Cape Mendocino 5/31 & 6/1

My parents flew in from Texas saturday so I got my dad geared up and ready for some fast rockfishing.   My friend Tony joined us so we loaded 3 Hobie Outbacks on my truck, gassed up at Bear River, grabbed some breakfast sandwiches in Ferndale and started our over the hill.  We arrived at Cape Mendocino to see the most kayaks I  have ever witnessed on the water out there before on a single day.  There was nearly 20 kayaks on the water that day including us.  Tony, my dad and I drove past where everyone else launched from and launched our kayaks just up the road with a straight shot to Devils Gate.  We had a late start and the conditions were decent when we started.  We started right off the bat getting doubles of blacks or black and a ling, but the current was ripping and the wind started picking up quickly.  My dad and I went in and back to the launch since it wasn't conditions for a 1st time kayaker.  I was disappointed that the wind blew us off so quick, but my dad still enjoyed the fishing catching at least 6 fish that were all released.  I kept one big black and Tony brought home a nice verm and a few blacks.  We saw all the other kayaker head in shortly after we got on the water.  We did get hang out the beach and get some help  bringing our kayaks back up the hill from some fellow kayaker friends that I introduced to Dad.  We drove home talking about the funew experience we had on the water.  Some big lings were caught by the kayaker who got there early.  The biggest was 40.25" and around 25lbs.  Everyone brought home a few good fish.

On Monday a friend texted saying he was going to get the day off from work and needed some company at the Cape so I got the go ahead from my folks since they wanted a relaxing day to go see some sights and stuff.  My dad said they would drive down where we were to check us out and show my mom the area we fished.  When Tony and I arrived at the Cape there was lots of fog, but it was high enough to see the rocks and see shore from where we were fishing.  Our friend Matt was ready and we got our gear together and launched into some bumpy conditions.  We headed south since the drift was fast to the north.  The fish were biting as usual and we began catching lots of blacks and smaller but keeper lings.  I caught a nice verm at 21" that I decided to keep.  We all caught lots of fish and released many more.  It wasnt my day for a big ling though I  almost got it at the end of the day when I caught a 26"er that spit up a good sized fresh octopus that I tipped my swim bait with.  I had a big one on a few times, but they kept shaking the hook.  Oh  well I will get my big ling next time. Tony and Matt both had some big lings at 38"+ as well as some nice verms and blacks.  Matt went in first and Tony came in a half hour behind him and I was a half hour behind Tony since I was trying to get my big ling for the day.  When were at the beach we had some cold brews while we measured the fish, took some fish porn pics, and talked about the day out there.  The day started bumpy with a fast drift , but ended with calm waters and a much slower drift.  Matt left before us and Tony and I finally hit the road just at dark and didn't get home till 10:30.  It was a long day.  My parents made it out there and walked the beach as well as went to the mouth of the Mattole.  On the way they came back thinking we might be back in, but it's hard to get o ff the water out there when the fishing is so good.  It's hard to believe that this was my 4th trip to Cape Mendocino on my kayak already this year in the last 2 weeks.

I'm hoping to get one salmon trip in on a boat if the weather cooperates.  Either way my dad and mom will all get on the kayaks and either cruise Trinidad harbor or Shelter cove harbor so my mom can experience the water up close and hopefully the whales will be nearby like they were on Saturday in Trinidad where I took the whale picture below

A couple more pics of carnage and the grey whale encounter saturday

nice haul of monster lings.     thanks for sharing!

Impressive guys!!

Love the 3 Ling Pic!  Your an animal!    Great write up too, thanks for sharing!

NICCCCCCEEEEE!!!  I love that 3 Ling Shot!!     i dont think that has ever been done here @ NCKA!
Congrats!!  and thanks for the nice write up and pics to accompany it.

Thanks for the report and pictures Rob.

Oh that chucklehead 

Great day and job!

Matt

yep that 3 ling pic is AWESOME!!!

Awesome stuff, fellas. Thanks for the pics and report!

Nice coppers!!

Strong work Rob! The Cape is pure magic....raw and straight up Jurassic park on the water.....she calls like a siren.

Nice guys. way to go.

You go man. Nice

Damn Dude