Fort Ross Conditions

Hi all,

Hoping to get the benefit of your experience on FR conditions. Windy is showing a 6' swell at 11s on Saturday, from the NW. But the cove is somewhat protected, so how hard should I expect the launch to be?  I've only been there once. There was a 1' shore break with mild winds but I don't recall what the swell was like.

Hi Ron

If you spend some time watching the sets, the launching shouldn't be a problem.  I watch the Rocky area on the right side for the final confirmation before the launch.  The landing might be a different story, be prepared to have a yard sale and put away all your gear.

Paul

Thanks, Paul! I was hoping you'd say, Oh, the cove is protected, it won't be a problem with a NW swell.

Now I'm thinking I don't want to make the drive to FR if there is a decent likelihood the beach conditions will be dicey. That would be a bummer. I may just stick with my original plan for Saturday, HMB.

I went out yesterday and it was knee slappers. Launch and landing a breeze. Ocean was flat most of the day. Caught lots of fish but the grade was real small compared to what I'm used to. I kept letting em go and finally settled for smaller grade or go home empty. I think it gets too much pressure from PBs out of Bodega especially the New Sea Angler. They can pull hundreds of fish a day when they drop in...

Thanks, Jonesz, good reconnaissance. I'm thinking that the cove shelters the beach pretty well from a northerly swell.

You could always pivot to Doran and stay on the inside or even Tomales if conditions look dicey.

I went out yesterday and it was knee slappers. Launch and landing a breeze. Ocean was flat most of the day. Caught lots of fish but the grade was real small compared to what I'm used to. I kept letting em go and finally settled for smaller grade or go home empty. I think it gets too much pressure from PBs out of Bodega especially the New Sea Angler. They can pull hundreds of fish a day when they drop in...

Ft. Ross is a relatively small area. I’ve seen 20 kayaks out there once in awhile. The Sea Angler takes their share. Although Rick has been fishing the Sonoma coast for over 40 years. Personal powerboats have fished  probably more in the past two years for sure as there’s no salmon season. At the rate it’s going  it’s going to really suck in ten years. No kelp still to speak of. There is no sustainable population of fish anymore. I can remember fishing on my sot 40 years ago and it was really good. In those days there was about two kayaks. Lol

Ft. Ross is a relatively small area. I’ve seen 20 kayaks out there once in awhile. The Sea Angler takes their share. Although Rick has been fishing the Sonoma coast for over 40 years. Personal powerboats have fished  probably more in the past two years for sure as there’s no salmon season. At the rate it’s going  it’s going to really suck in ten years. No kelp still to speak of. There is no sustainable population of fish anymore. I can remember fishing on my sot 40 years ago and it was really good. In those days there was about two kayaks. Lol

yah, it's a tough one.  I know I'm part of the problem (even on a kayak), not the solution...though I feel like I'm a smaller part of the problem - thats just finger pointing.  My view, go out there, take what you need, not what you can - enjoy a special meal, leave many fishies behind.

Human population is way north of the balance point for a fisher/gatherer population, so even our, perhaps small impact, is significant.  And we're a rich nation, the poorer nations need to depend even more on the available sea life.

My view, go out there, take what you need, not what you can - enjoy a special meal, leave many fishies behind.

This. I'm happy if I come home with a story and enough fish for one good fresh meal. If I have more than my family can eat, I invite friends.

I’ve been fishing for 11 years now, I remember the what I called
Fort Ross Blacks, 18-20” fish were common but those are pretty rare now…
Hey Craig- I was there 5-6 yrs ago when you caught a 39.75” Ling!
We tried to stretch it out but would not move!!! That was a pisser then but now it’s pretty funny 

 As for sat,  I was planning  on going with a buddy but got scared off with the 6-7’ I was seeing. But now I’m seeing about 5.5@13
As a rule of thumb, 6 ft is about where I draw the line, so now I’m wondering….
Sure would like to get my Ling fix

Scotty

My last good trip in that area was Nov. 2015.  The kelp was gone but big fish were plentiful. The day of the attached picture, a couple of 40 inch lings were attacking 30 plus inch lings that I  hooked. Exciting to see the big ones boatside. I didnt keep any of them big ones.
.

How far up north do you need to go to get into waters that are not so heavily overfished? Or is it just all overfished right up and into Oregon?

The issue is mostly loss of sea stars & kelp which affected everything in the environment and food chain rather than overfishing, I’d hazard.