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Topics - Code3

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1
Thinking about hitting SC this Thursday for some RF, lings, and things.  Anybody else considering?  🤙

2
Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / HMB 9/20?
« on: September 19, 2022, 08:34:09 AM »
Anybody else considering HMB 9/20?  Swell and tides look decent…

—Aaron

3
Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / Found Radio HMB 9/14
« on: September 15, 2022, 08:48:22 AM »
I found a VHF radio yesterday (9/14/22) at Half Moon Bay behind the kayak shop.  PM if you lost your radio.

--Aaron

4
Arrived at 0600 and loaded the kayak alongside my retired friend James.  James hits the open ocean and bay at least once a week and keeping up with his catch #s is near impossible.  Fishing is his hobby, passion, and then some…. I can only hope to hit the water as much one day…. Unfortunately James is still not on NCKA…

Off we ventured to some proven grounds.  Sunny, gorgeous day with a gentle breeze in the early hours.  Boats, several other kayakers, and the water was still flowing out of the bay.  Negative tide at 0930.

Had a mixed bag o bait with one tray of herring and one large tray of anchovies.  Used the herring at the beginning and began catching fish.  First fish was 21.5” and the next was 20”.  Damn I thought for sure they were keepers.  Peeling line, felt sort of heavy, but a no go.

James’ first fish was 24”.  Boom not wasting anytime with his flasher and hoochie set up.  Then James finally started catching some small shakers, as did I.  James eventually hooked into “something bigger” and gently played it to the surface.  29”…!  Clearly he’s got the hot hand…

I continued fishing both herring and anchovies and caught some trout sized halibut.  We’ve all been skunked… but I was glad to have gone out and watched James land a pair of nice fish.  Fishing continues…

Around 1030 the water turned to a lake.  Incoming tide now and I tied on a large anchovy.  I was fishing alongside James and I saw “the nibble”… then the rod bent over and stayed down.  Set the hook and knew I had something decent on.  It peeled line at the beginning and then turned into the wet doormat.  Slowly worked it up hoping it was not going to be a big ray.  When the fish came into view I was pleased it was the right species!  Nice looking butt alongside my kayak.  Grabbed the gaff… slowly worked him alongside…. Began making a left turn and wham!… scored a fair gaff shot that was enough to stun him.  Clipped him, bonked him, bled him…. 32” on the boat.

We caught a few more shakers and called it around noon.  It was still calm when we pedaled in.  Spoke with a couple other kayakers in the lot and all said they only caught shakers.  Slow day for the most part, but worth the effort.

5
Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / OP Rpt 3/31/2022..
« on: March 31, 2022, 04:01:43 PM »
Headed back to Oyster Point bright and early with Nhia, Snarcbite, and James.  Wind was forecast to be calm and high tide was around 12:30pm.  Fish finder gave me an issue in the parking lot, but the loose battery wire sticking out was a hint.  Problem solved...

We were on the water by 0700 and headed to some marks.  Trolling herring at various speeds, the others starting catching shakers.  Marked some bait, but the birds were not diving and the water was a little more murky than I'd prefer.  Handful of boats out and I saw one other kayaker besides our team of 4.

Finally around 1030, I got a nice hit and began playing the fish.  It initially felt like a shaker, but then it started peeling line.  Could it actually be a keeper?...  I had to pull the fish up a couple of inches just below the surface due to the poor water clarity.  Looked big enough?!  I think?!...  :smt003 not a gaffing fish...  used the rubber net.  24"!

Continued fishing and was already dreaming about using the new pellet grill to smoke the halibut next week.  About an hour later, the rod bent over and simply stayed down.  Fish?...  Grabbed the rod and just held it.  Yeah... something was swimming with me.  Set the hook and once again figured it was a shaker  :smt009. And as I reeled the fish decided to pull some line...  and then a little more line for good measure.  :smt044. Got it up to the side... peered... peered some more, and decided to use the net.  23"!   :smt044

Wind picked up around 1330 as we were in the lot already loading up the yaks.  Good day OTW with friends and cannot wait for the coming RF and salmon season  :smt004.

6
Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / SC 7/22/21 rpt...
« on: July 22, 2021, 05:19:54 PM »
Headed 2 Santa Cruz planning to meet up with Rich and try for some halibut.  Arrived early and had the pleasure of meeting Fishbushing, and soon after FuzzyTom.  Tom trolled for salmon... and I must say... I was a little jealous.  I think he had the right idea, but I was planning for a nice butt if one would be foolish enough to bite.  TBC re: salmon ?!

Hit the water with the boys little before 7.  Rich hooked up a 22" halibut, but tossed it back hoping for something bigger.  Fishbushing caught a handful of nice RF, but like me, struck out on the Hali... 

Lotta bait and birds were diving.  Used the sabaki to my advantage and caught smelt, and a lot of anchovies...  I sank the smelt which yielded a nice 30" blue ling.  Eventually hooked a vermillion and a couple of nice blacks.  Decided to keep some of the "bigger" RF and filleted them hours later.

