Bodega bay skunk

Arrived at 9 met jnthn, nice easy launch, harbor-side or ocean-side, in a campsite. Paddled to seal rock, a big swell west of the rock. MANY sea lions, felt a little sharky but we got over it, bounced jigs on the reef s of the rock, lost some iron to the rocks, no bites. Got a bit windy, I was paddleing more than fishing so we called it quits. We hit a blackberry patch inland and gathered a gallon each. Big honkin fat ones. Cobbler. Sorry, no pics, forgot to check the memory card, left it home. Might still be able to get "em tho. On a better day I thing Bodega bay would be a great place to fish, camp or even have a tourny. Ben

Yeah, seal rock area just seems real sharky, huh?

I've fished those jettys hundreds of times and two or three times I've seen seals acting panicky.

One time I was out there on the Bodega Head jetty and it was pretty quiet. All of a sudden all the seals/sealions started barking and screaming at once. It was pretty startling - imagine all of those seals and sealions going crazy at the same time. Anyway - I had my little pair of binoculars with me so I scoped out the rock and surrounding area. I never saw a shark or anything, but seals were pouring in from all directions and jumping up on to the rock. The seals were also all swimming "evasively" - intermittently surfacing so as not to be "zeroed in on".

I'm still willing to paddle out there, though. It can't be any worse than Fort Ross. Especially with the MILLIONS of baitfish in the Bodega Area right now.

Yup, that sounded like a white cruising the cafeteria line to me too. I dont think a normal one is into attacking or even tasting  a kayak, but I added flotation in both ends of my yak, just in case a juvie wants a taste of me. I would absolutely go there again.

I did a sea kayak symposium with the BCU (British Canoe Union) for three days last October at Bodega Bay. Camped right there at Doran Park Beach campground. Great camping even though it rained one night. And except for that one 28-knot wind day, things were groovy--easy surf launches, out in the Bay practicing rolling, rescues, strokes, crossing eddylines, etc. And even that rough day allowed us to practice rough-water rescues so it was a good opportunity to feel the wrath of the sea. I was thinking the whole time--wish I brought the fishing kayak. We steered clear of Seal Rock for a reason. Watch out for clusters of Sea lions and Seals. The only two NorCal kayak attacks by White Sharks were near large groups of Pinipeds. I have read theories that GWS may attack kayaks not as food but warning them off their territory. To my line of reasoning, that's why they bite once and aggressively and then leave. A GWS attacking a Sea Lion bites once but hangs around to bite again--so wouldn't it wait around and bite the kayakers? But in those attacks they didn't. Why would a GWS take off? Maybe because it thought it was dealing  toe-to-toe with a large competitor. They grab the kayaks and shake them long after they certainly realized they were not a Sea Lion. In support of my suspicion, the reserachers have cited recent tracking data that indicate GWS are territorial and, as we know with other top predators like Grizzlies, Polar Bears, Lions, and Tigers, top predators are territorial and defend their territory against interlopers. Could it be that kayaks are considered some big unknown interloper poaching on their territory? Maybe those GWS _were_ hanging around to ensure the kayak left the area and so didn't want to risk injury by attacking again since the competitor was leaving. Chilling thought that. Bottom line: I will not be fishing near Seal Rock because there is the chance they'd actually seek you out to run you off. As far as I am concerned, it is a big ocean and I'll give up the few Piniped colonies and Salmon estuaries where the incidence of GWS sightings and attacks indicate a focus for them.   Not trying to scare anyone but discretion is the better part of valor as they say. Food for thought--take it or leave it.

That makes sence to me. And the young 'uns are just unpredictable. Lions and tigers and sharks. I just might steer clear of seal rock in the future, there are plenty of other places in the area to fish anyway.

I was well aware of the risks but felt the danger level was low, due to the season.   At this time of year they are scattered.  September-April is when they all come in close and really focus on the seal hual-out spots.  During those monthes, I avoid all seal areas  I have a good time and wasn't overly concerned.

Sure, you call. There are worse things yo could do--like tow a dead seal 

The blackberries are a bumper crop this year.

The bush behind my house is bursting, but just starting to ripen.

I'm gonna make a blackberrie mead with them.

MolBasser

God I love me some blackberries!

Blackberry mead, wow, that sounds killer! I just came home and Anita just pulled out a big fat blackberry cobbler and got some baked halibut sauted in wine goin on.  Im livin phat 'n stayin skinny.

Here are the pics...1st, Seal rock...

Jnthn @ Seal rock

Launch

Swell