Stillwater 9-9 WFO

Late report...was waiting to see if I could get my CF card to download the pics, but it's not cooperating.

Headed alone to Stillwater yesterday, figuring I'd run into a few yak fishermen there.  I did - 5 others besides me were there to take advantage of the picture-perfect conditions.  Launched at 7:30am on glassy waters and headed out to the Pinnacles, figuring I'd get it out of the way before the winds kicked up.  No one at the Pinnacles but me and a couple of divers (and then a boatload of divers when one of the Monterey charters showed up).  Fishing was mediocre at first, and then suddenly blacks started leaping out of the water (and fighting to see who'd get my lure).  Stayed there until 10:30 or so, leaving when I decided that all of the divers must be chasing Mr. Ling away from my line.

Paddled to the kelp in front of the pink house, hooking up with another yakker who said the olives were as thick as thieves.  They were...I dropped my line and began an hour-long process of pulling up fish...blacks, olives and gophers were the mainstay (mostly blacks).  I spent the next 2.5 hours slowly working my way back into the cove, hoping for the elusive ling (still haven't caught a keeper yet)  or maybe a cabbie.  No luck on those, but the rockies were consistent all the way back.  I caught easily 3 dozen fish all day, keeping six for fish tacos and fish soup tonight.  MUCH better than last week at Breakwater!

Total time on water - 6 hours.  Yes, the conditions were so great that I couldn't tear myself away.  The wind - shockingly - never came up, other than a light breeze now and then to cool me off, and the swells were small, the water glassy in a lot of spots.  This was all the way up until 1:30 when I came back in.  Awesome weather, easily the best I've encountered since starting the madness last year. 

Ran into some of the other yakkers an the way in.  Two of them had caught 3 lings between the pair, and the other guys had rockfish for dinner.  No one I asked was on NCKA, although two of them said they check out the site now and then.  (Said it was too "political" for their tastes)  Didn't ask everyone though...any NCKA'ers out there with me yesterday?

I'll post the pics if and when the CF card gets unconstipated.

Sounds like a great day, Usagi!
The Pinnacles close on Sept 21st.

Thanks for the report!
PK

I guess if you are sticking rock fish like that but want a ling you could upsize your lure to a 7" plus specimen.

If you have two rods, rig one with whatever you are using for the rockfish and one with a 3-8oz head and 7+" plastic.

once you start catching rockfish, put that rod away and drop the big lure down there. sometimes the legal but not huge lings are too small to hitchhike on a decent rockfish. but they will hit a 7" swimbait.

good luck!

way to go, apparently there is a balance to the universe.  SW paid back for the past bad trip big time!  I only remember that post because of your rant to the gods, worthy of a 'fishy literary' award.

nice report I hope to fish with some of you guys out there and get to know where these spots are, I am new to the Yak fishing.  Where is still cove?, i have only fished in front of MBK and have done O.K. but would love to get out more and fish other places.  Thanks in advanced for help and tips.

nice report I hope to fish with some of you guys out there and get to know where these spots are, I am new to the Yak fishing.  Where is still cove?, i have only fished in front of MBK and have done O.K. but would love to get out more and fish other places.  Thanks in advanced for help and tips.

Directions to Stillwater: http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,5197.0.html

Better hurry though, because the timer runs out on this fishing area when the MLPA's take effect on the 21st...

I believe the pinnacles are history but the rest of the cove is still OK right?

They drew a square around the Pinnacles. But the rest of the cove is still legal.
PK

They drew a square around the Pinnacles. But the rest of the cove is still legal.

Right, my bad for not being clear.

Finally got my CF card to cooperate, so here are a few pics from Sunday...

The Pinnacles at 10:30am:


Just outside the cove at 1:30 pm (can you believe it??):




Dinner, hanging off my Yakima rack (with a little NCKA love in the rear window!):