6/12/08 Capitola flattie

   Launched about 7 near the wharf, headed north.  Lots of bait in the water - macs, sardines, smelt.  Loaded up and headed to 40-50 fow and drifted it for a couple of hours, got nothing, got bored, trolled my Walleye runner and within a few minutes in 30 feet got a big hit. At the same time, a big sea lion was cruising around,  I figured it was him or me that was going to eat the hali, so I rushed it to the yak and yanked it in without the usual gaff, club routine.  The legal limit is 24". I can tell you my personal limit of the size of live halibut I want trapped under my legs is 25".  She laid still enough for me to get a measure, and get a lip gripper on and some blunt force trauma.  Had a small bite out it on the edge.
   I thought there might be more there, and about an hour later I trolled up another bigger fish of some kind, but it got unbuttoned pretty fast, tho again I was rushing it because now the sea lions were lined up about 30 abreast (or flipper to flipper) swimming with their heads out of the water right toward me, tho I think they were looking for jumping bait fish and didn't mess with me.  They kept doing that for while.
I saw boils of bait  all morning.
  The wind, which had been dead calm ( and no wind waves or much swell) started up a little from the north at 9:30, and kept increasing until noon, when I landed, and then it was blowing pretty good.  Nice warm morning, lots of smoke up high from the Bonnie Doon fire.   The hali netted 3 1/2 lbs meat, might let the next smallish one go, tho maybe it's better to eat the small halies let the rockfish go. 
 Water temp near 60 deg. 

Cool! Way to go.

BTW, 22 inches is minimum for CA Halibut. Enjoy your dinner!

I saw you out there...  I went down to eat a late lunch and dream about getting out...

Congrats on the flatty!

   Thanks,  22" - yeah, keep thinking of the ling limit. That's about flounder size.   It crossed my mind out there that I wouldn't remember what the limit for WSB is if I caught one - I guess I need to write these things down on waterproof card or something.  Maybe I could slide it into my license holder.   

Good job, FT.  The battle to beat a seal to the meat is not one I've had to wager, and I feel lucky for it.  Glad you got the fish in the boat.   

   Thanks,  22" - yeah, keep thinking of the ling limit. That's about flounder size.   It crossed my mind out there that I wouldn't remember what the limit for WSB is if I caught one - I guess I need to write these things down on waterproof card or something.  Maybe I could slide it into my license holder.   

Nice going, Tom. I'm heading over there tomorrow morning.

The WSB minimum size is 28 inches. Did you see any cruising around?

I keep a copy of the regs in a ziplock in my bilge at all times... then I can look up the appropriate rules on the boat if I catch some lovely fish I wasn't expecting.

Of course, it seems like every year the DFG tries to make the book more confusing so they can give us bigger tickets for getting confused. 

YES!!!!
WTG tom!!  Wishin I was fishin esp in Capitola right now

Proud of you, my boy!  and n the lure too after fishing live bait for hours  ironic.

Allen

Outstanding!!! Nice job. Thanks for sharing. I have been living vicariously through my ncka brothers. Keep those awesome reports coming!!!

-FF

congrats on the butt.  Sounds like the bait is getting thick, time to whip out the light rod and go mak fishing.

Very nice!

congrats on the butt.  Sounds like the bait is getting thick, time to whip out the light rod and go mak fishing.

hey Eugene, according rto reports I'm getting, no mention of macks.  Plenty of anchovies (big ones) in the harbor, by the SC wharf, and scattered around in the shalows.  Some sardines as well, a few squiddies here and there.

Good time to load up on home-made popsicles. 

Allen

Allen

tom, congrats! you do great with those 1.99 walleye runners!