Stillwater Cove Carmel- 11/20/05

Wow, that was some beautiful weather. Sunny, warm, fog-free, minimal swells, and nary a breeze to be found. Lovely.

It was nice to meet you Seabreeze and Randy. I hope you got them. I also hope those big boats didn't get as close to you as they looked like they did.

I had another grand day in Carmel. I pulled up many fish, kept a couple, and lost some nice ones.

I am convinced my boat color is Furbag Blue, as I was followed everywhere by the seals. I continually had to rescue my fish from the swirling seal and I have to say it shocked me each and every time. I had a 10-15 minute battle with either a seal or a really big ling. I think it was the former as it was a sideways battle instead of a tug of war to the bottom. I did finally retrieve my mauled little rock cod, so I either won or lost...depending on what it was.

The lure of choice was the green magic zzinger with the rootbeer fishtrap also producing well. There was a great deal of surface action which made me wish I had strung up that flyrod in the truck so I could have tossed a popper on top.

What a beautiful day.
Marc Mc

It was good to meet you as well, Marc.  We were ignored by the seals until after the party boats arrived.  And then................

I was nearly spooled before the leopard spotted one decided my blue rockfish wasn't worth it.  The best/worst was the poor linglet that Randy got.  He was not going to boat it since it was obviously small, but he hastily popped it into his lap so that he could get the hook out.  He thought ill of even that move when it looked like the seal was going to join the ling in the kayak.  Instead, the seal repeatedly bumped Randy from side to side and when he gave up and released the linglet, the seal had a quick snack,.........

So, that was the weird part of the day of many linglets and cabezettes. The high part of the day was an over the top high part.......

Out by the pinnacles, we have seen rockfish leap from the water from time to time.......today, it went on for 5-20 minutes at a time and happened over and over and over.......well, you get the idea.  Large schools of sardines(?) had the Blues and the gulls going crazy.  So crazy, that the Blues would bite anything.....including shiny bare hooks.  That was how I got my blue ling baits but never stuck the lings that hit...........just toothy marks on the baits.

We each C/R'd multiple limits of Blues.  We also had a smattering of all the other usual Carmel Bay rockies that were mostily released.

I will load up the picture and post it in a bit.

Today was a true day in paradise, down to shirt and still hot.......

Pat

These don't exactly duplicate how alive the glass like water was with jumping blue rockfish, but it may give you an idea.

And a shot with a few birds.

What a fun day..........and great supper.  Funny, with all this action all day, we just took home enough for supper.......
Pat

Wow, I now feel fortunate. At least I didn't get bumbed around by Sammy the seal.
That topwater situation would be perfect for flyrodding a popper. That picture makes me kick myself.
Next time I will be joining you at the Pinnacles, as I didn't get one ling. Plenty of rockies, but no lings.

Next time....
Marc

That's a rare sight.  Pat, thanks for capturing it.
Don't you just love Carmel's Stillwater Cove?
I think it's the most beautiful place I've ever fished.

I do love it, Chuck.  It is why we tend to be so lazy about going anywhere else.

Yesterday was one of the all time nicest days we have ever had out there.  We could have headed on out to the open ocean if Salmon were running as we could see the Cypress point buoy another mile or so out.

I really didn't think I had got any of the fish actually jumping.  The shots are just lucky.

Pat

AWESOME pics!

wow seabreeze, I never did believe that top water blue thing, but I guess I do now! amazing.

you get my award for best photo, documentary class, 

Thanks fellas.  Glad you enjoyed the pictures.  Now to find my last legal ling of the season........
Pat