Shelter Cove - 2/29

Sean and I got on the water by 10 and off by around 1 w/o a bite at all.  The wind was making it really messy out there, and the swell was beefy.  We hung near the Bell Buoy while all the powerboats headed south.  There was nearly nil talk on the radio, but we'd heard of 4 fish caught yesterday - all on WMA and not too deep, also reportedly near the buoy...  I felt there must be more to the story since no one was fishing around us.  We logged 5.3 miles on the GPS, but choppy water like that makes it seem like lots farther.  Sean had to bail to get to his grand-dad's birthday party, so I hung out for a bit to see if the bite would pick up enough to hear something on the radio.  The wind died, the sun started to come out, and two boats came in and trolled between the Bell and Whistle by about 3PM as I watched from shore up on the cliff.  I asked on the radio how they were doing and got a friendly answer:  "I've just been trolling 5 minutes, but I heard of a couple fish by the Whistle yesterday..."  If they'd have hooked up I was considering heading back out, but I was pretty burnt and would've been in deep trouble if I'd have gotten home later than I did.  I checked Abalone Point and thought about soaking some chovies for a cab, but it was cold and the water was surgy, so I bailed out.  Stopped right along the side of the road at Bear Creek and spotted a nice steelie right by the culvert that goes under the road.  I got a few pics and it ducked into the culvert.  Then it came back out with a partner - cool stuff!  The last two photos here have steelies - can you find Waldo and his mate?   

Awesome leapday fishing trip! Thanks for the report+pics. Looks pretty calm at the shore spot too.
PK

Great try guys. I hope it picks up some in next two weeks. When they're saying watermelon apex do they mean the green and red srtiped one with black spots or the straight green one. That's what was catching them all last year too.

Video geek alert!

I hope the salmon come in soon to go with the killer video...

That's what was catching them all last year too.

And the previous 20 years...a classic lure if there ever was one.

Nice hooking up with Ab, it had been a while.  Pretty much what Eric said...lumpy, fishless, yet a great time.  Hadn't been on the salt in ages, felt awesome.  The drive in was super sweet, so pretty.

Great steelie pics!!!

Eric trying to intel out of the local fisherman...

 

Nice resolution, Sean.  How many megapixels you running with?   

Great Video and Pictures. Your reports really got me jones-ing for the salt water. You really have to give yourselves credit for the effort with such so few fish being caught and being so early in the season.

Nice job getting out on the salt.  I am jealous as a nurse my 8 day old flu that seems to not want to let go.  Its a good excuse to hang around and organize my gear for GMSII.  I can not wait to get back up there.  I have been accumulating big WAF as my wife has been cycling, playing hocky and yoga multiple times every week.  Let fishing season begin.

Great reports an usual, guys.  Eric, Speilberg better watch his back!    Your videos are getting so great.

Hey otobepelagic, if you guys are jonesing for saltwater, come on up to Mendocino for a weekend!  Salmon season is open here and the campgrounds here are great, as you know. Cheers, all,  -Matt

Great report and pictures as usual, good luck next time!!!

Matt

it's amazing to watch your kayak flex in the video. I can't wait to get me some salmon troll on!

CHEERS!

Thanks dude. I'm seasick!!!!!!!!!