Many of us are aware that changes such as 22" now legal for lingcod, 3 cabs...etc. were coming soon - they're here as of today.

Here's an interesting one.  The opener for places like BH is TODAY!

"•   San Francisco (Point Arena to Pigeon Point): For 2011, open June 9 through December 31 in depths less than 180 feet; for 2012, open June 1 through December 31 in depths less than 180 feet"

Another useful fact:  Next year's northern management area opener will be on Saturday, May 12th, so that's when GS6 will take place.   

There haven't been many of them - it's been blown out for most of the last week.  Boats got out today and there were no salmon around.  Apparently 7 'buts were caught near the Cove last Tuesday, and that's unusual. 

I wanted to post this to help you guys keep a realistic perspective - it was apparently hard to even catch a rockfish today!  The bite at the Cove goes hot and cold for all species.  The grade of fish is nice, and the access is wonderful when the wind's not sending you to Bragg or Gorda, but be careful about perpetuating a fantasy in your head that just getting there will result in good fishing, or even getting on the water!  Believe me, I've been guilty of having that fantasy all too many times!   

Anyway, just wanted to throw that out there for your consumption.  Oh yeah, and I'm headed down tomorrow to actually finish that job I've had going down there.  I hope to get OTW around lunch, and I told my wife that if the fishing is right I might not get home until 11PM.   

I love the long days of the year.   

The main potluck is Sunday for the awards - 3:30 or so until darkish. 

Saturday we'll have a warmup potluck.  Whoever wants to come hang out is welcome, but the main potluck is Sunday.   

I spoke to Chris/MB yakker today and he's prepared to rock a Margarita Bar Sunday evening - don't miss that!

The taco stand sounds like it'll have a presence too, and the usual variety of NCKA-gourmet will be there.  I even heard Andy / Fish Master1 might bring his fryer!     Can't wait!   

Sunday, May 15th - Gimme Shelter Kayakfishing Tournament - Dawn until 2PM is fishing time.  Although 2PM is pushing it becasue the check-in closes @2PM...  The check-in station will be at the launch - look for the 4x8 piece of plywood painted and sharpied into a scoreboard.  If you don't fill out a scorecard you won't be in the raffle, and no entries will be allowed after the check-in station is dismantled.  No entries will be allowed at The Tides Inn.  Awards and potluck start around 3:30 to 4PM at The Tides Inn.

Entries will be fish to be measured at check-in OR photos of fish on a measuring device such as a Hawg Trough, and "GS5" must be present in the photo. 

Points per inch will be awarded for largest of these species:

Rockfish - 7 points per inch
Lingcod - 5 points per inch
Cabezon - 7 points per inch
Greenling - 11 points per inch
Salmon - 5 points per inch
Halibut - 5 points per inch
Flounder - 8 points per inch (dabs, sole, starry...)
Perch - 12 points per inch

A bonus inch will be awarded for C&R with a photo with GS5 included in the photo.

Trout would get points too, but kayakfishing for one near Shelter Cove is pretty tough!   

I'm getting a little preoccupied with thoughts of the Cove.  Hopefully a salmon fix soon will help me get through the 5 weeks before the tournament.   

Here's one version of a little fantasy I've been developing - I thought it might help to get everyone focused on the potentials of May 15th:

We've lucked out.  The forecast has 2-3' swells from the north coupled with the tamest wind forecast:  light and variable to 5 knots from the NE.  There's no fog in sight, and unseasonably hot inland temps of mid May have us in t-shirt weather as the warm land to sea breeze accompanies us as we paddle out toward the Bell Buoy just before dawn.  About half way out small groups begin to break off in teams of 2 to 4 - these enthusiasts consist of both long-time friends and first-time partners, and they're all wearing smiles.  The sun comes up over the King Range, illuminating the blue water and vivid kelp beds like the best Bachar drawing.  Though only a limited number of participants are targeting salmon, it soon becomes obvious that the bite is on!  The radio, usually pretty quiet during a tournament as the players focus on the challenge, starts going off - the shock and utter joy are palpable as multiple 15-20 pound kings are boated.  Soon most of the tournament field is either trolling, mooching, trooching or doing their damnedest to Mooch some salmon gear from a brother!  Around sane-person-breakfast-hour, a unique phenomenon occurs - dozens of yaks bee-line for the launch.  Radio messages up to support crews and family at camp ask for pickup of the pink meat!  A traffic jam of wives, girlfriends, kids and buddies shuttles salmon up the hill into coolers, and the competitors head back out onto the reef, now wearing even bigger grins than 3 hours previous.  The rockfish and lingcod bite is steady through the morning, with a 20-22" black or verm, 15" greenling, 20-24" cabs, and fat lings to 39" being commonplace.  There will be lots of high scores on the old standby's, and some have factored in the importance of targeting the more obscure point-bearers of the day.  The long distance crew has managed to land multiple pacific halibut - likely the toughest yak-caught fish of the day.  Others know the value of some dab points.  And many whip out the dinker hooks and shrimp in a try for a surf perch near the check-in station at the launch.  All 8 potential species are caught this day by our group of happy-go-lucky paddlers and pedalers with rods, grins, and unmatched camaraderie among most fishing groups.

It may not happen this year, but there is a very real opportunity for one of us to achieve something like this, single-handedly:

I know it seems extreme, but please have an open mind, and don't allow me to be the only one self-actualizing this.  I'd hate to see you shaking your head in disbelief when I pull it off.   

- 40" salmon                       200 points
- 40" halibut                        200
- 40" lingcod                        200
- 24" cab                             168
- 24" rockfish                      168
- 18" greenling                    198
- 16" perch                          192
- 18" sand sole/Sin Candy      144

Make this a reality:           1470 points!  (1500 points in one day is actually possible!!!)

"They may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

Grand Prize:  Trident 13 - color/details TBA...

Other prizes so far:

- safety kit
- fishing paddle
- Extrasport PFD
- Kokatat PFD
- B2 Squid gift basket
- More in the works...

The B2 Squid gear is beautiful stuff - we need to raffle that off at the potluck the night before the tournament...  TBA...

 

Saw this product advertised during Fishing the West or something on TV.  Looks like something I need, as I've wasted more than this costs on several rusty pairs of pliers over the years...

Anyone tried them?

http://www.boomerangtool.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=28&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=65&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=92

Thx   

I'm Abking / Black Ab / Eric.  I value this community immensely and apologize for my abrupt and dramatic exit.  I took some things too personally, and I am always learning about myself and how I want to grow and change for the better.  I'm back to let my friends know how much I value them, and that my tournament, Gimme Shelter 5, is and has always been dedicated to NCKA.  I hope you can make it up in May, and thank you to all who've offered support - it's much appreciated.  Last thing - my status at NCKA has nothing to do with a new Lost Coast Kayak Anglers forum that's in the works, as I have no ownership or administrative association with it - I look forward to joining a more local forum, and I look forward to maintaining a presence on NCKA.  Hopefully I can get out and do some kayakfishing soon, and maybe it'll be worthy of a report.  Thanks.