Santa Cruz Sat 5.30.09 - Northern Boy Farewell Tour

Actually, we weren't fishing in Santa Cruz.  But might as well have been, it was so damn slow.  Midterm stop on the Northern Boy Farewell Tour.  Lotsa laughs, lotsa paddling, slooooooooooooooow as hell fishing.  Even the PB'rs who covered oceans more water didn't do so hot.  Shame, as it was the nicest weather I've ever seen in those parts.  Just super cherry conditions.

There is one hot stick who did slam a limit.  Ahem, if he wants to chime in, I'll post some pics of him.  Otherwise, this is all 'ya gettin.

My money's on PeteB.   

Great conditions  
Great location   (just to clarify; it was Albion)
Great company   (The Wife, Peteb, Padraic, Yakuza, Pisciform, Mako1 and IslandYak)

Terrible fishing   Although there was a WFO kelp bite. You'd get bit every cast.

The launch and campground were great, you folks are in for a treat at the Albion tourney. Hopefully the fish are co-operating that day.

There was very little wind and a very fast south-north drift, so we headed south and looked for structure. We found some, but we also found a lot of submerged kelp.  We tried shallow, we tried deep, we tried drifting, we tried anchoring in kelp beds. I tried voodoo, some may even have prayed. None of it worked. In the end I just paddled south as far as I dared and drifted all the way back north, catching some double-drammamine-induced shuteye on the flattest water I've ever seen in Mendocino county. Of course, when you're not expecting it, you finally hookup. I was only after one fish to fill out the fryer and this one felt like the ideal candidate as I hauled it up. It did turn out to be the perfect size. Unfortunately it was the perfect sized canary.  .

A limit of blues was indeed caught by someone jogging against the current right up against a wash rock. Right at the end I tried that for a while but even the blues weren't interested. I did catch my first gopher of the year but it had a huge belly. I couldn't tell if it was full of babies or bugs but either way I wasn't interested so back it went.

And that was that. I'm sort of glad my last trip fishing the Mendo coast was so unproductive; it just means I'll miss it less when I'm gone!

Some pics

The Team launching


Catching the river current out to the ocean


Padraic battles a 200lb Kelp Snagfish


Peteb and Pisciform


A very rotund gopher

Despite the catching (or lack there of), it sounds like the company was fabulous as always.

it just means I'll miss it less when I'm gone!

Apparently I missed the news.  When are you leaving Phil?  Where are you heading?

Michael

Actually before people go blaming Northern Boy for the lack of fish (!), let me say there is a big algae bloom off the Mendo coast right now and it seems to be putting the fish down.  My buddies who fished from their PB north of Point Arena got zero fish for the day (but did nail some dungies).  All the PB guys in the Albion area were getting skunked and heading home early.  There was another post about this algae thing.

Actually it was a perfect send-off for Phil because in England, a 12" ray is a trophy! Getting you used to your new fishing grounds, Phil.  (heard back from the taxidermist yet about that gopher?)

I got totally skunked but I will be back.  That access is awesome.   

Actually before people go blaming Northern Boy for the lack of fish (!), let me say there is a big algae bloom off the Mendo coast right now and it seems to be putting the fish down.  My buddies who fished from their PB north of Point Arena got zero fish for the day (but did nail some dungies).  All the PB guys in the Albion area were getting skunked and heading home early.  There was another post about this algae thing.

Actually it was a perfect send-off for Phil because in England, a 12" ray is a trophy. Getting you used to your new fishing grounds, Phil.  (heard back from the taxidermist yet about that gopher?)

I got totally skunked but I will be back.  That access is awesome.   

Hey, I'm seeing double there, Pete...

Great company, INCREDIBLE ocean conditions, & basically lousy fishing - that sums it up, really.

Well, of course, the scenery was amazing, especially since the weather allowed us to really enjoy it and we weren't distracted by the nuisance of lots of pesky biting fish on the line. 

All in all, not a bad day, but probably better for wine tasting than fishing...

At least you had a good time. Don't feel too bad fishing was slow in Monterey yesterday as well. Looking forward to some English fishing reports, maybe you can hook up with the kayak angling brother, Mueller

Its the alage bloom. No was catching fish or spearing fish anywhere the bloom was happening. I have reports for Tamalas bay to Mendocino and a little more to the north.

All in all, not a bad day, but probably better for wine tasting than fishing...

I hear the Cabernet DID have a nice bite to it after all!   

Relax Phil, we are only teasing.  Loved fishing with you brother, and thanks very much for rallying us all.  If your travels take you to NorCal again I have a Prowler 15 here in south coast Mendo ready for you.  Best of luck in the UK; if I get out there again I will look you up. 

it just means I'll miss it less when I'm gone!

Apparently I missed the news.  When are you leaving Phil?  Where are you heading?

Michael

I'm a going home, back to the UK, beginning of July. Hence my fishing every available opportunity these past two weeks!

All in all, not a bad day, but probably better for wine tasting than fishing...

I hear the Cabernet DID have a nice bite to it after all!   

Relax Phil, we are only teasing.  Loved fishing with you brother, and thanks very much for rallying us all.  If your travels take you to NorCal again I have a Prowler 15 here in south coast Mendo ready for you.  Best of luck in the UK; if I get out there again I will look you up. 

Thanks for the kind words sir. It's been a blast. I am certain to be back for work; I'll time it with RF season.

Yes I got bit by the Cab, the Zin, the Pinot and all the rest. I am Phil the Philistine, it all tastes like wine to me. But I had to taste them all a few times just to make sure. Burgh, a(nother) great thing about moving back home; this stuff is available OTC. Luckily I still had some left from my last trip home, or else this morning would have been even more painful.

Thanks for the pics and 'port.

Phil - I also have a T13, T15, and a P15. Anytime you're back in CA you're welcome to use one.

Phil,

Your enthusiasm and reports will be missed.  I'm glad I had the opportunity to fish with you and hope there's another opportunity before you go.

And, if for some sick reason you want to fish a Drifter for old time's sake on your return, that can be arranged.