Westport Report No Pics 6/13

I've got to get a camera.  I almost bought one, but then my ff leaked and I had to buy a new one.  In a few months.

My friend Al and I are exploring new launches north of Fort Bragg, which it turns out there are quite a few of.  We did this one that has a great concrete trail (wheelchair access) down to the water.  Great looking reef, but can only be done in calm water.

We fished in shallow at first without a strike.  We were about to leave, when I heard some chatter coming from a PB (the only one around) about 3/4 mi out.  So we paddled out there.

Deep water, about 90 ft and the fish were pretty much going off, but not a very good grade:  Blacks, blues, chinas, MILLIONS OF GOPHERS, and giant illegal canaries.  No lings at all.  We both took limits of blacks, chinas, and gophers, but I was expecting much better.

I've got to get one of those fish descenders. The toss backs gophers were not doing too good.  Even when I punctured the swim bladder with a small hook, they were pretty much dead.

Like I said, there are a number of good launches in the Westport area.  I won't announce them on the web, but will let anyone know with a PM.

Dave

Way to scout it out, Dave.  Let me know when you're heading a little farther north.

 

Thanks for the report, I've been wondering about north of the Bragg. I had heard about that concrete access, you confirm it.
As for the deeper water and floaters, descenders work, though i think they're a hassle. If I do fish the deeper water I'll only use BIG lures so that the little guys don't get hooked. I prefer 50 FOW or less.
We were out of Russian Gulch saturday and it was slow but we did get some quality in 50 FOW or less.

If I do fish the deeper water I'll only use BIG lures so that the little guys don't get hooked.

Yeah it's a good plan, but I'm always amazed when I pull up a 12" gopher with my 10" lure sideways in it's mouth looking like a dog with it's favorite stick.   

Dave , I tried a new technique for me anyway to descend the fish. I hooked the leadhead just to the out side soft tissue on the lower lip and let the fish down. When the fish was down far enough I jerked up on the rod acouple of times and the hook tore out. It worked great. No separate descender and the soft tissue will heal nicely I think. I was hoping for a good report from you about westport. The bite may have just been off. It was on Sunday  at the fort with just small fish.

If I do fish the deeper water I'll only use BIG lures so that the little guys don't get hooked.

Yeah it's a good plan, but I'm always amazed when I pull up a 12" gopher with my 10" lure sideways in it's mouth looking like a dog with it's favorite stick.   

Craig, that  descender idea sounds good.  i'm gonna give it a try.

We were using big megabait type jigs, but the gophers were suicidal.  They would bite on anything.  They eat good, but there's not much to them.

The canaries went about 5-6 lbs a piece.  Nice fish.  I've never seen them that big.  I kept wondering if they were something else and I was releasing a legal fish.  The only thing like them are coppers, and I'm not sure they get that big.