Sea Ranch - crab and rockfish

Myself and wife rented a house at Sea Ranch with a couple yak friends and wives. Saturday morning the weather was OK, swells were a bit big but we had a go at it. No problems getting out of Shell beaches small shoot through the rocks. Put down the crab traps in 35' just outside the shoot and paddles up maybe 1/4 mile scouting. Fish were there but really scattered. Found a couple schools outside the kelp in 60'+/-. Used cod rigs with only 1 loop, homemade shrimp flys and/or pink hoochies with squid trailer, bottom of the rig was a 6 ounce jig. Limit of quality rc of blues, blacks, copper and one big red in 2+ hours. No lings but a couple good hits.
We had one rollover while my buddy was fighting maybe our only ling when his line snapped which sent him ass over. I had just removed one blue from a double and noticed the bottom of his feet. I quickly placed my rod in my lap to paddle over and the remaining blue on my line decided to make a break for it... %$#$%$! Luckly I had another pole ready to go.
Headed back about two hours later, pulled the traps for 1/2 limits of rock/dungee combo. Bait was salmon bellies from early season AR fish. Swells are now real big with small amount of time in between. We put everything in hatches and bungeed up for the landing/yardsale. Waited outside for our shot through the rocks to the beach. I grabbed the chance to surf on the last set wave and before it really started cresting I gave one big back paddle and the next small wave got us on the beach nice n smooth... easy peezee.
While paddling back I found some real nice rock formations in 40' covered in fish and also found some large sandy areas for the traps, so I marked my gps. We will be back for more crab and rc sooner than later. Great trip, house was awesome and cheap, jacuzzi was a major plus after being out on the water. I'll try and put out the word a few weeks in advance next time we go and maybe make it a group thang. Mike

Welcome aboard Mike.  Thanks for the Sea Ranch's report.  What's the going rate for a weekend rental there?

The house we got was a 2 bedroom with a double twins loft and a queen pullout couch. $989 for thurs - sun including deposit ($300) and cleaning fee. Add food, beverages and and whatever and your looking at less than $300 a couple. Really a good deal. Their off season is stay 2 nights and get a free night. The house was really nice with unobstructed views of the ocean. 1 min walk to the rocks and 2 min drive to the beach.

Thanks for the info Mike.  That's a very "reasonable" rate for SR.  I predict an NCKA's hookup at the SR in a near future. 

I've stayed out there a couple times in the past with a few others, and when you split the costs, it's pretty reasonable. I've always thought it would make a great hook up. Plus this time of year, your in the mushroom season. Hmmm, crabs, abs, rockies and shrooms................sounds like a good haul.

Someone set it up and I'm in!

If we got 10 people then it's cost $100 each for a 3 day weekend.  Not bad huh...

Mike, did you find it on VRBO or through an agency or something?

My parents are coming out and I was thinking of a weekend getaway with them and the family up there.

Damn nice! I have been wanting to hit Sea Ranch for a while now. Will see if I can't get the family up here soon  maybe Thanksgiving weekend? I know there has got to be some nice fish up there. Good to see some crabs are also there might look into Anchor Bay also since I can dive there till the end of the month.
Later
JImbo

The rental company is sea ranch getaway.
http://www.searanchgetaway.com/
http://www.searanchgetaway.com/mapimages/unit24.htm

We rented Deer Watch.

The only thing about launching from Shell beach, it's between two rocks right in the break zone and can be a bit tricky depending on the swell size and direction. It's definitely not for the faint of heart or the novice paddler. The site of some huge breakers is enough to scare em off.
Myself and some yak buddies have a had a fishing tourny every year for the last 10 off Usal beach, which should really be called yardsale beach, but we've learned to launch and land in some decent surf over time.
I would be game for a mini tourny/ friend gathering in a few weeks, weather permitting. We could most likely get a great deal if we pool together on a few properties. Let's see how much interest we can get and go from there. I'll see how many I can pool together. Mike