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Messages - PelagicPredator

Pages: [1] 2
1
Wanted To Buy / WTB: Rhino Rack T-Load
« on: May 27, 2024, 11:21:22 AM »
Looking to buy a rhino rack t-load aka t-loader. Will pay cash. My schedule is wide-open, so I can make this as hassle free as possible.

Noah

2
General Fishing Tips / ideal herring size for bait?
« on: January 21, 2023, 09:21:47 PM »
I've seen some videos on herring fishing, and they have suggested there are ideal sizes of herring for different target species, and they throw back ones that are too large (or small, I suppose).

Since I don't want to use good sized fish bait for crab bait, what are the ideal sizes for the different target fish?
Salmon, halibut, rockfish, lingcod?

3
Kayak Sailing / what cart do you have for your AI? Fully rigged?
« on: March 20, 2021, 05:01:30 PM »
I'm trying to make the loading/unloading process more streamlined. I can't use a trailer.

Do you move the entire AI, with akas & amas from car to launch site, or do it in stages? Do you put all your fishing gear, seat, etc on, then move it to launch site? Or do that part separately?

I have a basic kayak cart for my AI, which I don't think will handle the fully rigged kayak. I found the kayak would rotate on the wheels sometimes, so I zip-tied on some PVC pipe wrapped in pool noodle parallel to the kayak to support it. That helped quite a bit.

I was thinking that something like the Wilderness Systems kayak cart - https://www.rei.com/product/155034/wilderness-systems-heavy-duty-kayak-cart-with-no-flat-wheels might be able to handle kayak + amas + akas + sail + fishing gear.

Any other cart suggestions? Any suggestions to make the load/unload/rigging process faster?

4
Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Re: Noob needs rod/reel advice
« on: March 12, 2021, 12:26:21 PM »
So I ended up going with a Trevala TVC70ML -- it seems well loved in the community for being a great all-species rod. I also don't think I'll need the extra stiffness of the MH rod, and the extra length should help for salmon, and keeping line clear of amas and getting around the bow of my somewhat long Hobie AI.

It was really hard to find -- dozens of stores were out of stock, and I only found one that claimed to have it by searching Bing. I thought it was more likely to be an inventory error, but it actually showed up today. Got it from fishermans-marine.com -- only $8 shipping, no rod fees.


5
Craftsmen's Corner / Re: Will this DIY spear gaff work for halibut?
« on: March 12, 2021, 12:07:37 PM »
For salmon, isn't there a risk that you catch a coho salmon you aren't allowed to keep? Or is it very obvious which species it is?

6
Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Re: Noob needs rod/reel advice
« on: March 08, 2021, 11:13:49 AM »
John, thank you for the detailed reply -- really great info!

I've decided to go with the 364 size Komodo SS, and the trevala. I hadn't considered the handles until your reply -- the Okuma I can get has a split grip which I think would give less options for how to hold it, plus I read reports of split grips not working well with rod holders.

Good to know I can use the same reel for salmon. I can't get that exact Okuma  rod you mentioned, and the lamiglas is actually cheaper, so I may go with that. I have a couple months to decide...

If I did want to get a second reel specifically for Salmon trolling, what would you suggest?

Spinning reels have easily swapped out spools for different line -- is that the case with non-spinning gear?

Thanks again for all the tips!


7
Craftsmen's Corner / Re: Will this DIY spear gaff work for halibut?
« on: March 08, 2021, 10:53:30 AM »
Since forums return only results for "pacKAGE" when you search for "kage", you need to use google search like so:
site:norcalkayakanglers.com kage

8
Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Noob needs rod/reel advice
« on: March 06, 2021, 11:13:52 PM »
I can get some good deals on some Okuma products, so I'm partial to their stuff.

I'm thinking I can get one rod/reel for rockfish, lingcod and halibut, and another rod/reel for salmon. Does that make sense? Or should the salmon setup do double duty for halibut?

For rockfish & lingcod, I was thinking an Okuma Komodo SS reel -- not sure what size is appropriate, either 364 or 471. For the rod, I was thinking either Okuma Cedros "a" Casting Rod, 6'6", MH, or Trevala TVC66MH.  Would this work well for halibut?

