Russian Gulch 8/14&15 Hookup

My wife and I are planning to head to Russian Gulch for a camping and fishing trip this weekend.
Planning to fish Friday afternoon starting around noon and Saturday morning around 7 AM.
If you don't see me on the beach, just call me on Ch 69

Paul

Are you staying inshore or going out to the ocean?

I will be in the area this weekend (staying in Little Rock). I was thinking of either Russian Gulch or Van Damme.

My wife might be interested in going out as well, kayaking or doing a little bit of snorkeling (we are beginners).

I'll have my Hobie and my VHF, so I can find you on the 69.

Thanks,
LK

Are you staying inshore or going out to the ocean?

I will be in the area this weekend (staying in Little Rock). I was thinking of either Russian Gulch or Van Damme.

My wife might be interested in going out as well, kayaking or doing a little bit of snorkeling (we are beginners).

I'll have my Hobie and my VHF, so I can find you on the 69.

Thanks,
LK

We typically go out of the cove to 1-2 miles away.
Just look for a Papaya Hobie Oasis.

Paul

Paul will you still be around on Sunday? I might be there then.

Paul will you still be around on Sunday? I might be there then.

Hi John

I am returning home late morning and not planning to fish on Sunday.
If you drop by early you can stop by my campsite #26 and say hello.

Paul

Thanks Paul, I'll keep an eye out and say hi over the VHF.

By the way, when did you make your reservation for camping? I tried about a week ago but they didn't have any openings. Not sure if it's COVID related or they're just full. I was trying State Parks in the area, btw.

Cheers,
Luke

Threemoney, I'll be around Sunday.

I'll be in a bright green Hobie Outback.

Luke

Thanks Paul, I'll keep an eye out and say hi over the VHF.

By the way, when did you make your reservation for camping? I tried about a week ago but they didn't have any openings. Not sure if it's COVID related or they're just full. I was trying State Parks in the area, btw.

Cheers,
Luke

This is a very popular place and you need to make reservations 6 months ahead.

Paul

Threemoney, I'll be around Sunday.

I'll be in a bright green Hobie Outback.

Luke

I’ll be in a camo outback, grey ram truck, tan drysuit. Probably be there around 630 or 7 or so.

Hi guys,

I ended up fishing Van Damme Saturday afternoon a bit and then again Sunday morning. The Mrs. was doing snorkeling there and had a kayak class.

I trolled for salmon outside the bay by the red can for a few hours, no luck except caught a rockfish.

Then went in and caught some rockfish by jigging the rockfish candy lures.

Talking to locals, it seems the kelp is making a big comeback, which is good news. We did some free diving and saw some abs.

There is kelp in Van Damme Cove?  I was there almost exactly 2 months ago and there wasn't a single blade of Nereocystis, at least on the surface, in that whole cove.  I left feeling pretty depressed at what I have seen happen environmentally over my own lifetime as exemplified in that cove.  I regretted not having time left on that trip to get in a dive to see what it looked like underwater, however - but maybe the program to dispatch the overpopulated spiny purples is having a positive effect? Tell me it is so.  In contrast, at same time two months ago Noyo Cove appeared pretty healthy kelp-wise, with maybe only a slightly diminished kelp population.

There is kelp in Van Damme Cove?  I was there almost exactly 2 months ago and there wasn't a single blade of Nereocystis, at least on the surface, in that whole cove.  I left feeling pretty depressed at what I have seen happen environmentally over my own lifetime as exemplified in that cove.  I regretted not having time left on that trip to get in a dive to see what it looked like underwater, however - but maybe the program to dispatch the overpopulated spiny purples is having a positive effect? Tell me it is so.  In contrast, at same time two months ago Noyo Cove appeared pretty healthy kelp-wise, with maybe only a slightly diminished kelp population.

Not much if any inside the cove, but the fringing kelp beds off Spring Ranch (north of VD) are doing well this year. All along the Mendocino coast the kelp is looking better than it has in three or four years - still only a fraction of what was here just ten years ago though.

This is the first really cold-water year since 2014 and that is probably the main thing helping the kelp. ReefCheck is just about to restart their pilot urchin-removal project, so that hasn't really had a noticeable effect.

That bed in the inner Noyo Bay is preserved by a moat of sand, according to some divers I've spoken with. The sand keeps the urchins out but isn't deep enough to inhibit the kelp.

Yes, there was quite a bit of kelp on the outside of the cove near the rock islands. A few locals I was drifting along with in our kayaks were also saying that the improvement is significant.

That said, I went for a dive and there was a lot of those purple urchins coating the rocks.

Thanks -great news that the kelp is recovering!  I will be there this weekend to paddle with my young daughters inside the cove and try their hands at fishing and maybe get a dive in.