Santa Cruz harbor to the lighthouse 6/19/08 - nada

Launched at 11 AM and paddled into the wind past the lighthouse. Drifted a couple of times, but the wind and waves were a bit too strong to keep that up for long. Had a couple of hits, including something that fileted my anchovy! No kidding; something grabbed it, and I must have pulled it right out of its mouth, because all that came up was a head and spine and no meat. Also had a close encounter with a small halibut. It actually followed my squid all the way to the boat before it spooked. The guys in the PB next to me had a 26 inch ling, but I didn't hear of anything else that was caught. The guy at Bayside said it has been very slow the past few days.

At least it was a good paddle in some cool air.

Way to give it a go though.  Don't be kicking yourself to badly.  From every report I come across in the Monterey Bay area, the report is the same ol slow slow slow.  Heck that report has been the same for most ocean fishing all the way north to Golden Gate.  What's going on with these fish?

Right on, Bill, nice try.  Getting the chovy fileted is cool - at least you know it wasn't kelp!  Sometimes that has to suffice as the best action of the day.  Being out there is the real tonic.  Always nice to hook a fish though!   

Sounds familiar  I did the exact same thing with the same results on fathers day.  Can't wait for this wind to die down. Thanks for the report. Don't give up. It'll happen eventually.

-FF

I like paddling anyway, so it's never a total loss. I feel sorry for the skunked guys in power boats who spend a bunch of money, get seasick, and don't get any exercise.

I like paddling anyway, so it's never a total loss. I feel sorry for the skunked guys in power boats who spend a bunch of money, get seasick, and don't get any exercise.

I hear ya. It IS really nice just to get out. I sure love kayaking. I've been talking about getting a boat for a while now and with gas prices the way they are I'm really glad I haven't gotten one. There is sooo much you can do on a kayak. If I really want to get somewhere that is out of range for a kayak I'll just hop on a charter boat. A lot cheaper than owning your own boat....

-FF

[ If I really want to get somewhere that is out of range for a kayak I'll just hop on a charter boat. A lot cheaper than owning your own boat....

-FF

Do the math, and you would be amazed at the number of charters you could take before you price even to owning a boat.  Been there, done that, now on a yak for good.