Timber Cove - Lots of Lings - 11/26

I went to TC on Wednesday, 11/26. Ocean conditions were perfect, as predicted. Low swell, little to no wind. A lot of other kayakers ended up there because Ft Ross was still closed early (It was open when I left, early afternoon though). Electronics and I do not get along well. I normally have fish finder problems, but this trip it was my VHF radio that crapped out. It was fully charged the night before, but when putting things together that morning, it didn't go on. I need to buy and carry a back-up radio I think. I was targeting lingcod with large (12") frozen smelt, that I caught earlier in SC. I only brought 3 large frozen baits and that wasn't enough. I was fighting a lingcod pretty often. The ling bite was good for those baits. I tossed back 4-5 underlings and kept 2, going only 23" and 24" I ran out of frozen bait, so I cut all but 2 hooks off a sabiki and jigged up a couple of small rock fish, one of them got me my second keeper ling. There wasn't construction. and the drive was nice, still long, but enjoyable. I am glad I went out. I also got to meet Moo Moo for the first time in person! I love his videos and recipes so it was cool to fish around him. His videos are a big reason I invested in a Stealth kayak, so that will be a big influence when it gets delivered.

Congrats on the lings! I think Moo is responsible for a lot of the Stealth sales around here. I know that his videos were where I first learned about them. I also placed an order with Ruben this time around and can’t wait for them to arrive!

Congrats on the nice pairs of Lingcods. . Thanks for the report and picture Recon.

wow!!

I need to get back to it. 

Nice catches! I was part of the contingent moving up from Fort Ross. I think I saw you out on the water, were you wearing a red jacket and making a video? I was drifting around and I heard someone saying they only had three baits into a camera   .

Thanks for your report! Next time I go up I'll need to bring some bigger baits / lures. I was worried about getting snagged if I had a trap rig out on the reef. I was using squid pieces on shrimp flies with a dropper loop setup. I was getting lots of bites, but it's not selective for the big ones. I was mostly catching smallish rockfish with a few medium ones. I got one legal ling on the shrimp fly but it was pure luck, not selecting for them.

If I'm not using bigger baits / lures, I'm also thinking of sticking with the shallower water next time, I don't feel good about releasing the smaller rockfish when they're pulled up from >80'. Even if I descend them or they swim back down it can't be good for them. I ended up keeping some small ones that came up worse for the wear, but there's really not much meat on them.

Nice catches! I was part of the contingent moving up from Fort Ross. I think I saw you out on the water, were you wearing a red jacket and making a video? I was drifting around and I heard someone saying they only had three baits into a camera   .

Thanks for your report! Next time I go up I'll need to bring some bigger baits / lures. I was worried about getting snagged if I had a trap rig out on the reef. I was using squid pieces on shrimp flies with a dropper loop setup. I was getting lots of bites, but it's not selective for the big ones. I was mostly catching smallish rockfish with a few medium ones. I got one legal ling on the shrimp fly but it was pure luck, not selecting for them.

If I'm not using bigger baits / lures, I'm also thinking of sticking with the shallower water next time, I don't feel good about releasing the smaller rockfish when they're pulled up from >80'. Even if I descend them or they swim back down it can't be good for them. I ended up keeping some small ones that came up worse for the wear, but there's really not much meat on them.

LOL, yes, that was me. I was wearing orange though. I was making a video, hoping to get a big one on the record. Didn't happen.

I also got to meet Moo Moo for the first time in person! I love his videos and recipes so it was cool to fish around him. His videos are a big reason I invested in a Stealth kayak, so that will be a big influence when it gets delivered.

Did you read that, Stealth? Moo Moo deserves a raise!

It was nice meeting and seeing NCKA brothers at Timber Cove. It was my first time at Timber Cove in like 5 years. Maybe I'm getting old but the climb back up with a kayak felt much tougher than I remember  The condition was great and I hope I get another trip to Sonoma Coast before the season ends.

I love the climb out. 

In a weird way.  It means I’m still in reasonable physical shape.  I run my beach wheels back up.  Okay I jog them back up.

The end of the day is a slug out with that damn hill.  I go and get my truck.  I pulled my kayak once, and never again.

More than 10 years ago when I was at TC, I saw Raydon wheeling his kayak up the hill. I think he was around 65 years young at the time. I felt ashamed for driving down  and I promised myself I would always climb the hill on foot.

Are we not allowed to drive the car down to the beach there anymore?  I haven't been back there for a long while.

Are we not allowed to drive the car down to the beach there anymore?  I haven't been back there for a long while.

You can with an additional fee of $15.

You can with an additional fee of $15.

Helluva lot cheaper than a heart attack!

Nice catches, boys.  I'm very envious

For day trippers wanting to launch from TC, where's the best place to park? I looked at Google maps and saw the resort lot - not sure if that's available if you're not staying there.

For day trippers wanting to launch from TC, where's the best place to park? I looked at Google maps and saw the resort lot - not sure if that's available if you're not staying there.

It's not the upscale lodge, but the low-key small campground with the ramp. You pay Brenda for launch access and park in the lot or on the street. You pay more if driving down and back (can't leave car down at bottom) than if you wheel your yak down and up. I don't remember but I think it's $10 for hand access and $25 for auto.