6/14/07 Moss - no go, Del Monte slow

Got to moss just before 6, tide very low, swell breaking across south half of entrance- it's shoal there, and a few breakers across the north quarter.  I checked it out, had my doubts,unloaded the yak, looked again, and changed my mind and didn't launch, just was not sure what it would look like in the 20 mins it would take to get out at the entrance.  An application of The Rule of the Way Out -  leaving myself an option, and it looked pretty unforgiving if I didn't hit it just right.
  Launched at DelMonte, FAC, clear &warm.  Nice conditions didn't produce any results except a sea-lion style take- down invitation to re-rig, they were around, I didn't see the culprit. Got over to the Quarry past the hotel looking for 'buts, drifting and trolling.
  Wind came up to about 10 at 10-10:30, and there were some good swells rolling in, so I called it a day.
   Lot of bait inthe water, someone said they caught what sounded like jack smelt near the wharf.
  There were a few radio salmon early, then hardly any chatter at all, tho there were about 50 trailers in the Moss lot. 

Lot of bait inthe water, someone said they caught what sounded like jack smelt near the wharf.

What do jack smelt sound like? 

they sound long and skinny withh a forked tail and tiny mouth,  .

Thanks for the report Tom.  It sounded like the fish were going to start cooperating.  It sure was a beautiful day in Santa Cruz and it sounds like there are some good fishing near Capitola.  I am still waiting for someone to pull a kayak salmon out of Monterey Bay this season.  That person will have my respect.

way to follow the gut feeling Tom. 

Fuzzy,
Thanks for your report.

I was thinking of an 0'dark thirty launch on Sat, but noticed an 8.1 foot tide swing (6.6 High tide @ 11 PM Friday, going down to a -1.5 at 6:30 AM Sat). 

That would be a LOT of water flowing out the entrance, colliding with an incoming NW swell.  UGLY!
Very, very challenging in the daylight, but plain foolish in the dark.

I'd rather go EARLY or not at all, so I guess I'll have to wait for another time.

Stuart

I applaud your call of not going out with those conditions. I am sure the karma gods will reward you another time.

"What do Jacksmelt sound like?" :  A lot of fish laugh when I'm on the water. 

Sackyack: I think someone posted that he caught a salmon off Mitchell's a few weeks ago, as he was trolling from his yak on his way back to the harbor. Maybe that was a halibut. 
   I'm willing to crew a sailing mothership, I know a vang from a Cunningham and such, but it's been a while.

Salmon.  Natural Bridges.  Yakuza.  May 22.