Monterey

  A friend of mine and I met up with fishfarmer(Ben) and PhishPhanatic(Martin) this morning at the coast guard peer.  We launched from the adjacent beach at 6:30 and started off looking for bait without any luck.  Jake and I split off and went to the kelp while everyone else tried their luck in the deeper water past the kelp. I don't believe anyone had any luck out past the kelp but we did catch several rockfish in the kelp along with a hefty supply of jack smelt.  Over all a fun trip the water was very calm, but the overcast hung around all day.  It was only my second time out so i'm hopeing to hook up with some people that can teach me how to chase some butt's next time.

Glad you had fun OTW and catching lots of Smelts.  Thank you for the report.  Next time you can try trolling live Smelt in front of the hotel to the right of the Coast Guard pier since that area known to be one of the "hot spots" for Hali.

It was good to escape the valley heat -- didn't mind the overcast one bit -- glad you posted the hook up Jeff. It was good to meet Jake and Martin as well.

The seals at the boat ramp are like pigeons in the park. I'm wondering if they are over-populating? One little guy there didn't look so good, and I've seen a couple dead young ones on beeches.

Ben

  Great report, thanks for sharing!  Seems strange that there is so much bait this year and yet a lot of pups have not survived?  I don't think you will see a lot of tears shed amongst fisherman, but you have to wonder what is causing it none the less! 

Yeah, it's funny how I curse the Monterey fog....until I go into the valley...then I miss the fog.
Thanks for the report guys!
PK

I don't think you will see a lot of tears shed amongst fisherman, but you have to wonder what is causing it none the less! 

I'm not sure that I ever saw a seal at the coast growing up in SW WA. If so, it was pretty unusual. My brother still lives there and likes to fish the surf, but looses a lot of his hook-ups to seals.

I'm thinking we need more sharks...

such a cute little seal how can anyone feel bad towards a bait stealing little pup... Thanks for the report...after albion I'm back in the heat in Lake Co. and I love the coast...If only I could retire and live the life of "Fog"...

Thanks for sharing...

We all know those furbags aren't as cute as they may look... Last week..., watched as a "mom" and "dad" (Euros), no problem w/that part by the way..., allowed and wanted their kids to get as close as possible, and even touch (not kick) them with their feet... I couldn't believe it! For a photo opp.!!! In my opinion, furbags are as quick as anything... Starving or not, no joke, this kid was must be a cat... (9 lives and all...) It took two strikes, before the parents got the message. No hits, the kid is a cat, but what the F*#@ are they thinking? Best I've figured out, when launching at CG Pier w/ furbags on the ramp, get in the water and splash them with water. They usually clear out right away and no harm and no foul.

Blake

There taking over capitola 2 weve ben chasing them off the boats w/ the shore boat
 

There are definitely more sea lions this year in Santa Cruz, and they are more aggressive. They are being born in higher numbers and more are dying. Supposedly from lack of food, but there is a ton of bait out there.

For the first time ever, I had one steal a ling or halibut this past weekend. I went from fighting a fish right below me to having line scream out as a sea lion took off like a torpedo toward the horizon. As much as it pissed me off, I hope it didn't get hooked.