Monterey Dabs 2/10

Etienne and I launched from MBK and paddled out to the red can.  Fishing was slow for dabs but we caught sardines, lizard fish(?) and green mackerel.  Etienne and I caught about 20 dabs each but they're all small.  Sorry Scott, no dabs to share.  Etienne said that this was rather slow for dabs and he's never seen so many sardines/mackerels caught at that spot.

Good weather with an occasional burst of wind/waves.  Driving back to Danville took a long time though.  Hwys 156 and 101 were congested and I never got out of 1st gear for about 10 miles.

Gary

this was the maiden voyage of my new revolution and I got in @ mbk just as a yak angler was heading to his car... Only worked around delmonte beach and never hooked up any dabs jiggin though I hooked a MONSTER sardine about 5 inches long..  it was in fact my first revo fish and I had a ball getting used to the new boat. So were u referring to the red can at point joe?  Or out from lovers point.. Thanks for the info.

Man, I haven't seen a picture of a fish in soo long...where are the dab pics? Or macks? Pleeeeeeeease....
How was the new ride sackyak?
How were the conditions? It sure looked nice until the wind came up in the afternoon.

Tenezman, good to see another local on the board. Sounds like you had priorities straight. Learn the yak, then worry about the fish. Thats the right way to do it.
I believe they're referring to the big, red mile bouy off Lovers. Start north-west of there and work your way towards the Beach Hotel. Or vice versa depending on current+wind. You'll get em!

Thanks for the reports guys!
PK

Thanks for the shout out in marina   I gotta say that my ride was awesome and the hobie revo was all that I was hopin it would be...the trick I still gotta work on is coming in in following seas...did just fine yesterday but I had bigger waves in my bathtub so I dont think Ive really passed the test...Im really excited to see so many posts for yak anglers on this forum...its a small town/area and all.  Cant wait to get back out there and try for a little more fish.. some fresh dabs would sure be good right now...any luck gettin stripers from a yak in the bay...everyone just says fish off the beach usually...any thoughts? Thanks for the info...
Chris

Hey, it sounds like the dungies are back! This is from a report by Jose on the Pistolero. An excellent Six-Pack Charter based in Monterey. Hopefully he doesn't mind if I share his good news (I also sent him a PM to see if its OK).
Hmmmm…makes me want to get out there and try for some crabs of my own!

Also, in response to tenezman's Q about stripers from the yak. I am down! I've been toying with the idea of trolling outside the surf zone from MBK to Tioga ave and back. Especially after the incredible season we had in Monterey bay last year; guys were catching stripers from Jan to Dec in the surf.
PK

Copied from Coastside:
Beautiful day on the bay today. Went out with son and brother to check five pots. First was completely devoid of bait but no crabs. I'm guessing it landed on it's side or upside down and they came and went at will. Next four made up for it....all were stuffed pretty good, but mostly throwback shorts and females. Ended up with 16 legal Dungees and 5 large Rocks. Threw back twice as many smalls and females. I know it's not much by HMB standards....but by Monterey standards...Excellent! Spent a half hour picking up more fresh macks in front of Cannery Row for the crab pots. What I don't use in the next day or two before I bring pots home, I'll freeze.

PK, sorry no pics.  I pack a camera but sand dabs do not make much of a photo op.  Etienne was really enjoying his new ride but I'll let him fill you in.

Tenezman, this was my first time chasing dabs and its a much shorter paddle launching from San Carlos beach.  That was Etienne first suggestion but I didn't know where it was so the paddle was twice a long.  There was free parking on Del Monte Ave though.  I don't know the name of where the red can is but its the one to the left as you're looking due west.

The weather was awesome but the wind picked up later in the morning.  It created some wind waves but then the wind slowed down to a breeze.  The fishing kept me busy...I was constantly dropping my sabiki tipped with squid to 140 FOW and reeling it back up after waiting for it to load up.  On my first drop I felt a few light taps and then my rod doubled over.  The head shake had ling written all over it but after a couple of more shakes the line went limp.  When I reeled up the rig the bottom hook was gone but I had a sardine on another hook.  Etienne described it well, there's a few spots that are honey holes for dabs and then there's sardine, mackerel everywhere else.  We didn't think about trolling for stripers just beyond the surf line, we sure had enough fresh bait to make it a worth while effort.

I don't recall seeing a hobie revo when we came in but welcome to NCKA.  The surf was not much to speak of but if you did hit it just right there was a couple waves that could flip you.

We had the dabs for dinner tonight...yep pretty tasty.  My wife steamed them Chinese style over slices of tofu, topped with green onions and lightly covered with a coat of smashed black beans/ginger/garlic.  She finished it off by drizzling hot oil over them just before serving.  It reminded me of our crab feasts, small chunks of tasty meat but we had to watch out for small bones.   

Are the crab still in deep waters?  Most of us only carry 100 ft of line and the thought of hand pulling a crab from deep water is not appealing.

Gary

sandman... The next time you and the mrs. Break out the pacific rim dabs with the tofu expect me...I'll bring the wine;) I am going out tomorrow with a buddy to go spear fishing but may wind up chasing dabs depending on conditions... How close to the can are you?  I don't have a depth finder rigged yet and have to go on guestimation... Thanks for the info and I will see you soon on the water... Thanks,
chris

Tenezman, I hope you ended up going spear fishing, fishing for dabs should be something you only do for the novelty but they are pretty tasty.  The Mrs. appreciates the attention but she would rather cook up a nice striper or halibut. 

