Sonoma Coast

I launched my jerry-rigged green 8' Yak Board from Duncan's Cove around the morning high tide (10 Am).
There were big swells outside of the cove, but only a 2' high surge at the landing, which made for
an easy launch. I tried to find some shallow-water lings but they didn't seem to be where I was fishing.
Instead, I ran into some good-sized blues. Because I was fishing for the fillets, I kept the first 10 I caught.
The average size was about 14", the smallest 12", the largest 20" (about 4#). After I caught my limit, I left.

All the fish appeared to be close in to the offshore rocks in about 25'-35' of water. The best lure I have found
for both shallow water lings and blues here is the 4" Wildeye Anchovy. The fish seem to like that color more
than any other, and they hit the 4" size much more readily than even the 5" model. The blues seem to prefer
to be on the sides of the rocks that are being hit by the waves. The swells were over my head much of the time;
it was an interesting experience to cast downhill to the rocks, from the top of one swell into the trough of the
proceeding one!  

Now that I have approximately 10# of fillets, I'll have to leave the rockfish for the rest of you for awhile!
If you ever see a green Yak Board with a large red and white cooler bungied to the front end off the Sonoma
Coast, or one performing the ugliest wipeouts possible at Salmon Creek Beach, it could only be me.    Paul

P.S. The above trip occurred on Wednesday, 10/18/06. Sorry about that!  Paul