Patricks Point and Trinidad - 6/10 thru 6/14

After months of being off the water, Michelle, her parents, two dogs and I headed north to Humbodlt county in search of campfires, beaches, hiking, fishing and diving.

Thursday: We loaded the fish'n'dive on her parents civic and a maurader, tarpon and prowler on my truck and packed the bed and campershell to the roof. At the last minute had to toss some of the extra rods out due to lack of space. I had to make a quick stop at the freediveshop in West Sac to pick up a pair of dive socks because my old ones were MIA. While there I picked up a 10" guage because I figured I might need it.

After driving ALL day and VERY nearly running out of gas once..... we arrive at our intended campground....Big Lagoon county park ($18/night). We were pushing dark but we could see that the recent rains had turned everything in to a muddy mess. Not wanting to be knee deep in mud we drove back down 101 to Patricks Point ($35/night). Thankfully they were a couple sites left open and much less muddy. Camp went up in record time.
 
Friday:   Awoke to an angry ocean. The wind was kicking and the swell was rolling through. There would be no kayaking or diving today. We hiked the trails around the park and had great time climbing on the rocks.

Saturday : Awoke to a much better day. The wind was very light and the swell was with in reason. We ate some danishes and granola for breakfast. Drive the 5.3 miles to Trinidad. Awesome launch! Parked on the beach and unloaded and rigged the 4 kayaks. Michelle and her parents paddled on to the ocean for the first time. I suited up in my dive gear and headed out. Michelle and her dad were going to fish but they didn't feel comfortable outside the protected waters of the harbor. I paddled over to the north of the harbor as to not be far away from them and dove just inside of the Trinidad point. It was like a massive wall going down 15 - 30'. The water was cold and there were no abs to be seen. After I got to dive for about thirty minutes I checked in with Michelle on the radio and they were nervous with out me being it was the big ocean (harbor area) so I paddled back over to them ending my great north dive trip. I did see a couple small fish but didn't spear anything. Michelle tried to fish on the inside of the harbor in about 20' of water and lost one mega bait jig on a snag. 

Sunday : Wind was back.    There would be no second chance to dive on less pressured areas. Packed camp and drove home along 101. We stopped in Garberville for lunch and I enjoyed a strawberry waffle OVERLOADED with wip cream.  Pulled in to the drive way around 7 PM and unpacked and washed gear down.

The end for now.....

I would also like to thank the guys that tried to get in touch with me but my cell was out of service up north. I'll be back to prove myself against the north coast.

-Brian G

Right on Brian. Way to get the family out! You da man. I like it when I get to use all my gear, kayak, fishing, camping, and so on.

Good effort Brian!

Everyone went to the Klamath this weekend as the ocean wasn't playing nice. You were close to Freshwater lagoon, which has stocked rainbows and LMB.

We're all waiting on the big blue to let us in to play, we'll catch ya on the next trip
-Hawk

Well, some days are like that. As soon as I read "bought a 10 inch gauge" I thought "oh-oh, that sounds like too much like a banana hidden in a kayak hatch".

Well, you can't beat the country up there, the Humboldt coastline is beautiful.

It is good too hear that you didn't push the limits when the condition are not right. So many times you hear of people that feel even though they traveled so far they HAVE to get out in the water in any conditions. It seems that is always when things go wrong. Too bad the confdition weren't good this weekend but I'm sure they time spent with everyone was great fun.

The harbor paddle was worth bringing the yaks and very cool to dive such a verticle rock while that went so deep. I am thinking August for a repeat trip. On the drive home on the 101 I kept wishing I had set a day a side to do a float on the Eel too.


-Brian G

Thanks for the report Brian 
I'll be over there at the end of the month and hope the ocean cooperates for some rock fishing
Tad
 

that's alot of stuff.....you get an A+ for effort! 
and an F- for not posting a single picture 

Nice try Brian. I'm sure you'll do better at Albion. See you then buddy.

Jedmo

that's alot of stuff.....you get an A+ for effort! 
and an F- for not posting a single picture 

   

Way to go getting the family OTW - Trinidad Harbor is a great place to yak.  The diving and fishing potential is there if you head east from the launch...

You're right about the South Fork of the Eel - the fam and I did a trip from near Miranda down past Myers Flat Saturday, BBQing and swimming along the way.  The river will only be awesome like this for a few weeks.

Please post up when you're heading north again and hopefully we'll get some conditions worthy of getting out on the Blue.

 

In an effort to improve my grade with Adam.....

more......

and the rest of them. Do I get a better grade now?

FYI......real men dive in jeans and sweaters. Awaiting Mooch's response!


-Brian G

C'mon Bri!  Back in the day, we woulda swam in that.  Just b/c you're hella sprung doesn't mean you can get all soft   

Nice trip and report.  Looking forward to joining you guys soon