Capitola Halibut and Fish Update 7/20/07

Met up with Alien and Big J. for a great day of weather and fishing. We were just outside the kelp beds of Capitola and Pleasure Point (live Oak) which is an area just west of the Capitola pier or between the S.C. harbor and the Cap. pier. I talked to a yak fisherman who is out there almost everyday named Rod and he reports landing several halibut and recently a 14# WSB, with many of these fish schooling in the 40# range all around the kelp. He reports that they are very finicky and are hitting on live bait that is plentiful out there. He reported and I witnessed no less the 15-20 harbor seals attacking a bait ball just inside the pier area 20 yards off the beach, which he collected anchovies in the 7" range. I met Alien and Janice and had only dropped for about a minute when my rod when off and I thought maybe I had a ling due to liveliness of action, but low and behold another semi-hog but circling under my boat. I don't know what it is with my 2-hook shrimpfly rigs and whole squid, but I had never caught a halibut on a halibut rig to date? I think I'll just stick with what is working for me for now. No luck other than some strikes and nibbles from my flat friends down there, but they are there and in about 40-50' of water just off the kelp beds. Later on when I was weighing my butt on the pier, I saw his brother a nice 21# in the cooler there with talk of more out there......Many thanks to Alien and Big J for some great company and Alex's sleigh ride ala Mr. harbor seal breaching off his bow-way to fight that little thief Alien. Mike/solsrf1

Nice flattie!!

way to stick 'em! for me, squid seems to result in stolen bait, glad to know it is working for you!

nice... thanks for the report. hope i can get there while they're still around.
james

Hey Mike,
Good job with the hally. Dude, where's my shrimpfly?

 Thats a great fish! Yum....

thanks for the report. Is it the same setup you caught Hali at Monterey Bay?

Nice one... Congratulation...

Hi Yaker:

           Nice fish and great Pics.  Good to have some lucky Charms around like, Alien, Alex and BigJ!

                                              Ernie

thanks for the report. Is it the same setup you caught Hali at Monterey Bay?

ya, can you believe it? I have to admit I was drifting that area in hopes of a halibut, but had just thought I will drop and see if I can get a ling or RF. It was the same rig I always use for RF; a red/yellow shrimp fly with the heavier hair and hook-not the cheaper one's you see out there. Both times the halibut hit on the upper hook which was suspended off the the bottom. I am folding the top of the squid over and then running the hook through both folds to help it stay on better.

Good work wit da'BUTT...it's a beastly one!

Great repot of another awesome NCKA hookup with a sweet catch to top it off.   

Mike! First in MBK and now in Capitola.....what next, Santa Cruz?! 

Your're on a roll bradah Way to go!!

Very nice!