Fort Ross 7-2

Bob and I got to an empty Ft. Ross parking lot a little late, at about 7:15AM. Drove down and checked out the conditions on the beach. Wind was minimal, the swells were not bad, but the water looked very choppy. The cove to the right was definitely doable, though, so we took note and headed north to Stillwater Cove. Stillwater Cove was BLOWN OUT so we headed back to Fort Ross and launched there. We paddled out and started fishing the kelp beds just south of the launch. We were soon joined by three or four personal boats, the New Sea Angler, and I think the Tracer. Baitfish were EVERYWHERE, but the fishing was a little bit slower than normal…or at least it seemed that way. Probably because we were fishing so close in. Some big waves were crashing a little further out, so we played it safe and stayed in or just outside of the cove.

Totals for me were four or five chunky coppers in the ~12” – ~16” range, four lings from ~26” – ~32”, an ~20” cab, and a bunch of missed bites. I was fishing a 5” squid tipped rootbeer split-tail grub on a 4oz head. Bob landed a barely legal halibut (on his first drop!), a couple of the coppers, four or five lings up to ~34”, and a huge cab.

All fish released. I got a pretty sorry picture of the cab that I’ll try and post tomorrow.

Every time we come here we see something cool/unusual, whether it be dolphins, whales, sunfish with their fins above the water making a beeline to our kayaks, or huge psychotic looking bull sealions letting us know we were too close to their turf. This time it was my biggest ling, which followed my swimbait to the surface. I saw it swimming up so I stopped my retrieve. The ling swam right up to my bait and put his nose against it and just stopped. It sat there for a second or two, completely motionless with its nose on my bait. I gave it a quick jerk and the ling snatched it up. Pretty cool stuff.

The weather/conditions ended up being downright gorgeous. We fished from about 9:00AM – 1:00PM.

Nice Report!  I didn't know there were halibut in that area.

Good report Dustin...

In hindsight, I wish I would have headed out there with you guys.  I wound up going down to Ocean Beach and got skunked casting for stripers in the surf since it looked like the swell was going to be choppy at Ft. Ross.

Halibut make an accidental appearance out of there every now and then... glad to hear Bob pulled one out of there... bonus.

Can't wait to get up there again...

Erik