nice rockies, including a GIANT vermillion that was hard to throw back.  

On about the fifth drop my buddy gets snagged.  He passes me the rod so he can back the boat around and see if we can get it back.  I am reeling as we back and when we are over it I kept trying to free up some slack so I can try and hammer it free but it won't really go slack.  Try a few angles and its weird.  Then the snag start taking line....WOOO FAWKIN HOO...this big weight is alive!  

Within a few minutes I am about to be spooled so we are backing the Whaler down on this thing, but the noodly salmon rod is not giving me any real mojo on this heavy thing.  30-40 minutes later it is gets tired and I am gaining line slowly but surely and the the spool is almost full.  We are looking over the side for the first sign of color...plink...broke offfff!  AAARRGHHHH!

We will never know what in the heck it was, but damn it was heavy.  The pinnacle has been waypointed and we will return!  As disappointing as it was, the drama livened up a day of crabbing.  The entire way home we were plotting our revenge.

Other cool things included a big pod of Orcas, a first for me.  Truely badass looking animal.

Thats awesome man.  Do you launch from the harbor?  We go camping at MacKerricher state park love it there.  BTW which folding crab traps did you use? I have been checkin em out.

                      Travis

Dawson-we launch at Noyo and and run north to 10 mile, which is the beach just north of MacKerricher.  My buddies PB is awesome, so it doesnt take long.  We did over 30 knots on a 10 foot swell yesterday.

The traps I got are these...

They are different than most pop up style.  The afold up really small but turn into a 30" round trap.  The biggest difference though is the entrance size.  Most pop up style have small gates, these are almost 9" inches.

 We did over 30 knots on a 10 foot swell yesterday.

  Holy crap!!! You guys are animals. What kinda boat is it?

Captain Ron's boat is a 21 foot Boston Whaler Ventura.  It is the Outrage hull, with a side console layout.  On a day like yesterday with a long period there's nothing hardcore about it.  His boat rides incredible.  We were standing up, drinking beers, and watching the rain pour off of the full canvas, while we were nice and cozy.  It has a dive ladder, step through transom, live well, potty, and on and on.  All it takes is 50K and a wife that is more "understanding" than most.

Drool...

I hear that some giant squid have been caught up your way. Maybe???? thats what you had.  Anyway I liked the story I can feel the adrenaline pumping.

Sean,
     Where did you get those crab traps?

Speaking of fishing I sent diving this weekend at Monterey and almost ended up on the other isde of the hook!  I'm pretty sure the guy cast at me since I had a marker up and the line ended up between my legs (I was horizontal).  

Ben

Ya...Sean... where did you get your cool traps with the 9" openings?

You know I'm a fan of collapsible traps.  They just make good sense when you're crabbin on kayaks.  I'm sure they're not as durable as the popular Danielson box traps, but collapsibles cost less and you can haul more.  In the end, you'll catch more crabs for your money.

I got em here...http://www.seamar.com/sport_traps.html

Ben-Yikes!  Never been hooked, but i have had run ins with old line and it can be un-nerving.