Santa Cruz is starting to feel kind of "salmon-eee".  :smt002.   I will be back...  :smt006

7
Arrived at the harbor around 0600 and said hello to Mr. Matt, and eventually Tote (OTW).  Also talked with "Rich" in the parking lot as he was setting up his yak and gear.  I was out of the harbor around 0645 and making my way to the fishing grounds.  On the way out there were some bait balls that I tried to sabiki up with zero success.  The bait fish were just too small and were not interested in the sabiki rig.

Had a 3lb box of squid with me from 99 Ranch along with the usual swimbaits.  When I reached some past proven grounds, I dropped down and began fishing.  Caught a handful of RF that were on the small side and all were tossed back.  Eventually hooked a 20" brown ling that was quickly measured and released.

Weather stayed calm with minimal drift and clouds.  Not much wind which is always a good thing for me in Santa Cruz.  Continued feeding the small RF and occasional croaker with squid.  Rich hooked a nice 25" ling and I was starting to think this was going to be another day where I should have kept some RF for tacos  :smt009

Sank a croaker for about 30 minutes and caught a 15-18" ling.  It was about 10:30am and I was running out of squid.  I grabbed a tiny squid that was sort of a last resort and tied it on.  Figured I'd be once again feeding some small trash fish, or tiny RF.....

After I touched bottom with my drift ball, I began slowly trolling...  Within a couple of minutes, my rod bent over while I was holding it.  I set the hook and tried to reel, but I couldn't.  I felt some hard slams and figured this was going to be a good fish.  I continued trying to reel, but simply could not gain any line.  I muscled the fish off the bottom and felt the head shakes.  This was a halibut... but how big?  I continued trying to move the fish upward, but it took forever, or what felt like forever...

When I saw the fish it had its' head up and I couldn't see the whole body.  It briefly flattened out and I soon realized it was F-ing Huge!!!  :smt007. I had trouble pulling the fish towards my kayak after it had tired out.  It was simply just too heavy.  I eventually had to hold my rod with my right hand near the tip and begin slowly pedaling.  I eventually flattened out the fish and hit it as hard and I could (from below) with my gaff.  The gaff stuck, but of course did not go through the fish.  I pulled it partially onto my yak and stuck my left hand into the gills and held on.

Rich was nearby, saw the fish, and quickly asked what he could do to help.  Rich grabbed my fish clip (which I could not access at the time) and I was able to lock him in.  Bonked him, bled him, in the boat!  Booyah!!!  The fish eventually began "going crazy" and the fish clip point slashed my left palm while I was holding on.  Neosporin time I suppose...  The fish obviously was not fitting in my fish bag and there was no point in continuing to fish... Have a feeling the wife is going to be somewhat perturbed when she realizes there's no more freezer room available.

Headed into the harbor and met up with the man, the myth, the legend,... Bushy.  :smt007. After unsuccessfully trying to convince Bushy to allow me to fish with him, I headed over to the bait shop for an official weight on the slob......

39.9lbs, 43.5".   :smt004




8
Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / OP Rpt 6/16/21...
« on: June 16, 2021, 04:51:49 PM »
Landed at OP w/ Mark at around 5am and we loaded our gear.  We hit the water a little before 0600 and were greeted with calm waters, no wind, and a beautiful sunrise.  Off we pedaled to a few proven marks...

Mark fished herring while I stayed with chovies...  At around 0800 Ruben arrived on the scene and we continued fishing our respected lanes.  Not a lot of boats out, couple other kayakers, and the weather remained perfect all the way until about 1230.  Outgoing tide until around 1230, but you never know.  My buddy Kayak Kenny killed it a couple weeks ago on an outgoing tide...

Mark landed a nice 24.5" halibut and made a sweet gaff shot stunning the fish into submission.  Ruben and I "fed the fish" and must have landed 12-15 shakers a piece.  I had my shot and hooked into something decent that was peeling line.  Brought him to the surface and he was around 26-28".  Got the gaff ready, pulling the fish towards me, about to gaff him and the fish decided to make one last run.  Chaffed line, multiple shakers prior, and the razor sharp teeth cut the line.  Fish gone.  SOL   :smt010

Wind picked up around 1300 , but we were done.  I was out of bait (20 tray anchovy) by then as well...  Glad at least one of us hooked a keeper  :smt006.

9
Landed at Oyster Point at 0530 and met up with Snarcbite and Kayak Kenny.  The sun was slowly starting to rise as we loaded our yaks and double-checked the gear.  I was surprised at the moderate amount of boaters and handful of kayakers that eventually showed up.  We expected much more...  There was no wind and the water looked calm.  It was going to be a warm day, but would it be fruitful...?

We hit the water little past 6 and headed to some marks about a mile out.  I soon caught a shaker, a shaker of many, maybe too many?!...  But a fish nevertheless.  We continued slow trolling against the outgoing tide varying our speeds and direction.

