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31

Places to Launch and Camp / Re: Checked out Capitola wharf and beach

« on: May 04, 2024, 11:47:41 AM »

Quote from: tedski on May 04, 2024, 09:15:38 AM

Quote from: SpeedyStein on May 03, 2024, 08:12:04 PM
Any idea when they are supposed to finish the repairs?

The project's site says "through 2024." So, they should be finished by 2028 or so.

Ha, sounds about right.

32

Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / Re: Lost Coast - 5/3/24

« on: May 04, 2024, 11:33:54 AM »

Looks like a great day out there! Nice work!

33

CA Regulations / Re: Mussel Fee Stickers for Boats

« on: May 04, 2024, 07:15:26 AM »

Quote from: AlsHobieOutback on May 04, 2024, 06:32:00 AM

just another fee

Yup. When I realized I needed this for my little tin boat, I thought there was some sort of inspection required. Nope. Literally just pay the $12 or whatever and they mail you a sticker.

34

Places to Launch and Camp / Re: Checked out Capitola wharf and beach

« on: May 03, 2024, 08:12:04 PM »

Bummer we can't launch there right now, but super glad they are fixing the pier. Only been there a few times, but always had a good time in Capitola.

Any idea when they are supposed to finish the repairs?

35

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

« on: May 01, 2024, 04:48:23 PM »

Thanks everyone for the robust discussion! Some great info and data points here. I feel good about my plan for descending a rockfish, but still hoping I won't need to.

I'm looking forward to a break in the wind to get out there to my favorite spot and catch some fish!

36

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

« on: May 01, 2024, 07:37:00 AM »

Quote from: polepole on May 01, 2024, 07:25:38 AM

Quote from: SpeedyStein on April 30, 2024, 08:24:57 PM
My DIY descending device. I had some heavy stainless wire leftover from another project. Copied the rough shape of the Shelton device. Will probably find some heavy duty carabiners for the top and bottom to make hooking it up easier.

I'm on the fence about a handline or just a stiff rod to lower it down. Would be nice to have a reel to crank it back up, but I mostly fish less than 100ft, so a few pounds of lead on a handline a couple times per trip isn't a big deal either. Probably easier than pulling hoop nets full of crab, haha. Will think on it for a bit.

I just snell a thin wire barbless hook on backwards on the line above a weight.

-Allen

This is the most common sense solution I've seen yet.

37

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

« on: May 01, 2024, 07:35:19 AM »

Quote from: fishbushing on April 30, 2024, 09:02:38 PM

Quote from: SpeedyStein on April 30, 2024, 08:24:57 PM
My DIY descending device. I had some heavy stainless wire leftover from another project. Copied the rough shape of the Shelton device. Will probably find some heavy duty carabiners for the top and bottom to make hooking it up easier.

I'm on the fence about a handline or just a stiff rod to lower it down. Would be nice to have a reel to crank it back up, but I mostly fish less than 100ft, so a few pounds of lead on a handline a couple times per trip isn't a big deal either. Probably easier than pulling hoop nets full of crab, haha. Will think on it for a bit.

The wire doesn't look stiff enough and probably will give you some issue decending a medium to large yellow or cowcod IMO.

It's 2mm stainless, and I work hardened it a little. The "lip" arm does deflect a little, but I don't think it will be a problem. If in practice I have any issues, I will look into other methods.

38

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

« on: April 30, 2024, 08:24:57 PM »

My DIY descending device. I had some heavy stainless wire leftover from another project. Copied the rough shape of the Shelton device. Will probably find some heavy duty carabiners for the top and bottom to make hooking it up easier.

I'm on the fence about a handline or just a stiff rod to lower it down. Would be nice to have a reel to crank it back up, but I mostly fish less than 100ft, so a few pounds of lead on a handline a couple times per trip isn't a big deal either. Probably easier than pulling hoop nets full of crab, haha. Will think on it for a bit.

39

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

« on: April 30, 2024, 07:09:37 PM »

Quote from: polepole on April 30, 2024, 07:03:07 PM

Quote from: Clayman on April 30, 2024, 06:06:53 PM
I pulled up this 28" yelloweye from 120 ft. I had to keep adding weights to the descender. It took over four pounds of lead to finally descend her. Since then, I pack a 5 lb lead ball with me and it works 100% of the time.

Barotrauma varies with each individual fish. Some come up bloated, others seem to swim back down on their own. Yelloweye seem to suffer barotrauma the most frequently, even when reeled up from 90-100 ft. Reeling them up slowly will not make a difference. Rockfish have a physoclistous swim bladder. The gas exchange occurs via the bloodstream.

