Lost Coast - 6/8/23

Tom and David are on my special trip list - I met them both through NCKA, years ago now.  My call went out early in the week, and these two were in.  With the forecast pages pretty consistent in their prediction of mild seas and winds for Thursday, a south wind and long period swell call had me crossing my fingers.  My hopes were realized when we descended the Wall in drizzly fog to see a smooth ocean below the marine layer.  I was prepared for a breeze and surface chop with low visibility due to fog - not to mention strong currents due to the big tide swings currently.  None of those things materialized, and that had our trio smiling ear to ear to start the day.

We took a few minutes to assess my different launch options, all of which I know well and each having benefits tied to certain conditions including tide, swell direction, winds...etc.  Soon we were dialed in and starting to load gear from the trucks to the beach.  Hopping down the boulder wall with armloads of tackle, bait, safety gear, water and the rest of the toolkit, we got a good warmup before collaborating to move our three kayaks down.  With the forecast indicating that the afternoon should be even calmer than the morning, we proceeded as if we had the entire day to work with, and what a feeling of freedom and joy that was!

With our boats all loaded up, full immersion gear donned, VHF radios tuned to the local channel and ample sunscreen applied, we  were off.  It wasn't long before David pulled up a nice black that shook itself from his hooks, evading capture.  He'd watch a couple more respectable keepers escape like that before employing the net to start building his stringer for the day - it was an all smiles affair.  I was next to have a flurry of catches - 3 vermillion rockfish in a row found my offerings, and just like that I was 75% done with a sub-limit of these wonderful fish.  Tom then got in on the fast action, boating two lingcod to 35". 

The hours go by like minutes out there - especially when the weather is near perfect and the fish are biting.  The Cape treated us so well, and by mid afternoon we knew that we'd better wrap it up and get the rest of the day's jobs done.  An easy landing on the high tide beach had us dodging some foam as we dragged the loaded-down yaks up to the base of the boulder wall, and by the time we had all the gear back up on the trucks a cold beer was in order for sure.

We loaded up, headed down the road to my preferred fillet station location, got our group photos done, and the guide was about to earn his pay!  I got Tom's fish knocked out first - he'd been up since 3AM to get here from Mendocino County, and after celebrating and settling up our business deal, he was on the road for home.  David and I stayed, and the Professor was a busy bag man as we put up the rest of what likely totaled out to over 50 pounds of boneless fillets for the day.

By the time we rolled up the hill toward home the hour had gotten pretty late for a fishing day.  I apologized to David for the trip running so long, but he wasn't having it!  Sometimes in life opportunities come along that will move you out of your comfort zone and demand more from you than 99% of regular activities will.  Being prepared with the right equipment and knowledge are key factors in every one of my guide trips, but the energy and positive attitude that really fuel marathon days like yesterday are fully contingent on the will and determination of the individuals involved. 

That's why my guys are on the Special Trip List.

Big thanks, brothers.  I look forward to the next round.

...

Hi Eric

Thank you for the great report.
I guess you had to travel north to get into Northern Region for shallow-water rockfish season.

Paul

I guess you had to travel north to get into Northern Region for shall rockfish season.

Nope - I live here.

I guess you had to travel north to get into Northern Region for shall rockfish season.

Nope - I live here.

I meant away from Shelter Cove.

Thank you.

So cool that the coppers are thriving down there, epic weather window how awesome!

Awesome!  All smiles!!!

I meant away from Shelter Cove.

Ah, yes.  I look forward to the opener on my main guiding water at the Cove.  The spot in this post is only fishable a few days per year.

Thanks for the great report and pictures Eric.

Thanks for the great report.

I love it when the weather, fish, and men come together! Well done. Thanks Eric

Thanks for the report and pics Eric. As always you capture the special moments very well 

Looks you have had a very exciting time, a fun moment! Hope some day I can try there too. I have had this lost coast trip 5 years ago hiking, 3 day two night

Thanks for reporting on the adventure, very nice! 

Looks you have had a very exciting time, a fun moment! Hope some day I can try there too. I have had this lost coast trip 5 years ago hiking, 3 day two night

I foresee HBO to the cape then cape to the cove in Mr. X future.