Fort Ross 11/8

I know this has been partly covered in another thread, but here's my report:
This was my first trip to this location. Arrived at the loading area at about 8:15, then didn't look at a clock again till after I landed around 1:30 or so. Met a bunch of divers, but no NCKA guys til I saw CaptainKayack on the water. Conditions were overcast, very little wind and small swells. I started fishing outside the first kelp north of the launch, picking up several medium and small blacks or blues (I can never remember how to tell which is which) pretty quickly. Met CK about that time, and was starting to think about moving on to find bigger and better fish when I hooked something bigger, which turned out to be a ling about 27". I brought it up to the boat three times and each time it swam back down before I could gaff it, finally tired it out and hauled it aboard for a hardwood shampoo and some pictures before going into the bag. After that we followed the edge of the kelp further around to the north, continuing to catch medium blacks from time to time. Went a little further out away from the kelp where the PBs were working, action seemed slower but picked up a nice China. Later on headed back toward the launch, caught a gopher (or possibly copper, not certain) near where I got the ling earlier. Spoke to Jonesz (and I think amphibian?) on the radio, then headed south of the launch toward the rocky islands. Fairly slow action in that area too, though I didn't get all the way to the islands. By this time the fish bag was pretty full and I was starting to feel cold, so I started moving back toward the launch. Picked up one medium sized vermillion on the way in. I guess jonesz and amph had moved off to the north while I was away south so I never actually saw either of them. Sorry to miss you guys. Light rain was coming and going all morning, but visibility was OK until after I got my truck loaded. Then the fog came in and the fort was totally socked in as I was driving away. It didn't clear up until after I turned inland from Bodega, so it was a pretty slow ride home. Made a great fish soup from the heads, plus a few fillets thrown in. Here are some pictures:

PS: I forgot to mention, I was using a rig with a single shrimp fly teaser and a leadhead with a swim bait or scampi at the bottom, no bait, and all fish including the ling took the shrimp fly.

Nice I luv those Smurf Eatin Lings Thanks for the report

Right on! Nice Report.  Looks like a Gopher to me.

See the sweet graphic's by NCKA's own Ab10.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pdfs/fishid2008.pdf

Awsome mixed bag thanks for the report...Andy

Nice work, Mike, and great report and pics.   

Man! I was really looking forward to going there at Fort Ross last Saturday. Stupid migraine had to happened.

Jedmo

Now I feel really bad you had a migraine Jed.  Look what could have been...
nice work guys

Well I finally made it out there, jsut about when you were coming in. Found several lings hangin' around and a nice verm before I headed in. It got down right nasty for a bit right after I got in. Very bizzar day out there. Right when you think the fogs in for good, it pulls back. Fun afternoon out there tho. Thanks for answering up on the radio. It helped talk me into giving it a go...

a good mix-bagO'fish Mike! thanks for the pics&d'tails! 
I guess the word of LINGS being a "no keep" during Nov. is wrong?