I'm a big fan of not wasting money on disposable batteries and especially buying D batteries for camping has been a long time hatred of mine.  I decided to try a using a small converter to replace the batteries for my bait pump, and it seems to have worked out fine.  A cheap pump and a 12v to 3v converter, a 12v cigarette lighter adapter cord I had lying around and some connectors, I can now plug it in my lighter, or use my fish finder battery.

https://www.amazon.com/YQMIGU-Gallons-Suitable-Tropical-Enthusiasts/dp/B0CJ4YFS3S/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2WVWZQ0A50G0W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3zAimo7CvUgoDxlO1m4-vpVzP6WuV-Ecg6t48LEC2CjBfZISID-0Rbd9wqju14O6J4c_mrNdO1GKkS8MqOgx7YPZwqXy5qVkb4PvMNH61uFlbOfedTZ-jMb45GgQ6YcZpn_rKWq-OVb-x4Y4ZjT8bu5yCqeNM447EFtH3c8Nf2C2FoFCrMuUvMhNIImPVG-4h87jc0Y5qqjEwlsbnqLcxkoXWbWGFBffukjW2n-PDvbOoTtezYPccQMrXyLahNHPTjn6Lse0e8Kw15dKT1MA36UkgtEDw-7LILDpfWZFKH8.OLPJn6auGFU9osStv-6DdK25tJbD5IgDNEFDbM1u7AE&dib_tag=se&keywords=12v+air+pump+bait&qid=1726078899&sprefix=12v+air+pump+bai%2Caps%2C249&sr=8-5

https://www.amazon.com/3V-3A-Waterproof-DC-DC-Converter/dp/B07PNWPLRY/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3D6DGANJYMUYD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.caV4qonPKNZXftTrC0FXNZVmsp7wY1jjKOVnBHxXN5V6l7_-O8YDnu93y3CiskHsuSO6pSh7Awt2vSNis583wO5pQf1CmocHPiFgiIPHjKRs4yPsRSrF_UNVOJl50oJLbVoCo4NblOt3lWz6QgiSzcOl2qZm8hY4yWba9hXAs_3qxRHlJocGB1BLXboT-JAYjxmv9fZLA0OE54ZHNkxoUtIy7PxJ0JjjfjPZbH37eFE.6senXf6On-abU6JSk0sIAGnjbVUlLfPqz7owyBI9vds&dib_tag=se&keywords=12v+to+3v+converter&qid=1726078951&sprefix=12v+to+3v+converte%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

The Hobie Cat club I joined has a yearly regatta that is a "race" from Santa Cruz to Moss landing. In prep we had to relocate trailers to moss landing and shuttle back to SC and launch off the beach.  I got to go on one of the long time members Hobie Cat 18, same boat as mine, but in near perfect condition.  We left around 1:00pm and arrived around 3:30.  It was fairly uneventful, the weather was so nice, we just cruised from the yellow buoy off the wharf, all the way across.  It was a lot of fun, and hope to next year do this in my own boat.

My work invented additional holidays during the pandemic to encourage people to not overwork called Fresh Air Friday.  At first there were four of them, but they since pulled back two of them, but still nice to have an extra day or two off.  I didn't get up super early, only arrived at the harbor around 8 and launched 30 mins or so later.  I got out side the jaws and bait was surprise surprise everywhere to be seen.  I floated around and jigged up a dozen or so anchovies, met some other guy out there and we fished and chatted for a while.  Dropping down anchovies at the school just got me croakers, big as they were I wasn't looking for them. Moved out to deeper water and started getting bit on brown rockfish.  I moved deeper still after releasing a few browns.  Out at 60 fow picked up a vermillion, that I considered for a long time that it might be dinner, but it got me all soft looking at me in my foot well, and I decided to let it grow up a bit bigger.  I trolled until the mile buoy and after landing the verm, got a really nice mackarel for bait.  I dragged it around for a long time, with not a single bite.  To my surprise, no lings for me, not even the little ones.  no butts either, obviously...  Conditions were good, it was mostly flat in the morning, very little breeze, even after 1:00pm when I was calling it quits, had to peddle in a bit.  My partner in the fog radioed that he did get a legal ling.  Saw not much happening when I was out there, or back at the dock. 

   

Had someone call from 408-963-5952 and say they were from the Santa Clara county Sheriffs department and said I had two warrants for failure to appear for jury duty summons.  They were very insistent that I was in serious trouble and needed to prove that I wasn't the one that signed a certified letter for the summons.  They started instructing me to stay on the phone and get ready to drive down to the office while still on the phone.  I started getting suspicious there, but as soon as they said that I had a bail that would need to be paid I decided to accidentally drop the call, and then try and call the number back which went to a empty mail box. They called repeatedly and asked why I got disconnected and I confronted them as scammers, and hung up.  They texted a lot of profanity in response. 


Dang, I cant believe that I belived them for a minute there... Hopefully no one else falls for this.

This topic has been moved to General Fishing Tips.

https://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=101707.0

Heading to lake Camanche tomorrow for some end of year/start of year trout trolling fun. While on the water will be on channel 69, or find me in the Moccasin Point camping area. 

Started looking at BFS setups after a few videos of casting these things looking like a lot of fun.  But ouch it seems like any worth while reel is gonna cost some $$$. Is there a minimum recommended for BFS or really you need to bite the bullet and go with a Shimano, the cheapest being $165 and some going over $400?  I like trout fishing, but that seems a bit much for freshwater gear.  KastKing budget with Shimano tastes might not be the best for BFS setups I'm guessing.

I couldn't pass up a deal that I saw on Craigslist for a Hobiecat 18 and trailer for only $200 bucks.  There's definitely work to be done, but it's in pretty decent shape!  I already have a list of problems to overcome just to take it home from the SC Harbor parking lot  . Namely first, I have no idea how to take down the mast, or if it's even doable single handed.  Trailers in rough shape, but I think it could make it home.  Hopefully registering it wont be too much a hassle, been a long time since I had to do that.