Shelter Cove - 2/26 - videos added

My hopes were high, but I knew that realistically this would be the first of many trolling sessions that I'll need to put in so I can have a good chance at a yak-salmon this year.  I packed up and hit 101 south around 1:20, arriving at the Cove just before 2:45.  The fog was thick offshore just past the Bell buoy, the wind was higher than had been forecast, and the radio talk was that the bite wasn't happening...  I geared up the X-Factor and headed out, thrilled to be on the ocean again!     Got out to the Bell and the fog enveloped me, but I had fresh batteries in the GPS, a compass, the sun somewhat visible through the moisture, and a sense of familiarity with that area that I know can be dangerous if taken for granted.  I can't say enough about how happy I was to be out there.  I recorded a few videos as I trolled a perfect chovie on a double-hook slip rig under a purple-haze hoochie behind a dodger/flasher and a small DeepSix.  After a few cycles of the fog getting thicker and thinner it moved south and I could see the Cove and the King Range / Lost Coast behind it.  I played with the seals at the Bell buoy a bit, tried to scare up a little talk from the very few and tight-lipped powerboaters who were still out there trying the same trick as me (never saw them until the end), and just flat out enjoyed my time out there.  I'd expected to pick up and release at least an incidental rockfish on the troll, but it turned out that I didn't get so much as a scratch today.  Only used two anchovies out of a brand new bag.  I headed in just before sunset to find the locals feasting on crab and beer at the beach - I didn't get any intel on how deep or where the crabs are because I didn't feel like talking to the locals as they drank beer...  A couple of them admired my yak and wondered what I was doing with a tripod!     The rumor on the water was that MAYBE two fish were caught today, but an older local on shore told me that NO fish were caught.  I'll be tracking very closely to learn of the bite when it does develop...  I logged 4.4 miles today in just over 2 hours.  I'm in training to do at least 10 miles when we get together in March.   

I got a little video of the landing at the end - thinking of you, Matt.  It's a piece of cake out there, man!    

Great report and it looks like even better weather.  Couldn't ask for much more ... except for some cooperating fish.  Yours is coming, that I know.

Michael

Kool Video,

 Felt like I was there with your wave ride

 Truly Awesome to even think someone is trying to catch a salmon...

 Pulling for ya,  If you succeed, could be a huge step towards AOTY...

Ditto

i really enjoyed the video while drinking my morning coffee.

How do you have your camera mounted?? That was nice and clean.
I hope you stow it befor you hit the beach.

Nice Eric!

CHEERS!

Thanks, Guys!   

Once I edit and post a couple more videos you'll see what I was doing, Mike.  I have it on a tripod and I stick the bottoms of the legs into my crotch and lower the camera-end down onto the "Gator Hatch".  I can point it forward, showing where I'm going, or back toward me - "vanity cam".  I didn't stow it before hitting the beach - I actually just pick it up and stand up with it as I land.  I would've finished that little video by landing it all the way, but I was feeling self-conscious with the big group of beer-drinking, crab-eating locals watching me!    That's why my commentary trailed off too - didn't want to look like too much of a freak!  

nice report. Hope the fishing picks up, however, just paddling on the ocean again sounds good to me. I have a bad case of salt-water withdrawl. Can't wait to get out there.

scott

What do you have against beer drinking...don't hate bro.   Those are some great pics and report.

   Hey Eric!  Great report!  Great water that day. I didn't expect you to get any salmon, but we were all rooting for you.  The salmon rig that you used is exactly what I've decided on using, after asking around. ("...a perfect chovie on a double-hook slip rig under a purple-haze hoochie behind a dodger/flasher and a small DeepSix")

I spoke with Dave/Pescadore about salmon in the Fort Bragg area, and he said that even with the very poor salmon year, that it's normal not to see salmon nearer to shore here until April or May.  -Matt

didn't want to look like too much of a freak!  

Tooo late! Hahahaha!
Man, that looks like a fun afternoon OTW. Looking forward to getting on the water again too.
Thanks for the pics+vid,
PK

What do you have against beer drinking...don't hate bro.  

Ah, Sspermy, if you knew me...  I'm a Sierra Nevada addict.  It's just the locals there on beer that I was referring to - it can be a rough crowd.  I knew when I posted that it would sound funny, but I only meant it as a timing thing, not a beer thing.  It's potentially like this: 

Eric - "Hey,  how's it going?    How deep are the crab right now?  "

Locals - "..."    (stink-eye only!)

or

Locals - "Who the F*&% wants to know?  "...

It's not always like that, but you have to have tact based on the situation at hand.  Here I am, coming to shore on my pretty little kayak, having trolled for salmon and done just as well/poorly as the powerboaters who're spending lots on gas and basically feel like they own the place, and it's evident that I may have had more fun!  So you have to judge the situation before you say anything to anyone on that beach - just my $.02 based on my experience there.     I also knew that if I came to shore with the first salmon caught I'd be in for a unique experience - I don't know if I'd be admired more than hated, and you don't want to be hated on that beach!

As for awkward landings - I'm ready for it, I was just referring to landing right in front of a dozen haggard looking locals (because that's where the sand is) while filming and doing commentary - PK's right that I'm a freak already, but even I draw the line!   

Cool report, good luck next time. Lost Coast Joe and I have penciled in a trip up there this year. Your posts and pictures of the area have fueled our "yak salmon' madness. We sure would like to hookup with you someday if you don't mind the company. Thanks again for your reports.

Matt

We sure would like to hookup with you someday if you don't mind the company.

Are you kidding?  I'm like "the lonely kayaker" here, Man!  I'd love to meet you and go kayaking.   

The hard part of going is that you never know if you even have a good chance at a salmon that day...  rockfish season opens in June, but by then we may not have a salmon season.  I'll start posting in Hookups when I'm considering going - I base it on low winds and swells, as well as reports. Look at the JPG of the current report here - Friday is a day, but none of the other days are...

If you ab dive we could plan some trips with that in mind too come April.

You should try to get to Gimme Shelter II March 14-16 if you can.