Shelter Cove - 7/5/25

Al and Luis are among a pretty stout list of father-son teams that have gone out with me over the years.  This season they booked for July 5th, and we hoped that maybe the second weekend of salmon season would be in play.  That didn't pan out, due to all the catches down south in early June, but they were game for a rockfish and lingcod focus with a chance at a halibut too.

My guys camped out up at Wailaki - off of Kings Peak Road - and we met up just after 6AM at the usual spot.  I'd arrived 30 minutes earlier - first one at the ramp, which is the way I like it.  What was disappointing though, on the morning after Independence Day, was that there was firework trash all over the beach, in the water, covering the ramp and breakwater...  These weren't mortars that escaped into the ocean - they were mostly stuff that got set off by hand.  So people had their fun and just left their burnt out junk on the beach to get washed into the ocean.

Much like my attitude about balloons, I feel that fireworks should become a relic of the past.  I'll leave it at that.

The guys and I got the gear all prepped and watched as sets of south swells came into the ramp, fouling up the launch for a minute or two every five or ten.  No worries - I'd seen it coming on the forecasts and knew that we'd be fine by paying close attention, using proper timing, and crossing our fingers regarding an escalation of conditions making our landing at midday a potentially dicey situation.

Once we were on the water we focused on finding some fish near the point, as the especially windy spring weather has slop from offshore still affecting the plans of all but the clueless or foolhardy.  With the usual scenario of the forecast going from "10 to 20 knot winds" to "15 to 25 with gusts to 35" literally the day before our trip, I knew that we might get booted off early.  The fish cooperated as the tide drew near high, and soon we had a pile of black rockfish and one respectable ling on the stringers. 

The guys bring solid gear on these trips - Trident 13's, surfsuits, and rod and reel setups that can handle whatever we might hook.  They've also done well to pick up what I've laid down in terms of the fishing techniques over the several trips they've done with me, so I was somewhat surprised when they told me that they hadn't fished since last year's trip with me.  What an honor to be put in the position to lead these men on their annual pilgrimage to the Cove for kayak fishing on the edge of a vast wilderness.  I take that responsibility seriously, and I'm highly appreciative of their trust in not just my ability to guide them in the fishing, but all of the things that go into knowing how to properly execute the plans around it.  From the forecast-reading to the south swell scrutiny to the familiarity with how even when the wind call blows up at the last minute that we'll very likely still be fishing, my people place their faith in me.  For that I am eternally grateful.

The story played out like so many have over 11+ years of guiding the Cove now:  the fish bit well, and then they stopped!  We adjusted our strategy, pivoted when needed, monitored the conditions as well as our bodies, and wrapped up when the time was right.  The catch was good, but no record specimens or limits were achieved.  The experience is about much more than filling the cooler or justifying the expense - I focus on that.

At the end of the day, I was reflecting on how fortunate I am to be a facilitator for a father and son as they enjoy an adventure together.  I thought of my own father, as I very often do when I'm at the Cove or on the water elsewhere, and I know that he would be happy for me and that he would admire the way that I use what I have learned in a way that honors the people, the places and the animals too.

Thank you for following, and I hope to see you again soon.

PS:  We had a few close whale encounters out at the point, and that's always a bonus.

Can't post my breakfast pic.   

Can't post pic of fireworks trash on ramp.

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Awesome report as always!

As usual, great report again.
With your writing talent, you might consider writing a book, with all your guiding experience, I am sure it will be successful.

Paul

Thanks, Son and Paul.   

Thanks for the report - great read as always! At first glance, I thought that mango slice was a banana slug, haha.

Mango Slice REALLY looked like a Banana Slug
Great report 

Mango Slice REALLY looked like a Banana Slug

Ha ha! I was going to say the same thing...