Quick dip

Had to work 6 hrs Saturday AM, but then was free so paddled out from a local beach.

Rougher than I was hoping for but picked my way through pinnacles and white wash to a relatively calm area.

Great viz but super surgy under 40 feet.

Forgot to charge GoPro so only recorded first few drops...luckily saw some cool critters right away...

On first drop to check the anchor I saw a decent Ling gliding away...always cool to see them free swimming...

Then a cool camoed cabbie on the side of a surgy pinnacle...surge pushed me right into him so he spooked quicker than I hoped, but cool to see him bolt up the side of the pinnacle towards the top...

Then found a cool Juvenile sheephead down in a gully...only the 2nd juvie sheep I have seen up here in this area...have seen and taken plenty of adults but stoked to see these little ones and hope it is a good sign for them establishing a population...to keep up with me shooting a few of them each year. 

Here's the footage I got:

https://instagram.com/p/BtJuCJNA1Y8/

Later on I took some blues, a decent sheep, and a nice 30+ inch Ling hiding under a boulder at 45 feet. 

When I got back to yak and was stowing gear to paddle in I saw a BIG shape coming up in the water...thought at first it was the TaxMan, but then saw the barnacles and the tail as a WHALE went right under me...so cool to see, especially so close up in the great viz! 

Course GoPro was dead so no pics didn't happen I guess... 

Here's a few pics. Gifted the 4 blues to a family friend...kept Sheep fillets for ceviche, and Ling fillets for steaks/nuggets/tacos. Heads and collars eaten as well of course.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Thanks for the post Jim!
My gills are dry I need to get out there 

That sheep’s head looks delish!!!

Thanks for the report and pictures Jim.  Just curious, I saw no hole on the Sheephead so did you catch it by hands? 

Thanks for the report and pictures Jim.  Just curious, I saw no hole on the Sheephead so did you catch it by hands? 

I hit it in the spine on the other side on a long (not so great) shot...shaft stopped before going all the way through, and I wrassled her underwater to make sure she didn't get away. 

That sheep’s head looks delish!!!

It was soooo good. All the yummy fat was bomb!

Thanks for the post Jim!
My gills are dry I need to get out there 

Yeah man I feel ya...only my 2nd time in water all year...felt great to be out there even though I can tell I'm pretty out of shape. 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

That sheephead is a beauty 

So awesome!

Wow.. sounds like a great time.. great looking fish too.. thanks for sharing..

Thanks guys...

Here's some pics from dinner last night...Sheephead ceviche, skin-on fried Lingcod belly, Sofrito topped Ling steaks. And cold beer. 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

That sheep’s head looks delish!!!

I'm certain it tasted delish, but it definitely looks like the stuff of nightmares =P

Jim - I've seen more juvy sheepshead this month than I did all of last year combined (in the monterey area), so I hope they get established too... and I hope people let them get to a decent size before harvesting.

Adam mentioned there being whales in front of Monterey Bay Kayak in less than 15' of water... wish I could do some weekday dives and swim with them!

Glad people are putting fish on DOTY so early! The competition is super fun!