Davenport -- 5/19

Got up at 5 this morning, ignored the prediction of 15 to 20 knots winds, and drove out to Davenport.  Was dead calm when I arrived about 6, and of course by the time I had everything geared up, it was blowing about 10 knots.

Paddled upwind for a couple of miles, immediately deployed the drift chute, and scratched out enough for dinner tomorrow night.  It was blowing pretty hard with lots of whitecaps, and even with the chute, was averaging about a 1mph drift -- too fast.  Lots of snags.

But still a blast.  Caught the nice black just slightly south of the bay, not yet to the cement plant, near some kelp about a mile out.  Soon as I had enough for dinner, I called it quits.



After I had dumped the fish and my license off at the truck, and was breaking things down for my next slug from the beach to the truck, a ranger approached.  First time I can remember seeing a ranger there -- very friendly, asked to see my license / fish, and told me not to hurry as I packed things up.  Chatted a bit, then once we got to the truck, showed him both fish and license.  No problems.  I'll welcome that kind of interaction any day (though he could have offered to carry my kayak).

So, Joel, not sure Davenport counts as Santa Cruz, but there are rock fish out there.  Up at 5, back home at 11 with fish and an Olalaberry Pie from Emily's.  I ended up fishing and putting WAF in the bank today -- can't beat that...

-- Dave

Nice job Dave!   Wish I had gone down that way instead of north.  Wind/chop  was indeed worse than I, too, expected (hoped).

That black is a fattie!  Awesome.  Enjoy the fish dinner (and WAF!).

Nice report, Dave.

Olalaberry Pie from Emily's

Is this the bakery in the town of Davenport?

Dave, sixmhz and I went out there two weeks ago with great conditions and didn't catch much, a pair of gophers.

scallen said the northcoast is not producing due to some water condition right now. I believe him. see alantani's
not so great aNo report, etc. some kind of early season malaise...

hopefully it is fading, but I have caught a lot of fish the last couple years up that way and it is
just not working like it should just yet.

as long as you catch a couple tho, it is fun, 

J

WTG Dave:

The early season water conditions were horrible, but they are improving now, getting more clear.

another factor form K Satgnaro- spawning, and lots of rockfish are off the rocks, hanging suspended while they eat rockfish larvae....

I heard better reports from North coast including ano this past week.

For me, I'm going to stick around the kelp beds for a couple more weeks, I think it's better action and more protected from the darn wind, which is messing things up.

Allen

Is this the bakery in the town of Davenport?

Kevin, Emily's is in Santa Cruz, on Highway 1 & Mission St., very easy to stop by on your way back, very evil, very habit forming.

Allen, I saw you heading the other way around River St.  That yellow Prowler looked awfully dry...

-- Dave

Yep.  Though I showed how calm it was inside the cove at Stillwater, we had 5-10 knot winds on the pinnacles and gave it up when our kelp anchors were tearing loose, only to find it glassy still inside stillwater cove!  Since your day included ollallieberry pie, I'd say it was a good one as well, Dave........

Dave - got to admire your efficiency. 

So, Joel, not sure Davenport counts as Santa Cruz, but there are rock fish out there.

Dave, I'll fish Davenport over Santa Cruz anytime Especially when I'm fishing with Allen Bushnell (my good luck charm )

the darn wind, which is messing things up.

I was at the landing Sunday to check the minus tide, and it was snorting about 15kts (at least) at 8:30am. Nasty lookin' out there.
I also recommend Whale City bakery for tasty morsels & good coffee for those who don't want to deal with Mission St. Has anyone tried the Taqueria that replaced La Cabana in Davenport?