Capitola Skiff 9/22/19 Report

a couple weeks ago my Girlfriend showed some interest in fishing so we got on a skiff this morning out of Capitola despite the long period swell from the south.

This being her first time fishing in the ocean the objective was find bait and spend as long as we can catching that because I knew she would get a kick out of that, the last fish she caught was before kindergarten.  after we got about 25 anchovies in the bucket the bait moved on and we made a b-line for the mile buoy, dangling a couple 4oz swimbaits with some squid skirted 6/0 hooks above those.  We drifted for a while, a really slow drift. I was trying to work the rocks, but was having a hard time finding them, but we hit a couple drifts from rock to sand and back rock to sand, and then I got hit by something.  it takes drag, head shakes on head shakes, more drag.  I was really confused to be honest, because this hali never gave up, it was running the whole fight but out came a 24.5" halibut that I was so sure wasn't 22" I hand lined it into the boat and that I measured for fun to help teach her the correct way to measure and size/bag limit I had to remeasure it 4 times, but I was stoked!

after moving spots a couple times, we came back to the mile buoy and she got a take down from what I assumed was a rock cod that didn't pan out, but she had a blast catching chovies, and wants to catch a salmon now.

not a bad day out on the water, I didn't see a lot of bent rods anywhere but it was a perfect day for the GF to experience the ocean in a small craft, one less bait trip for anchovies and my second legal halibut ever, so a good albeit tough day fishing. 

Congrats! That's god stuff right there👍. That's a successful day with a south swell in the water.

Impressed that you got a halibut when the bite was so slow!

FUN!!

Way to get the GF on it!   

Thanks guys, it was pretty awesome, a good warm day with sun and no fog and just the slightest swell really.  she just texted me this morning she was happy with the anchovies, they were really fun, but wants to catch a big fish now. so now that she's caught anchovies, we'll troll by them next time and see what happens.

Great job you two! 

borrow or rent a kayak and go to the HMB meet and greet and Sushi making next weekend. HMB is an easy launch and there may be salmon close in by the green can

borrow or rent a kayak and go to the HMB meet and greet and Sushi making next weekend. HMB is an easy launch and there may be salmon close in by the green can

Sounds like a fun time, but I work saturday

The skiffs are how I got my kids hooked!

Not trying to forecast anything about you and your sweetie, but there are worse foundations for a relationship.

There are some great anchovy curing recipients, and then pizza recipes for your ‘chovies, and then...

Well, way to go!!