Santa Cruz 8-2

Took the GF and kids to Santa Cruz, they hit the boardwalk, I launched and hit the kelp beds and beyond north of the pier.  Caught a small gopher I let go right away. Oh, yeah, on the launch, the only way to ever hit the beach to the north of the pier, was when I tried to launch.  I flopped into the seat, and looked up, and saw the curl.  Salt water tastes good at sunrise, let me tell you.  So, fishing, not so good.  Worked the kelp with scampis and shrimp flies for nothing, water was flat calm, and clarity was insane.  I could see down about 40'!  No bait fish to be had.  NO boils, or birds working the area, and only a handful of boats out past the yellow bouy, called out on the radio, and one guy had a halibut boated over by the harbor, and I saw one other small rock fish boated.  Several boats were working out to the north and west, so I paddled out until I could not see the yellow bouy, and made two long drifts.  No love.  Beached it and the crew and I headed to Half Moon Bay.  We played out on the pier, and the kids caught several bullheads and one jack smelt.  Saw a lot of fish come in off the boats, and thanks to Mike, showing me the collars on the bigger fish, asked the guys at the cleaning station, and gathered about twenty ling collars!  So got home and cooked them up for all of us for dinner.  Not the best day fishing, but a great day with the family, and made some fantastic memories with the kids.

Great family outing!  I think salt water tastes the same at sunset    Thanks for the report Rich.

When you live in Fresno any saltwater tast's good
Keep up the reports,
Eric

Thanks for the report Montana! That spot gets hit pretty hard. I've had some luck fishing north beyond Seal rock, or outside on the outer reef. Good on ya for trying.

I'm interested in the ling collars. Do you mean the cheeks, or is this something else?

Salt water doesn't taste too bad either when its splashed in your face by a nice ling in the net.  It splashed so much I actually had to wipe my face off.

The collars, well.  You fillet your fish, and the fin right behind the gill plate is left right? K, Take that and everything up along the gills, and cut it out, that is a collar-Very tasty snack while grilling up your dinner.

Hey Rich,
Sounds like a great weekend with the family! Free ling collars, oh yeah! Gonna be heading out to Ocean Cove campsite just north of Fort Ross the week of 8/10-8/16 with family, stop on by.
Till next time....Horseshoes anybody?!

saltwater doesnt taste so good when u flip ur kayak  while demoing at the corte madera creek!