July 17 & 18 - Mendocino Rockfish Report

July 17 - Launched with my wife on our Hobie Oasis.  She got a small rockfish, and I used it to land/measure/released a 36" lingcod.  I also got two huge vermilions and one mid. Vermilion.  I was unable to locate our GoPro mount for our tandem kayak.  I am still disorganized after the move to Fort Bragg. She was able to use her phone to record some portion of the action. 


July 18 - Finally, we got some decent ocean conditions to take a new person out, Cliff (DartBaiter).  He arrived 30 minutes earlier than our meeting time of 6 AM.  I went through my setup, launch, and landing process.  Since he was an experienced bass fisherman, it was very easy to show him how to catch rockfish safely.  He got his dream fish, vermilion.  I missed 4 ling bites and finally got one.

Great release video, Paul!   

I see that lingcod barely fit in your net again...  I don't know how you got the impression that using a larger net from the kayak is too challenging, but I want to encourage you to go a little bigger.  Being able to slide the rim of a big net under that ling instead of barely scooping it up will give you a much better chance to land the bigger fish.  I do very much like the rubberized, easy-on-the-fish style you have.

I barely have any fish exhibit barotrauma - I like to fish 30 to 50 feet, but even in 90 feet I don't see much.  You must have some deep ledges down there - are you over 100' often?

Great release video, Paul!   

I see that lingcod barely fit in your net again...  I don't know how you got the impression that using a larger net from the kayak is too challenging, but I want to encourage you to go a little bigger.  Being able to slide the rim of a big net under that ling instead of barely scooping it up will give you a much better chance to land the bigger fish.  I do very much like the rubberized, easy-on-the-fish style you have.

I barely have any fish exhibit barotrauma - I like to fish 30 to 50 feet, but even in 90 feet I don't see much.  You must have some deep ledges down there - are you over 100' often?

I like to fish 70-100' of water.  Most fish are fine, but some fish have difficulty getting down and need some assistance.
I have been using this net for the last 7 years and have been very happy with it.  Actually got two of them.  I do have a larger net for salmon, but it is just too big to carry around and not rubberized.  I will visit a large tackle store to check out some larger rubberized nets.  If anyone has an exact recommendation, please let me know.