Kayak Kenny soon caught his first keeper halibut, 29".  Ken continued catching fish and by about 1000hrs Ken had his limit, clearly schooling myself and Snarcbite.  It was Kayak Kenny's day and then some.  Good  thing we were on the water because he was literally on fire...  :smt002

Snarcbite caught a nice 31" butt and I continued to struggle catching nothing but fish well below the 20" mark.  I eventually started following Ken, who told me not to worry and that he would give me one of his fish.  But I wanted my own, a fish I hooked, a fish I played, a fish I gaffed, a fish THAT I CAUGHT!  :smt013

At about 1100hrs, I got lucky and found a fish foolish enough to eye my bait and take a bite.  I landed my 26" halibut... smallest of all the fish... but MINE!  :smt044.  The fan turned on and the wind blew us off by 1130hrs.

Kayak Kenny still gifted me one of his 3 fish and I happily accepted.  I'll be smoking these 2 halibut along with the last pack of 2020 salmon in the very near future.  Kayak Kenny is the guy in most of the pics... he deserves the spot light today no doubt  :smt006

10
Finally got to fish with my friend Ken aka "Kayak Kenny" at Oyster Point this morning.  We landed at 0530, loaded, and hit the water at 0630.  Little windy in the beginning, but an absolutely beautiful day.  As the hours passed, the wind died and the water turned into a lake.  Low tide after 0700 and I figured we might start catching shortly thereafter.  Not to be.  Our first shakers started happening at around 0830 or so. 

At around 0900 we were steadily catching shakers and I hooked a nice 25" fish.  Minutes later I hooked into a halibut well over 30", but I lost it at the boat.  Rather frustrating to say the least when a fish is strong enough to shake the gaff, and then snap your leader...  but that's fishing...  :smt010

At around 0930 the bite was on.  We were catching multiple shakers and I finally caught my final fish... 29".  The bay can be productive no doubt...  but I still prefer the open ocean waters of Santa Cruz.   :smt006. My 2 cents anyways...

11
Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / SC rpt 5/6...
« on: May 06, 2021, 04:39:15 PM »
Arrived early enough and met up with Mark.  No action shots this time because I left the cell phone in the car.  Don't worry, it was super safe in its' water proof container resting on the floorboard.

Once loaded and ready to go we headed out of the harbor and were OTW by about 7am.  There were a few boats out and overcast conditions in the morning.  Little chilly for the first few hours.  Out we pedaled to a few proven marks and trolled/drifted squid, herring, and anchovy.  We marked some bait balls and did see some birds diving.  Santa Cruz is slowly coming alive no doubt....

We had a steady day of fishing and eventually headed to the mile buoy.  99.9% sure we saw NoWhereMan in his sailing AI  a good 1/2k further out.  We fished the mile buoy and at about 12pm the wind picked up.  We figured we'd troll in, but within 5-10 minutes that plan abruptly changed.  It was time to reel up and simply head in for safety's sake.  It was a blast spending time with a friend who enjoys ocean fishing probably more than I do...   

We ended the day with 3 halibut (2 - 28" and 1 - 27") and a handful of rockfish.  Day well spent  :smt004

12
Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / LM 4/28
« on: April 26, 2021, 10:59:12 AM »
Disregard original HMB post.  Heading 2 LM...

13
Planning to hit OP tomorrow 3/17 and troll for halibut.  The bay is new to me, as I do most of my fishing in the ocean.  Company welcome, channel 69.

Aaron

14
10/15/2019  Half Moon Bay;

Arrived early and briefly met "Ray" in the parking lot while he was loading up his yellow Hobie kayak in record time.  We both launched at about 6:45am and started fishing.  Slow initial start... about 5 kayakers on the water... maybe 8-10 boaters... Water was calm and the fog hid the sun allowing me to forego the sunscreen for once...

Ray soon caught his first, and then a second.  Both reportedly 30" or better.  I saw em on his stringer and they did look decent.  I headed to the green can, 30 fow, watermelon apex, and hooked up good.  15 minute fight, multiple jumps, spun me in my kayak, and soon realized that my net (although big), was not big enough.  Luckily the fish was hooked deep in his bottom lip.....

I flagged down fellow kayaker "James" over since James had a HUGE net.  Told him my net was too small for the fish I was fighting and James jumped into action...  James saved the day and scooped up the salmon on the second try.  Thanks James (wish he was on NCKA... he's not... not yet...)  I would not have landed this fish with the "large" net I was using.  (tried twice and it was a joke)...

Anyways... it got cold as the day went on.  Wind picked up and I called it at about 11:30am or so.
Ran into "pigcoke" OTW as well.  Pigcoke unfortunately lost 2 nice fish right at the boat....  :smt013

32"  15lbs  watermelon apex

I can't wait for crab season to open!!!.....

--Aaron


15
Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / HKUP 10/15 HMB
« on: October 14, 2019, 08:40:10 AM »
Weather looks good for HMB tomorrow.  Be there bright and early launching around 7am.  Channel 69

Aaron

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