Garrapata SP 5/6/07 (Sunday) w/pics

If you did not go to ocean for fishing today, I think that you made a good call (IMO). Today’s ocean was gnarly. Wind came up from nowhere. Swells were bigger than that forecasted. 

Nomad and I went to Garrapata SP today. Nomad, good fishing with you!

Early morning was no wind, but swells were pretty big and choppy. We launched ok. We paddled out and started fishing. Fishing was active and as usual we returned most of rockfish. Wind came up suddenly after fishing for 1 hour.  It was a little too big and scary. So we decided to come back to the shore w/ a few fish. Uphill paddling against the wind = exhausted (no fun).

When we finally made back ~10AM, the wind and swells died down a bit. Since we had a few fish at our hands (most were returned ), we decided to go out again.  We fished for another hour and half. The wind came back howling. White caps were at the left and the right. In a couple of times, kayaks were at tips of white caps.  Also, the swells made us felt seasick. Paddling back was tough especially when sick.

Results - 1 Ling (25”), 2 Reds (20”), 2 Olivers (19”) and 1 black for me. Nomad had a string of rockfish. The red is good size. See pictures.

Be aware - the ocean condition at the early season is less predictable.

Eric

Reds, olivers and blacks:

Great report guys!
Looks like Soberanes is still producing quality fish.

Thanks,
PK

Great fish! Cant wait to go out again.

Way to tough it out and produce!!  Nice fish.

-- Dave

thanks for the report, you guys are troopers to do garapatta in the wind!

thanks for sharing!

John

That was the most freaked out I have been so far on the ocean.  Swells were easily 10 ft.  Combine that and the occasional wave in the lap...I don't want to do that again anytime soon. 

I hauled up 2 lings....both shy of 24".  I also caught 3 greenling, kept one.  Can't wait to do it again Eric....when the weather cooperates a little more.

we are doing garrapata this weekend on Saturday morning. the swells finally look good enough to lug thos yaks down the cliff and hit some of the old gps spots. my trick is to watch where the dive boat goes then anchor where they were once they leave. never fails to produce a ling there; )

john

That is one beautiful stringer of fish.  I really like the colors; red, orange, green, gray, and black.  We are lucky to have such pretty fish.

You guys are cool, you've got guts going out on that day.  I would think the launch @  Garrapata would be challenging w/ head high surf.

Also, don't know if you or everyone knows but you can get coastal observations & buoy observations while your on the water if you call/cell the NWS @ 805-278-0760 & then you punch in your area #.  May have helped if you saw the Monterey of San Martin buoy kicking up.

Thanks, PJ for the tip of checking swells on that time. Unfortunately, cell phone had no signal.

The wind was a killer. At one time water came into my yak. and washed off the deck. scupper holes were handy. I would not dare venturing out that far if I had been alone.

That's a huge red! Ballsy yakking too.

my trick is to watch where the dive boat goes then anchor where they were once they leave. never fails to produce a ling there; )

John, I noticed that too. I've come upon a diver who said he didn't see any lings aftr he tanked 20 minutes on the wreck,; then I dropped down to see them all over the place. And I have raced out to be the first one there and get skunked; then others who followed reaped the harvest!

My forecast doesn't look favorable at all, major wind and 9' mixed swell.   

My forecast doesn't look favorable at all, major wind and 9' mixed swell.   

i hear that! i just saw the forecast and it looks not so good. i think i'll pack for the trip and run to the trading post.

john