Stillwater Mtry 10/29/06

Launched with Zan at 7:15 PDT, calm, fairly warm, overcast.  Out to the outside of Pescadero in abt 100 ft, no action, I went in toward kelp, still slow; then out to Pinnacles, non-stop blues and gophers.  By 10:30 the wind had swung around to west, and a little SW swell, so I trolled back down the kelp line, getting the red ones with smooth jaw (good size) an 18" cabbie two blues and an olive, and a fish I'll have to look up, maybe a greenling- spots with blue tinted spots within.  Had one ripping run by something really big, I'll bet a seal.
   Lots of fish on meter, I was using baby octopus (got it in Davis!) and squid and rapala anchovy like lure.  Kept 4 good sized ones, threw back twice as many. No lings.  Zan went inside after first hour, didn't do so well, got some small ones.
sun came out about 11, landed smoothly at noon. About 5.5 miles total.
   Maybe I was paying more attention this week: saw 4 young guys in small tin boat paddle out with two halves of kayak paddle, no life jackets; saw guy with shorty wetsuit in yak; a guy in jeans in yak, and as I landed, a guy in tank top, shorts and a pretty good buzz on came in on a short yak moaning about not catching anything.  It was fairly cool out there with the wind. I had on two fleece sweaters, farmer john, paddle jacket, booties and I was not too warm.   There were about 4 other yaks out there.

Yeah.  I don't know if things are changing in Carmel Bay or if we are also paying more attention but Darwin is being gentle to what appears to be a new crowd to us as well.  We found canaries the last two times we were out as well.  More of them than lings!.................

Tom,

That fish does sound like a Greenling.  You can only keep one and must be 12".  Also, called a sea trout.

I think males have all the colors and the female is brown,

Ken kickfish

I wouldn't describe a female kelp greenling as brown.  They veritably glow with a golden sheen.

odd side note, I tried fishng off of capitola today (should have stayed in bed!) and ran into a guy similar to what you describe, no PFD, no wetsuit, way the heck out there.  I dont know if you have seen the Darwin Awards, but it is a book of 'awards' for people who take themselves out of the gene pool.  I fear a candidate or two may be kayak anglers shortly.

Seabreeze,

Sorry to call it brown......But, know know the males of each species is usually the one with all the colors.  Why, because the females usually have to nurse the young.

Unless your a Sheephead.  Then, you swing from both side of the plate.


ken kickfish