Shelter Cove - 8/22/25

Had a great trip a few weeks ago at the Cove.  Aletheia contacted me by email back in the springtime.  She was enquiring about a kayak fishing session for her and her son.  I sent back with quotes that varied depending on outfitting they would need as well as instructions for a deposit that would secure their date.  I never heard back, so I thought she'd moved on.  Then, several weeks ago, I heard from Aletheia again.  She let me know that she'd just put the deposit in the mail and that she wished to execute the plan that we'd discussed months earlier - it was now one week prior to the date we'd discussed!  I let her know that usually that deposit transaction would've happened months ago, but the date was open, so we got it in the books.

Our day came, and I'd spent the previous day prepping gear as I always do.  What was different about this trip though was that I'd found myself in somewhat of a quandary about how to best approach outfitting the 9 year old.  I'd asked Aletheia if she wanted him on his own kayak - she did.  I'd also done my usual thorough questioning about seasickness, and she assured me that they aren't susceptible to it.  Another big factor was that neither of them had much experience with fishing at all.  At just over 4 feet tall and only 60 pounds, I wasn't sure how Benjamin would handle paddling and fishing.  Even with these questions in my mind, I was excited to face the new challenges.

On meeting Aletheia and Benjamin, I was very pleased with their enthusiasm and willingness to learn new skills.  The forecast was good, with no wind and a very light swell, and I'd already determined that our focus would be very nearshore halibut prospecting, not too far from the harbor.  At the ramp I handed Benjamin a rod and reel setup, and I could see that my biggest challenge was probably in figuring out whether I could get him fishing or not.

I had all the gear ready, so once my guests were suited up we launched onto a glassy ocean and commenced with Paddling 101.  They both did fine with the kayaks, and soon I had Aletheia fishing with a basic bait trolling technique:  make sure the gear is straight and the bait looks good, read the sonar, pull line off the reel while moving forward, and keep the line counter at a lesser number than the depth.  Voila! 

We took it slow, with Benjamin quickly finding a comfortable groove in his paddling.  I was still considering how to handle his potential angling opportunity, and I was relieved that he seemed content just to be master of his own kayak. 

It wasn't long before the first biter came along.  My line got all crazy, and I thought a salmon was about to take off with my bait.  Then, as it started towing me, I thought I'd hooked a thresher.  I was now suddenly and unexpectedly being pulled away from my total greenhorn, noob guests, so I tightened the drag down and started horsing the fish back toward me - breaking the leader was the least of my worries, as I realized how dangerous it could be to strand my guests as I sleigh-ride right out of sight!

The line held, and soon I had about a four and a half foot long smooth-hound shark in the net, where it proceeded to alligator roll way worse than any lingcod, leaving my net tangled on its fins and mouth and my leader in shambles.  Again, I realized how quickly an emergent situation like this could take me away from the brand new, ocean adventurers in my care.  As I worked on the shark I kept an eye on Benjamin as he paddled around me, and Aletheia had basically just stayed put right where I'd hooked the shark.  She'd said she thought she was getting a bite too, right as I hooked the shark.  I'd been right by her at the time, so I figured maybe she hooked a shark, too, but just briefly.

So, between five and ten minutes passes as I cut away my leader, untangled and released the shark and got back next to my guests.  Benjamin was fine - he'd photo'd me with the shark, and Aletheia was still holding her rod, waiting patiently for me to return to her side.  As I paddled up to her she reiterated that she thought she'd had a bite at the same time as me, and I could see that her line was hanging in the water and her tackle was out of sight.  I asked what the status is now and instructed that she should lift the rod and reel in her tackle - she only had 8' of line deployed, so it only took a couple of cranks and a halibut came into view!  She'd hooked this flattie as I got towed away by the shark, and she basically just dead-sticked it, not knowing what to do while I was preoccupied.  I quickly pulled my net out and scooped the clearly legal and barely lip-hooked halibut, and we had a little miracle on our hands!

Aletheia was very pleased to catch a halibut and also to know that she did indeed have a bite!  Benjamin took it all in, and I'm not sure he cared too much about fishing, because he just continued to paddle around near us, taking photos and offering the typical philosophical musings of a nine year old.  A bit later I hooked what must've been another smooth-hound, because it took off fast and frenetically and cut my leader - they do show up in groups this time of year.  Otherwise, we took our time making our way down the coast a bit, hoping for another miracle bite.

Benjamin never did ask when he would get to fish, and I ended up confiding in Aletheia that I was not at all sure about giving him a rod.  She was fine with that, so score one for the guide getting a break on the biggest part of the challenge.  At one point Aletheia hooked another fish and brought it to the surface where I saw it flop a bit, but I was staying in between her and her son and wasn't able to get next to her to net it before it escaped - it was likely a rockfish.  Aletheia was understanding of my need to stay where I could watch Benjamin, and what was really cool was how much I could tell that she was enjoying the fishing.

About 3 hours in, Benjamin announced that he'd had enough.  He'd gone to the tidepools with his mom to gather uni before they met up with me, so it had already been a long day for a kid, for sure.  Aletheia was fine with heading for the harbor, but she took her time and enjoyed a little more fishing on the way in.

Once we were landed I got the traditional stringer display photo before making quick work of the catch at my Tailgate Fillet Station.  Aletheia retained all of the halibut parts, intending to utilize every bit of the fish - which I appreciate very much.  Benjamin asked that I bag up the internal organs separately so he could take that as his own harvest, but he forgot all about that within 5 minutes or so and was on to his next focus - ah, to be nine years old...

Aletheia expressed great joy and gratitude for the trip and the unique experience that they'd had, and I was pretty head over heels myself, having facilitated a little miracle catch, learned a few important guide lessons, received a fat tip, gotten off early, and decided to re-launch, as it wasn't even 1PM by the time they rolled up the hill.  I ended up catching another halibut right where we'd hooked hers and the shark!

After a second brief session at my tailgate, I rolled up the hill and toward home, thinking to myself about how fortunate and content I am to have carved out a part-time vocation where the adventure and discovery are as fulfilling as any of the fish.

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Great story as usual, Eric.
I am sure you gave them a lifetime memory.

Paul

Thanks for the great story, I was going to ask if you would consider taking a 14 year old out, and I guess that question is answered.

Yay on them for trying something new!

Good story telling as usual

Nice memories and fish for everybody involved 

Ahhh, very nice to have days like this! Thanks for the report, Eric.

Wow! Lucky for them that you didn’t have another trip planned.

Great trip.  That tuna head is cool!