For salmon, what should I look for in a reel? Size/capacity/speed? I read that 2 speed is good for keeping tension on the line, but the only 2 speed Okuma I can get is the Solterra SLX-20II -- it seems to be medium and low speed - 3.8:1 and 1.7:1. Would a single speed faster reel be better? I can get the Solterra SLX high speed open top reel at 6.2:1 Should I consider their other models?

As for a salmon rod, I will probably use a laketroller downrigger, if that makes a difference. The only Okuma SST rod I can get is too short (5'6"). There is a Guide Select pro casting rod option -- either 9'9" ML, or 8'2" MH. And a Guide Select with options from 9' to 12'3", and MH, H or XH action. Supposedly these are designed for PNW salmon. (What makes them different from our salmon?)

Thanks for any tips!

9
Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Re: Kayaking waterproof boots
« on: March 05, 2021, 11:06:48 PM »
NRS has free shipping, in both directions, so no loss if they don't fit.

10
Safety First / Re: What is considered unsafe sea condition?
« on: February 27, 2021, 02:24:33 PM »
Ghio -- thanks! For some reason, I thought "hookups" meant people bragging about fish they hooked, not meetups, so I didn't look at those boards. Doh!

NowhereMan -- I took some sailing lessons on a dinghy a while back, so that helped a lot. I've tacked pretty successfully -- I can easily go 45 degrees from headwind. I think the AI was redesigned a bit with bigger amas, and daggerboard, which might help keeping the boat from sliding backwards while tacking.

But yeah, I agree I need more experience, especially with unexpected gusts, and combined with waves, I could see getting into trouble. I'm closer to the SF bay, so I was thinking I'd practice there. But I hear with it being so shallow, waves can be unpredictable?

11
Safety First / Re: What is considered unsafe sea condition?
« on: February 26, 2021, 04:52:46 PM »
Tedski, thanks for the details on HMB conditions -- very helpful.

SOMA, agreed I should be going out with others. How do you all coordinate meet-ups? Is there a board for that?

12
Safety First / Re: What is considered unsafe sea condition?
« on: February 19, 2021, 10:21:44 PM »
So, I went out a few Sunday's ago from Pillar Point Harbor. Wind was negligible, just enough to get the AI moving under sail. The swell was supposed to be about 4'. I'm not sure what it was, but when I got out of the harbor, it was pretty intimidating and choppy. It also seemed like there were a lot of wave reflections off the breakwall.  Is that normal? Should I expect less choppy a hundred+ yards out from the wall? I didn't go much more than 100' outside.

Also, I saw what looked like crashing waves way out on the reef -- would that happen in just 4' swells?

Any advice on what conditions a beginner should be looking for? I've only looked at weather this winter, so I have no idea if swells less than 4' are a common or extremely rare occurrence.


13
General Talk / Re: Well this sucks: Richmond oil spill
« on: February 10, 2021, 11:34:51 PM »
If you want to support an org that does a lot to keep the SF bay from getting more polluted, check out https://baykeeper.org/ 

They do a lot of monitoring around the bay in boats and with drones, keeping an eye on polluters. They also recently sued some south bay towns to clean up their waste water discharge. They have something to say about this most recent disaster too:

https://baykeeper.org/press_release/chevrons-pathetic-response-todays-oil-spill-increases-risk-harm-baykeeper-statement

14
I had been hoping to get out for crabbing & rockfish, but the swell kept me away, and now I see that rockfish season is over. 

What fish should I target while waiting for crab pots to soak? My wife likes mackerel, I presume those are always available? I'd eat most anything at least once -- I don't consider any fish to be "trash fish" -- there must be some recipe that makes just about any non-toxic fish decent. So I'd be up for croaker, ray, or most anything, but I'm not sure what's around these days.

I'd probably be launching out of HMB, if that makes a difference.

Thanks for any tips!

15
If inside the cans is a crapshoot, do you mean that west of them is more productive? By "cans", I assume you mean the red/green buoys?


Pages: [1] 2