Report: Albion Mon. 5/4

Tides are good enough for a river launch (Low tide 7:47). The gate typically opens at 8 on Mondays, but I'll call them today and see if it'll be earlier, but say meeting at 8 for now at the west end launch.

EDIT: Talked with April at the office: The gate is open dawn to dusk every day. So meeting at 7 instead of 8.

Chance of showers but doesn't look like anything major. Swell is up a bit (6') BUT forecast shows a long 14-second period, so hopefully not too bad. Low wind.

I've got a lot of experience fishing north around the point but would be open to exploring to the south. I hear there's a nice pinnacle/ridge out a bit and south of the buoy.

Please have at least the basic safety gear (wetsuit/drysuit, life vest, radio).

James

I look forward to your report. Good luck and stay safe.

Al

Hey James! If I can get the day off, I'll meet you there....keep you posted!!

My understanding is they have changed the gate hours and now open at sunrise.

My understanding is they have changed the gate hours and now open at sunrise.

I spoke with the woman at the office when I was there a week ago on a Sunday and she mentioned that they opened the gate at sunrise, but I think she said just on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday but I'm not positive.

Also, in case people don't know, kayak launching to the ocean (and probably beach use) is free now due to a public beach access rule.

EDIT: I just spoke with April at the campground desk -- she's says the gate is open every day from dawn to dusk, so it'd be better to go earlier to cruise out on the tail-end of the outgoing tide. So meeting at 7.

Good luck and thanks for the heads up!!!

Update. Man, it is so nice to drive right in the open gate at Albion Campground, no fees, no passes, such a blessing! I met up with James and Nigel at the boat ramp and we launched about 730am. The cove was a washing machine with a NW swell finding its way inside. Once we navigated outside the rocks, the ocean was calm so we paddled toward some pinnacles I’d fished at before. It was low tide early so the pinnacles were lit up with the swell and we made sure to keep a safe distance. The bite was slow but we managed to keep a couple of good size lings and quality rockfish. We caught and released some copper, gopher, black, olives, cabezon, canary, vermillion, and lots of baby ling cod. We had some light rain come in but the wind was so light, it turned into a marvelous day OTW. Thanks for the hookup James, glad to finally meet you!

Congrats on your success. So I take it they open at sunrise weekdays too?

Thanks for the report, pictures, and info Steve.

Congrats on your success. So I take it they open at sunrise weekdays too?

Yep

...it turned into a marvelous day OTW. Thanks for the hookup James, glad to finally meet you!

Yeah, had a great time! Bite was on the slow side but great that we both came home with a nice ling and some rockfish. A 6' swell with a long period and no major cross-swell and no wind or strong current -- I like it like that, with those big rollers slamming on the rocks and high pinnacles.

Also so nice to catch the tides right on the river launch and return for a change. It couldn't be easier at Albion if you hit it right. Very short distance from your vehicle to the river edge, easy launch with no waves to deal with, you're whisked downstream by the outgoing tide/current right into the bay, and 4-5 hours later on the return you just ride the incoming tide right back to your calm launch spot.

Trust me, you don't want to do that return against the tide. I went out recently there with with a buddy who had some mechanical issues with his gear and got seasick and we had to head in early and go against the tide and it must have taken 15 minutes of all-out peddling/paddling to inch our way back to the launch spot. In retrospect I should have given up on that plan and just landed on the beach and done the long portage over the sand.