I was able to get up to 8.6mph in the Stealth 530 last weekend at ARW fishing for halibut. I had a big live smelt on the line when something big smacked it hard and took off. At first I was sure it was a big ray but tightening the drag all the way didn't slow it at all.

Got up to 8.6mph, and then it broke the surface, and could see it was a seal. Cut the line, and hopefully since I don't use stainless hooks they will corrode away quickly.   

The fins on the Pacific halibut are more of a straight line coming to a point where the fins on the California halibut are more rounded. Also, the Pacific halibut tend to be much larger reaching weights of 400 plus pounds. The one I caught at Shelter Cove was a little guy at 44”, and 36 lbs. it was still an unexpected challenge in the kayak.

Quote from: Sailfish on March 27, 2025, 06:55:25 PM

Quote from: Bulldog---Alex on March 27, 2025, 05:59:59 PM

Thanks, guys. I was wheeled down to CT scan again. When I stood up, my backside was showing. The Orderly said "that's what we call, Victoria's Un-Secret". 

No picture = never happened   

Oh God I will never be able to un-see that.

 

Quote from: Mark L on March 13, 2025, 09:52:51 AM

Quote from: Eddie on March 13, 2025, 09:11:55 AM

Quote from: The Gopher on September 08, 2021, 10:46:21 PM

I would like to petition for a sea lion cull. But that’s probably not going to happen.

Instead, maybe college football fans could chant “F¥#% sea lions” during Saturday games. Baby steps.

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/bay-area-sea-lion-beheading-rewards-20218322.php

They set up cameras to catch the person responsible, and it turned out to be Coyotes.

I think this a different situation, the coyote decapitation was of baby seals at Van Damme this decapitation was a sea lion at Doran.

I couldn't read the article so I just assumed it was the same reports from a few days ago. I did find an article and the Sea lion was dead already when the head was removed.

Posted yesterday by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council:

https://www.pcouncil.org/documents/2025/02/e-3-b-supplemental-nmfs-report-1-esa-guidance.pdf/

Also there is a CDFW meeting today(2-26) at 10:00

https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Salmon/Preseason

Members of Coastside requested a bubble fishery based on Coastside’s continuing efforts with the net pen project. The returns at the Mokelumne Hatchery has been phenomenal, but those returns are not counted when determining the salmon season. The salmon that are raised in the net pens at HMB are from the Mokelumne Hatchery.

So presumably the season would be limited in duration, and the fishable area would be around HMB. Whether you are for or against a salmon season the decision will be made in the next few months so speak up at the meetings.

As Paul mentioned a surf zone class is you best bet to learn the different techniques. I have taken 2 surf zone classes, and this is my report from about 5 years ago:

"On May 19, I participated in a Surf Zone Class with River and Ocean Paddle Sports. First off I can say that I have now turtled my Eddyline Caribbean 14' every conceivable way. In fact so many times that I stopped keeping track around 11am.

Anyone thinking of launching in the surf zone (surf above 1-2 feet) should not without some training and practice. The odds of success are low to nil.

This class is for students that have successfully passed sea kayaking 1 & 2 so we were expected to have the basics covered. We had four students in the class: a woman in her 30s, and two other guys in their mid 20s. The two guys were in excellent shape and one is an avid surfer. Two students had sit inside sea kayaks and two of us had sit on top style.

The class was held at Miramar Beach in Half Moon  Bay. The average surf was 2-3 feet with sets of 4-5 foot waves about every 10 minutes. The teacher started off the class explaining wave timing and then had us give it a try. One person asked about landing and the teacher said don't worry about that now we will cover that later. Just go out to the safe zone(beyond the breakers) and come back in anyway you want. Well, going out is fairly easy and all of us were able to on the first try. Coming back in is much more challenging---we all got dumped on the way in.   

Throughout the day we were taught and shown how to deal with different conditions, and then we would practice. We practiced going out forwards and backwards, coming in forwards and backwards, fast reverse brace, side bracing, and paddling parallel right at the breaking waves. Each time we would dump the teacher would explain why and then send us out to try again. Everyone in the class got dumped over and over throughout the day, only the teacher made it to the end without getting dumped.

One of the most important things I learned is that you cannot surf long kayaks in front of the wave perpendicular, either you surf on top of the wave or you do a bracing side surf in front. Many times I would look back and see a wave beginning to break and I couldn't decide what to do. In a split second you need to make a decision and go for it---if you don't it's turtle time. Some of the choices are: fast reverse brace to punch through backwards, try to out run it, or a bracing side surf. Although I was starting to get the hang of most of the techniques it is not to the level where I would go out in the surf with my fishing gear. I will need to get a lot more practice, or i will just launch from protected areas.   

The class was taught by Kelly Marie Henry and I can highly recommend her, she did a fantastic job.

My goal was to complete sea kayaking 1 & 2, and the surf zone class before fishing in the ocean(I did sneak out to TC on May 5) and now that those are completed and with trips out on the lakes and bay I feel quite confident about going out in the ocean (from protected launch sites)."   

Since then I have been out in the ocean many times bet still prefer protected launches.

Quote from: LoletaEric on February 17, 2025, 09:07:15 PM

Quote from: cajun

I wonder if my buddy will be out there visiting?

Loch Ness Monster?   

Get him in a lineup and see if Mark can ID him?

The one that flipped me was light colored, but don't think I could pick it out in a line up. But if Eric rounds up a bunch of them, and puts them in a line I'll give it a shot.