Pack a 5 lb lead ball with you, and you'll be set. Pack less at your own/the fish's risk.

This. And, descend all rockfish you are releasing, whether it appears like it needs to or not. It’s best for ALL fish.

-Allen

For sure, just making sure I am prepared.

40

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

« on: April 30, 2024, 07:09:07 PM »

Quote from: Sailfish on April 30, 2024, 05:22:50 PM

Hi Kevin,

I caught and released this Verm in 130 fow.

Good data point, thanks Sonny.

Quote from: FishingAddict on April 30, 2024, 06:24:09 PM

It took 4 lbs to descend a Yellow Eye. It wasnt that big, maybe 5 to 6 lbs. I use 1 lb weights and put the biggest snap on my descender to put all the weights together.

I like the idea of using a big snap and multiple weights for different fish situations.

Quote from: AlsHobieOutback on April 30, 2024, 06:44:37 PM

I have a 2.5lb fin weight I'm going to use, it has a snap at the very end of the fin to attach your dr release clip so I'll point it straight down. At the moment I plan on using a hand-line to descend, but I'm more than tempted to use my DR, which seems like it would be easy to control on descent and retrieve.

Ah, I forgot about the eye on the fin. Good call using handline - seems simple and easy to carry. I'm thinking about maybe 100ft of paracord should do the trick.

41

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

« on: April 30, 2024, 05:03:28 PM »

Quote from: Sailfish on April 30, 2024, 04:49:01 PM

I was able to safely released this nice Verm with a 2 lbs weight recently.

Nice, thanks for a reference. How deep did you go?

Quote from: Sea-bree on April 30, 2024, 04:52:06 PM

Having not descended many fish personally, I’m surprised that so much weight is necessary. Will the buoyancy of the fish make descending with, for example, a 12 oz weight too slow, ineffective…

I've never used a descending device, so don't really have a good reference for how much is needed to safely get them down. I would say about 95% of my fishing is in less than 70ft, so sending a rockfish down that deep probably isn't quite the challenge as say 200ft or more.

Also, are people using a rod and reel for this, or some other sort of device?

42

General Fishing Tips / Descender Weight

« on: April 30, 2024, 04:40:07 PM »

Considering what to use for a descender weight.

I do have a 4lb downrigger ball, but it is fin shaped, not round.

I also have several 1lb cannonball weights. Was considering melting a few of those together. Not sure the best way to go about that though. I think 3lbs would be plenty, but could do a 4 or 5 lb.

Or, I could just string them together, and not bother melting anything.

What is everyone else doing for this?

43

Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Re: Sale @ West Marine in Antioch

« on: April 30, 2024, 03:32:29 PM »

Popped in today. The sale carts were a bit of a mess. Some of the items in the cart were labeled normal pieces lower than the cart, haha. But, some good deals were there too.

I grabbed a couple heavy jig heads for $3 each and a big Cordell cotton pencil popper for $3.

44

Craftsmen's Corner / Re: Hull Protection

« on: April 29, 2024, 09:16:05 PM »

Well, finally got around to patching the rough spots on my hull. It was pretty easy, and I spent less than an hour total.

I basically just melted milk jugs into the spots of concern.

First, I sanded the area a little to knock down the high spots and get the rest of the jb weld off. I used a propane torch and a metal paint scraper for the application. Very lightly heat the hull, place a layer of plastic, heat up the scraper and press. It gets really sticky, then at a certain temp it gets pliable and workable. Spread it around, while heating a little as needed, and smoothing the edges.

Overall, it was pretty easy, and I feel good about it. I did about 4 layers of milk jug in 3 different spots that scraped. I think I built it up around 3/16" or so, which I think should keep me in good shape for a while.

Before and after pics below:

45

Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Re: Sale @ West Marine in Antioch

« on: April 29, 2024, 07:52:15 PM »

Ooo, thanks for posting this - might have to go check it out tomorrow

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Messages - SpeedyStein

Places to Launch and Camp / Re: Checked out Capitola wharf and beach

Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) / Re: Lost Coast - 5/3/24

CA Regulations / Re: Mussel Fee Stickers for Boats

Places to Launch and Camp / Re: Checked out Capitola wharf and beach

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight

General Fishing Tips / Descender Weight

Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Re: Sale @ West Marine in Antioch

Craftsmen's Corner / Re: Hull Protection

Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Re: Sale @ West Marine in Antioch