Inaugural trip with Allen Bushnell

Allen and I met at the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor at about 6:30 a.m. for a trip to the mile buoy for some learnin'.
Being a newby, I was wisely advised by everyone here to make this trip early to get started off right.

Thanks for that piece of advice everyone.
we paddled out to the mile buoy and did a little bottom fishing for some buts, knowing it was a little early in the season, but a good way to get some experience before the opening of rockfish.

Fishing was pretty slow all day, but the company was great and the weather was awesome!
As the morning progressed, the water got glassy and the wind was light.

As mid morning arrived Allen took me to a nice spot with some fish finally showing on the finder.

I hooked into a nice ling that was a sweet fish, too bad he had to go back.
It was about 28" and estimated at 8 lbs.
Incredable experience for a newby on a yak.

Anyone thinking about a trip with Allen, should make contact, he is a great guy with a lot of knowledge on techniques and fish patterns in this area.

Thanks again Allen

Here are some pics

Good going, Stoggie!  What a great first trip!
I wish Santa Cruz was closer to my neck of the woods. Would love to take a tour with Allen someday.  Anyway, thanks for the report and pics.  Nice Ling!  -Matt

WTG on the ling. Didn't realize it was OK to fish for them.

scott

WTG on the ling. Didn't realize it was OK to fish for them.

scott

It's not, they were fishing for halibut. so it's bycatch that gets released.

I think.

John

WTG on the ling. Didn't realize it was OK to fish for them.

scott

It's not, they were fishing for halibut. so it's bycatch that gets released.

I think.

John

yeah that's right....  bycatch.  Released......Stil fun though.

it was super clear water, but the expected schools of rockfish were absent.

I marked schools of fish at a couple of those little "refrigerator" reefs out front of the harbor, but none of them were biting.

A couple PB's out drifiting for halibut as well, heard nothing on the radio about fish caught.

Still early, but GREAT to get back out in the salt.

Stoggie is a boon companion, he's all set up and ready for the 2008 season...

Allen

Refrigerator reefs? Do you mean those mounds that are about half a mile out from the harbor?

Anyone thinking about a trip with Allen, should make contact, he is a great guy with a lot of knowledge on techniques and fish patterns in this area.

Yeah that guys Scallen is a good guy and knows his fish. Good on ya Stoggie for ponying up and getting a good day on the water.

Z

Refrigerator reefs? Do you mean those mounds that are about half a mile out from the harbor?

uh huh....little rocks about the size of your refrigerator.  sometimes those spots really produce, but today ecscept for one spot.....no fish on the scope.

I like the area because the flatties hang around those rocks, on the sand next to the rocks.

Allen

Refrigerator reefs? Do you mean those mounds that are about half a mile out from the harbor?

uh huh....little rocks about the size of your refrigerator.  sometimes those spots really produce, but today ecscept for one spot.....no fish on the scope.

I like the area because the flatties hang around those rocks, on the sand next to the rocks.

Allen

On a windy day, it can be really hard to maintain position over those things! I have watched them drift by on my FF many times.

Good job Stoogie wish monster guppy and I could have been there. A copuple more weeks and we should be able to knock them dead.

Awesome!!! WTG stoggie. Glad you got a nice fish on your first trip out (even if you couldn't keep it). Allan is definitely the man 

-FF

WTG Stoggie!  Lookin good out there. Nice ling, but I think your the one that's hooked  and so goes the madness . Look forward to fishing with you soon  .

Ben

  I caught about a 3 inch halibut near the lighthouse 6/21 one year. It had ingested a tentacle and was unable to let go. I think that means that breeding was going on sometime in early April.
   I can say that I once caught a record size halibut.
  Does anyone know how many are caught  around this time of year in Santa Cruz ?

Hey Stoggie - Why to go on that Ling! Here's a slant on the the story - I'm guessing you're a cigar smoker - AKA' Stoggie' - and it looks like one in your chops in the ling photos - right? I like a cigar too, but I've heard so much crap about the 'scent' on your hands and then your lure from tobacco that puts the fish off - what do you think? What does the board think? Is a smoke while fishing a BAD thing? I know I've caught many fish back in the day while chewin on a cigar or puffin a cigarette. Just a random thought,  let's see who responds. Tom

If you had to pick one person to take that inaugural trip with, Allen is a good one. Sounds like you guys had a blast out there.

Freddie