Ken at Bodega Tackle has 20 trevala 7ft ML rods in stock if you're lookin', call first but I had eyes on em' this morning.  Plenty o' bait as well, chovies herring not gouge prices.  Tell em' Eddie sent ya', no particular reason other than supporting a kick ass tackle shop...

     Haul that kayak on the cheap ASAP!

     If you have a kayak or are getting one this is a must have item, I bought and had this on the van before I picked up the yak.  Easy on off loading with the stinger.

     Served me well for five years car topping da Kraken.  If you have no rails on your roof this system connects by webbing and clamp through upper and rear door jams.  It secures by suction cup to roof.  Sounds sketch but have been through many a wind and storm with no issues.  Advantage is they are removable and work around rails if you have them.

https://www.amazon.com/Malone-50-INCH-VERSARAIL-Bare-ROOF-Cross-Rail/dp/B01KH46TDU/ref=asc_df_B01KH46TDU/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312123656597&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8629645703016184523&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032109&hvtargid=pla-568137013321&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=60656852605&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312123656597&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8629645703016184523&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032109&hvtargid=pla-568137013321

https://www.amazon.com/Malone-Auto-Racks-SeaWing-Stinger/dp/B0064UFSZC

   Been car topping for 5 years with Malone sea wing and stinger.  It’s gotten me through though it is a little sloppy yet secure enough for my needs.  I figure if someone wanted the Kraken they could cut the webbing and grab it but it’s a little long and a might heavy.  So far so good.
    Dilemma, I’m thinking about hittin’ picknpull to remove and reinstall factory rails and crossbars if I can find them.  My van has no rails or crossbars.  Then, this locking option so I can continue cartopping with a little more peace of mind....kinda like a shark shield...opinions and brainstorming welcome...don’t want to break the bank on an old vehicle...
     I’m sure if they really wanted the kayak they’d just grab the van...

https://www.storeyourboard.com/locking-kayak-roof-rack-adjustable-size-heavy-duty-transport-system/

     Eddie and I went to pickupull and I found 2 Sienna racks and pulled one for 40$.  Straight deal.  Toiled with hardware to fill all the criteria I had for structural integrity and ace hardware stainless section worked out.  3 trips...
     Headliner came down after much research.  Trim tools and tai chi type force helped with no breakage.  I got anxious at the end and had my son hold the headliner while I jacked it out of the final 1 foot section. 
     Moved it 1" from spec and found good access.  Quite a cocktail of stainless, Marine goop, and template measurement involved.
     Reinforced feet that mount into rails with extra screws and new screws.
     Time to drill.  Easy Peasy chicken dinner and was satisfied with hope for mounting.
     Used plumber tape for backing, pre holey so no sweat and divisions were close enough for gentle force.
     Marine gooped in and out and I hope the headliner and trim goes in like cake.
     Mounted the yak and am stoked after 5 years of suction cup through chassis webbing that clipped on the inside of the roof.  Got the job done for many years even in full wind and all storms.  (plug for naked roof rack sale)
     Super satisfied with strength of rack, prolly better than manufacture's strength.
     Pics shortly...
     



     

Halibut Scrap and Prawn Pasta

Filleted my 6th hali of the year.  31" and 10lbs. Sausalito, 6/11.  My buddy Zander pulled up on his Livingston and showed me his ikejime style. Saved me some windy work.  When I Ike a fish it can be distracting regarding positioning and drift depending on the weather and it was a blowin'.

I was tired when it came time to fillet it but I'm glad I did when I did it because I had time and considered wasting time driving to a bait shop and talking' story and spending money.  If your fish is iced you can retain it for many days but I preferred not to procrastinate based on my 15 minute lifestyle. 

As I was cleaning it there were so many strips and nuggets of clean meat that went in a separate bag for ceviche and possibly hali poke.

Today we fished and skunked less a couple "stinkrays". between Sakana and I and we ended up talkin' ceviche options, poke options and maybe eatin' a stinkray.  I have and they are quite delectable if prepared well.  "Poor mans brisket"  in Virginia I've heard served in the finest restaurants of yesteryear...If you want to try stingray, pm me and we'll go all pinoy style.  Well, more Maui and Curry or just cookem'...

My wife mentioned when I got home all tired and fairly skunked and grumpy, you're cookin
dinner right?  Uhhhh...right...ceviche for everyone!  I'm on it...

Time got short and I had all these keelah scraps and cheeks and nuggets so I thawed them and rinsed em in salt water and dried it and let it drain in a colander.

I used to work in an Italian restaurant as your favorite waiter and a French one as well.  I flashed on a seafood pasta idea because it was time.;  I added prawns because I had 1/2lb of scraps and not enough to feed us five protein wise.

Procedure as follows

Olive Oil
Add Garlic to aroma not too brown
Add Julienne fresh basil with touch of chopped capers
Added chicken stock with prawn tails for fishy essence
Reduced until satisfied, high heat to simmer then taste.
Add whip cream and butter for more reduction non dietary goodness.  Taste...if happy dump in scraps and diced prawn.
Cook until happy with consistency. 
Add to precooked pasta of choice.  We had some Costco organic kinda penne thin folded
noodle product.
Add grated hard cheese and lemon juice.
Feed to kids and tell em' how good it is and fresh and tasty and they seemed to gobble it down with not too much "what is that?"  or, faux yummy gratitude.  I think they liked it.  Wife did so I'm happy.

Proportions are intuitive yet specific if you have questions...

Bon Appetit to me...

I've car topped the Kraken for 5 years and I'm not a huge cincherdowner with the webbing straps but certainly tight.  I regret not cinching about 1 ft back all these years under the scupper posts.  There is a slight caving that I'm sure does not effect glide but I could be wrong.  I am tempted to make it right and have looked on the tube to get a gist.  Heat gun?  Dang...sounds melty, blow dryer(got plenty), I believe it's a little late in the game to expose to sun and allow it to reshape itself.  Anyone mess with reshaping the can?

It's hard to tell how subtle because there is a transition from bow to mid shape so the pics may look worse than it is...

Psyche! 

Super stoked anyhoo...broke da bank on dis one...

220cm Cyprus Bent Shaft Foam Core.  25.5 oz. HP to be determined.  See ya' on da wattah'

Any of you stealth rockstars utilizing a back support system for paddling or is it better to learn strong posture and just own it on the design, 6-7 hours on the water?  Paddling I could imagine being upright and expected.  I’m trying to imagine drifting or mooching without a little back leaning option.  Why do I even care you ask, well now, stay tuned....