Asilomar - Spanish Bay - 08/21/06

Eager to make up for my slacking (overslept and missed 2 planned go-outs this weekend) I hit it up early this morning.  Launched from the very North corner of the beach at Asilomar SB - it was really easy.  I started paddling straight out and was surprised how shallow it was for how far.  I probably was 1/2 mile to a mile out before I made my first drop and it was still pretty shallow. 

I started with a megabait iron.  Gave it about 45 minutes - no bites at all so I switched to  5 inch fishtrap on 2oz head . .a fancy yellow head with eyes and everything.  Got slammed on the first drop . . whatever it was felt huge and I had neglected to check my drag or knots or anything before heading out so you can probaby guess what happened.  SNAP. 

After that I caught and released a pretty big black and yellow and then a really nice black rockfish.  Then . . .it happened (prepare for big buildup).  I had just anchored up to a new patch of kelp and dropped down and got hit right away.  It didn't feel that big but I had my drag too loose from last time and I had to tighten it a bit.  Then the line started peeeling out.  Slow at first and then pretty fast until I thought I was going to get spooled.  I thumbed the spool and managed to turn the beast around and actually get some line back.  Then it ran again . . . .and stopped.  I couldn't budge it.  (Here come's the punch line)  Then I saw a seal pop up with a new Personal Best Cabezon in it's mouth!   I guess it was better than 5 lbs.  I hung on for a bit - hoping to get the fish head and my swimbait back . . but eventually cut the line. 

It was time to head in after that but I'm going back soon.  It was an easy launch, short carry and promising looking fishing. 

Hmmm...sounds like a pretty good spot. Launch can be tricky with a NW swell though.
Dang furbags! At least it didn't break your rod!

PK

Same thing happened to me this Sat. I launched out of Coral St and was fishing in 50ft of  water using a whole mackerel. No hits for a while then I got a huge bite. I wrestled with the fish for a bit trying to get it up. I brought it all the way to the top finally and saw the top of my leader. But thats all I saw.  A seal snatched the fish and broke me off as witnessed by Sackyak.

What a special day.  One doesn't often have a clear launch there.  Enjoy it now.  By next year, it could begin its status as the reserve it has been designate as.

Coral St is a reserve now....just a SMCA.
It isn't going to be part of the SMR. So finfish will still be allowed.
 
However, just around the corner in both directions (literally) will be a SMR.

From Pt Pinos to Pt Joe it is slated to be an SMR.

Here is a map.

I had to modify that last post after looking at a map . .the area I was fishing is well within the new SMR

Darn.  I was holding out hope that we would have another fair weather launch on the other side of the new reserve.  So, enjoy it and take lots of pictures so that when they say look, it has fish, you can say, yeah, it always did!