SC/Capitola 10/18/13

I launched from the harbor at about 7:15 and planned to pedal nonstop to the SpongeBob buoy, then troll back from Capitola. Just out of the harbor, I had some technical difficulties---my Hobie fins started squeaking with every pedal stroke. Actually, it was more like a screech than a squeak. This had happened a couple times before, but never lasted more than a couple of minutes. This time it went on for 30 annoying minutes. Just as I was ready to give up and call it a day, it stopped. After carefully inspecting the fins, I concluded everything was OK, and decided to continue.

I couldn't resist making a couple of drops near Pleasure Point, and I got one (just barely legal-sized) ling. Continuing on, I got past the Capitola wharf and thought I was losing my marbles because I couldn't find SpongeBob. It turns out, he's temporarily out of commission:
http://capitolaboatandbait.com/2013/10/04/capitola-sponge-bob-went-a-drift-well-wait-till-spring-to-set-him-back-out

I did see a couple of whales spouting near that red buoy out in front of Capitola Village (thanks to GoPro, you might need a magnifying glass to see them, although they were actually pretty close):


And I didn't see any evidence of the recent anchovy die-off:
http://capitolaboatandbait.com/2013/10/16/capitola-looks-like-boiling-anchovies

So, I was finally ready to get serious about fishing. After about an hour of "fishing", I had caught one undersized ling, and had 4 knots fail (yes, 4). Reluctantly, I gave up and just enjoyed the scenery on the way back to the harbor. I was back in the harbor by about 11:15.

The knot problem totally baffles me. Three of them failed with almost no force applied, and the 4th was nowhere near its official breaking point. I've used this same mono (Seaguar Senshi) for about a month now and until today, I thought it was fantastic.

Anyways, I suspect the fishing was probably decent today. I just wish that I could've spent more time fishing and less time fighting with my equipment.

Thanks for the report and video Mark.  I would double check the Mirrage drive before the next trip if I were you.

Did you wet the knots before tightening them????

I've made that trip, the other way--Capitola to Santa Cruz and back. It's a haul. Good report for a frustrating day with the knots.