You can go without a FF for dabs, just fish around the red can and try not to upset the seals.  We fished about 75 to 100 yards NE of the can.  When you find a spot with multiple hookups try to keep drifting over that spot and you should catch a bunch in no time.

Try to have a FF by the time rock fish season starts.  You'll need it so you can identify submerged structure for the rockies and the sandy spots for halibut.

Yep, we'll catch you on the water.  Keep your eye on the hook ups and hopefully you'll have some company the next time you go out.  I've never met a better group of folks than NCKA and I know I can count on them if I have problems.

Gary

Gary -

No problem about the dabs. I usually deep fry them, makes the fins really tasty. The dabs have been really small at the red can. Etienne caught a huge dab (12-14") last year when we were fishing out of san simeon. Chris, welcome to NCKA.  Wish I had a Hobie Revo. 

scott

Thanks for the info Gary...I think we will have a day of spearfishing though I really have a special place for the dabs...they are just such a tasty treat the way my in-laws cook it up...they are total foodies and the wine floweth on our Tuesday nite family dinners (maybe why the food is so good;)  Anyways I will totally have to hook up a fish finder...any recomendations on the FF?  I think I saw you towing a tan/brown boat down the sidewalk while I was just pulling into the pay and display parking...I think we will do still water if the waves are pumpin today...thanks,
Chris

Anyways I will totally have to hook up a fish finder...any recomendations on the FF? 
Chris

A lot of guys use Eagle's or Humminbirds. I use an Eagle 250 ($200) and a Humminbird 383C ($400). Both are FF and GPS combos. I like both of them.

scott

Thanks Scott..I was definitely thinkin combo unit but will have to wait on a used one or until I get some more $$$ as the only negative part about buying a hobie revo is that you just PAID for a hobie revo...would sure be nice if they were cheaper...luckily I got a good deal from some good guys up in the Sacto area...came with the rod holder (scotty) hatch trays (3),  fat scupper wheels, dry bag, water bottle, speedometer, and a full tank of gas alright everything but the gas...anyways, I am really looking forward to the versatility of a yak whether its here in our bay or on a sidedrift on the russian...

Oops.  I started a new post but then saw this one.  Here is my 2 cents worth

Gary (Sandman) and I hit MBK for some dabs on Sunday morning.  It was a beautiful day though there was a small wave at the MBK launch.  I was going out for my first fish in the new Marauder and had jsut installed the fishfinder Sat night and the transducer was only wedged in with foam.  Per haps a little over anxous I launched into a 2 foot vertical face and had a good salt water christening all over the deck.  The fishfinder worked great even with the temporary transducer mount.

At the red can we started picking up small rock fish, sardines and mackeral before we hit any dabs.  We also had many lizard fish and thumb sized rockfish.  I have one photo of Gary that I took.  It was a beautiful day if not all that productive for dabs.  I ended up with 1/2 a big ziplock full (about 20) and also kept two large mackeral that I immediately bled and iced but I will not do that again.  The tempora dabs were to die for and since my daughter was frightened off by the bones there was more for the wife and me   .

Anyway, in my overenthusiam with the new Marauder, I paddeled straight in without really timing it or anything.  When suddenly I was jacked up on a 2-3 foot face.  I surfed it wihta side brace for a while and then straightend up then rolled on the next time is turned to the side.  In my roll I lost my fish club and broke one flush mount because my rod was still in it.  That should cure my first time enthusiam.  Nothing a few dollars and some goop will not repair.  I guess I figured I needed to test out the boat and was just going to take what I got.  I usually am more careful and try to time my launches and landings better.

Anyway, I hope to get some daylight time to work on rigging the Marauder.  I really missed my thy straps.  Maybe they would have helped prevent my roll.  At least they provide a palce to grab onto for launches, landings and righting kayaks in the surf.  Does anyone use them on this type of boat?

Anyway, in my overenthusiam with the new Marauder, I paddeled straight in without really timing it or anything.  When suddenly I was jacked up on a 2-3 foot face.  I surfed it wihta side brace for a while and then straightend up then rolled on the next time is turned to the side. 

Etienne -

I can't believe you got rolled!!! You are the SURF MASTER.  Congrats on the new yak. BTW, 3 ft face = wipeout, even with thigh straps. You've seen me thrashed on more than one occaision. 

scott

Tenezman,

That would be me rolling the sand colored (sandman) yak.  I unloaded in the paid parking first thing in the morning and then moved my truck to the free spaces.  Etienne was parked in front of me with the yellow Marauder.  He was already loaded up by the time I got there because I had to make an extra trip to get my wheels.  The Marauder has so much storage space Etienne stores his wheels in the hull.

We might have bought our yaks at the same place in Sacto...Adventure Sports?  Anyway, they gave me a good deal since it was the end of the season when I bought mine.  I picked up my FF (Humminbird Matrix 25) at the old Western Marine Bargain Center in Oakland.  Too bad its gone, I scored on some great stuff with mongo discounts.

I figured Etienne was testing his new yak in the surf to get the feel of it.  At least he didn't try to surf the Bean and get thoroughly trashed.  Thanks Etienne for showing me the finer points of dabbing. 

Scott, I picked up some chokes from that produce stand you took me to last time.  Scored big time on the WAF points but should have held on to them until v-day. 

Gary