Plan B (NonYak)

Forecast on Saturday in Carmel was for flat seas and calm winds.

Put in 5 hours of OT and then headed down to the beach with the kayak on top of the car and high hopes of putting in a solid afternoon of paddling and diving until dark.

When got to beach to meet up with Sean_Otter the wind was HOWLING and there were large white caps even in the sheltered cove! WTF!?!!! 

Saw some Monterey Tritons paddling in and looking beat from battling the wind so we decided to go to a nearby shore dive spot inside of dealing with paddling out into the wind storm.

After we jumped off the rocks we found stellar viz but still tough diving in the big, choppy wind waves. Sean and I both struggled with bottom times and depths cuz we just couldn't seem to relax enough on the surface in the chop. 

I moved into the 35 foot and under zone and started scouring holes for fishies. Picked up a small 18 inch cab and a decent blue right off the bat.

After about 6 drops of hide and seek with a nice almost 23 inch cab she finally made the mistake of moving close to a side entrance and gave me a nice easy shot. Took me another drop to get her out, but she was worth the effort. 

Next drop I cruised down to check out a promising looking overhang and a nice golden 31 inch Ling swam out right under me...followed him until I could glide within range and then stoned him. 

Went over to check out two nice holes I know...first hole often houses cabs and Ling and this time it had a small but legal cab in it, but decided to let it be.

Second hole is where I found a pair of wolf eels and took a nice monkey last year. Another monkey was there this time and I blasted him right in the face and the shaft went through his spine and I easily pulled the skewered booger from his hole.

After failing to get within range of some big skittish olives, I popped a nice 17+inch black, which is a good size for them down here in Carmel.

Met back up with Sean and we started working our way in, and right before we got out a perch looked at me funny so I shot him and I picked up a second Ling...beautiful bright blue 26 incher.

Sean helped me climb up the rocks, and back at the car we took some pics, had a few beers, and met up with LiveAlohaKris and his GF who were in town for the day.

Stoked that despite the forecast being way off and the fan being on full blast that i got out with a good friend, had fun and got some yummy fishies for my family.

Here is a mini vid and a few pics.



 

Sincerely,

Jim
ps...the song is "Lonesome Road" by Papa Mali off his upcoming album "Music Is Love". One of my favorite musicians and I am STOKED that he is coming out with a new album!! 

http://papamalimusic.com/

Mo pics.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

nice score dude!

That lingcod is soooooo cool looking underwater! Like a golden Cabrilla!

Wow, Great catch!! they must of reversed the wx on us this weekend?!

Thanks for sharing the video and pics.

Thanks guys!

That lingcod is soooooo cool looking underwater! Like a golden Cabrilla!

I know right! In real life it was even brighter...super pretty!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Nice work as ALWAYS! 

The chop sucked on Friday too. I was expecting stellar conditions and decided to abort my solo dive when I got there 

Glad you got out buddy......thanks for sharing

cool video - yeah aren't those golden lings something! and nice soundtrack too!

I'm Plan B  and I approve this message.
 

I'm Plan B  and I approve this message.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Solid work Jim, thats a good haul no matter how nice the conditions are. Nice fatty monkey too.

Glad you went with plan B made it out, wow stellar vis. Loved the music and stone shot on golden ling, great shootn'.     Somehow missed this when you posted it, discovered it and said That's it...no more OT...no more missing dives,Thanks for the kick in the a... ,Time to visit Ma Ocean.  Thanks for sharing the adventure.