China Camp on the wrong day

I went out to China Camp on Saturday hoping for the calm sunny day that some of the forecasts were predicting. It was sunny with medium to light breezes but the water was very choppy. I got there about 11:00. I was a little surprised that no one was there but I figured it was my only opportunity for the week so I'd give it a try. Launched through small surf and paddled out about a mile to the north east. There were several boats in the area but no yaks. My new anchor rig and augmented anchor worked fine, thanks to Tote for posting the rigging instructions and to Craig and Adam and a few others for advice on the anchor itself. I also finally got my sonar working again with all new battery connectors and fuse holder. I got some nice ghost shrimp from Mike's bait in Oakland. The problem was that once I got out there I was bobbing up and down like a cork and simply couldn't keep the bait holding still on the bottom unless I let the line go very slack. If I had got a bite I might never have known it. But anyhow, no bites, the shrimp remained untouched and I headed back in after about 3 1/2 hours. Paddling in was kind of fun with the 2' +/- chop following me, it speeded me up quite a bit compared to when I was going out. I also had fun surfing in to the beach. I was walking out on the Albany bulb on Sunday, the water was dead calm with almost 0 breeze, perfect apart from the rain. I guess I picked the wrong day...

way to give it a try fishinmike, thats just the way sturgeon fishing goes, always should of been here yesterday syndrome, cameron

It was choppy @ CC on Friday too!  Thanks for report Mike.

Craig, myself and others Im sure will be there next Sat, come on along and I can show you how to keep the bait on the bottom the whole time AND still get skunked- I do it all the time
Way to stick it out solo out there, its no place for sissies for sure!

good on ya' for trying Mike......jusy quit now and save yourself alot of heart ache and wasted time. 
I got sick and blew chunks on friday....it was nasty enough to make me want to NEVER do it again.

IT'SnotFUNNYsoWHYisTHATlilGUYlaughingATme!?

Good try Mike. You will get one soon enough you'll see.

Jedmo

Adam ThatS funny but I am sorry to hear you got ill.

Mike I will be there on Saturday as long as its not blowing like crazy or like a monsoon. Saltydog will be there too. When I got up in Petaluma on saturday am the wind was coming from the south and it wasnt warm. That was at 7 am . It just got worse and I was thinking it didnt look like an appealing day to be at CC. I went to Alameda to see my Mom on Sunday and you are right. It was a different day. Flat water on the Richmond bridge. Then I thought crap its nice I should be at CC. I also noticed for the first time on the way over just past Richmond between there and  El Cerrito there is a sign that says that there is a park down by the water somewhere by those industrial buildings before the little bay by the racetrack. Have you ever been down there? I was wondering about a launch there for halibut during that time. South Hampton must be just straight out from there.

 Anyway good for you for trying. High tide on saturday is at a little past 7am. Nice little tide with a 5+ runout and no mud coming in after waiting for the swing. Craig

Way to give it a shot.

I know how cold and miserable it can get out there and I'm still dying to get out.