Cape Mendocino - 9/3

Forecast last night was 5-10 knot winds from the north and mixed west and south swell to 4 feet.  Made late plans with Brian to meet at 5:30 at my place.  Summer's getting short, it was fully dark at 5:30 - all stars!  Had time to check the forecast issued at 3AM and it had jumped to 10-15 south of the Cape - Damn!     I didn't break that to Brian until we were underway...     We both agreed there was still the first light window, but that's often slim to none at the Cape.  We enjoyed some catchup time as we drove over the Wildcat with the sun coming up.  As we dropped down the hill at Sugarloaf Island we could see a ripple on the water, but it was clear and no caps showing yet.  The shoreline was a little messy, so we launched from our second choice of rock slots.  Once on the water it was apparent that it was going to be sloppy and choppy.  There was a really unorganized surface to battle through all the way outside of the nearshore reflective combo swells.  We got outside and started to fish.  As has happened on countless occassions out there, the wind came up as we got out there - and it was also apparent that there had already been whitecaps out there, just not visible from the truck...  The wind picked up to 15 knots with lots of caps, but we were able to stick it out and fish an hour and a half or so because there was such a strong south to north drift that we basically weren't going anywhere.  6 oz. leadheads and then even a 10 oz. were heading north with the current as we dropped down, and the wind was blowing us hard to the south but we weren't really moving due to that current.  It was weird - the wind was the equivalent of what would've blown us off the water without that current - like hook a fish, play it, go a quarter mile in a couple minutes...  So we enjoyed the usual steady pick of blacks, blues and some nice reds.  When I put the 10 oz. leadhead and big split tail on I was bored of messing with the blacks on a little red swim bait on 6 oz. head and a chovie teaser above it - they'd even been hitting the bare teaser hook over and over...  I didn't get anything on the big jig.  Brian, however, did hookup a ling, so I pulled in and headed over to get some photos and assist if necessary.  As I got there he was reaching behind him for his net and managed to get just a little off balance in the wind slop, caught a paddle edge as he held it under his elbow, and went over!  It seemed like the boat was on him, but as he'd turned he'd managed to slide off it and as it turned over on him he held it up off of him with his rod hand - ling still on there  .  He righted the boat as I got right up to him, and he announced that the gear was all tied, so that was good.  I took his rod as he quickly got back on - forgot to mention that he was on my Scrambler XT for the first time!     I will allow him to give me shit and claim that he would've been better off on his usual ride - 9' Costco boat!     So I take his rod and the ling is still on there, right at the surface, munching the greenling on Brian's jig.  I stuck the rod under my leg and paddled after his big plastic peanut butter jar full of tackle that was floating north against the 15 knot winds!  The ling towed right along, holding on to the greenling as I paddled 50'.  I got his tackle and turned around and by then Brian was paddling back up to me, so I handed off the rod and he reached down to grab the ling by hand - it finally let go at that point!  We got a laugh out of it, and it did turn out Brian lost a rod, but in all it was not a bad trip for him to have dumped.  We continued to fish and he loaded up another ling soon.  This one would not be so lucky, as Brian basically sought and destroyed it with his retrieval and net job.  35"er in the bag - it was also a hitch-hiker on a greenling.  No lings for me today.  I totalled 18 blacks, 3 blues, a red, and a grassy.  We decided to call it and have a beer while filleting the fish in the tidepools.  It was 71 degrees without a breath of wind on the beach.  Another great morning at the Cape.   

Brian managed to dump his yak nearly a mile offshore in heavy current and slop without getting his head wet, then bounce back to boat a 15+pound ling within 10 - 15 minutes.  Nice comeback!   

SWEET job guys. That water looks pretty GNAR!

Thanks for a series of pictures and a storyline. Good job on ling. Brian netted the ling to his side and a little behind him. It would be easier and safer to pull the ling in front of you and next to the bow, then net it (IMO).

It would be easier and safer to pull the ling in front of you and next to the bow

I think you're right, Eric.  You come on up here and tell Brian!     We'll get you hooked up with one of those toothy wet logs and get it chronicled on digital!     

Hey - if anyone wants to follow the forecasts and get in touch when you see "variable winds to 5 knots" and a swell of 4' or less south of the Cape we can enjoy some time together out there.  But even on days like that it's sometimes blown out...  I wish we had halibut biting right near our rockfishing spot like you guys do at Bean - that's cool.

Eric

Great pics! It really captures the North Coast!

I fish/dive up there as much as i can get away from the bay area.  At end of June was going out of the mouth at Noyo when I saw a guy in a grey yak out there by the can.  It was nasty! but he was sluggin it out I tried to keep my out out for him to make sure he would be ok, but lost him after we were trolling for a while.  Love it up there!  JR

How do you guys do it?!!!  nice fish