L-K Trip

Great report gentlemen!  Sounds like all had a terrific time.

BTW, PJ couldn't help but notice your "Max Speed" on the GPS.  Mad paddling skills there.

Michael

It was an AWESOME day.  I don't know why my GPS reads like that, but I seem to get weird speed readings like that.  As for the 20 lb line, I've never had a problem, what weight do others use?

Looks like Xfactor killed it!!!  What a great day, waiting to hear from Dogpound, he has some on the water shots I want to see!!!

Thanks again to all that let me tag along, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN???????

PJ

That was an epic day all the way around. Glad to see all the posts. My wife was impressed with the shots of the surf. Luckily she did not say to never go again. I figure I had around 45lbs total. I know thats a lot of fish, but none goes to waste at my house. The gills and guts are buried in the garden for fertilizer. the ling remains went into making a fish stock. Two reds went to my favorite sushi master who will make miso glazed grilled whole fish to die for. Two fish go to my parents. The blue was diced up and is being made into ceviche. We just finished the largest red which I grilled whole in the wood fired oven. It remains so moist if you don't take it off the bone.

 

Arghh.  I hit the back button and could not get back to my epic post.  Now I have to start over.   

It is late but I owe you gus this.

NCKA brothers are the best.  Thanks for sharing this awsowe adventure with me.

The second time around at this time of nigh it will not be so eloquent.  Sorry PJ, I had it going and deleted it.

I camped friday and after setting up camp for the family while my daughter finished her play, ate and drank too much before anyone arrived.  My friend Greg had asked if he could take me up on my offer to take him out kayak fishing and gracefully bowed out when I explained that LK is not the spot for beginners.  I think that he and I and all the rest are happy for that decision.

I could not sleep either and by 5 could not stand it any longer and started water for coffee and oatmeal.  Remember you get extra WAF if you leave french pressed Peet's in the insulated coffee maker when you leave to go fishing.  Also remember that oatmeal in not a good choice for eating in the car while driving down Highway 1 in Big Sur.

I was followed most of the way from Big Sur by SCXfactor and we arrived to see Scott on the beach.  The fact that he had his boat ready told me it was doable but I knew what we were in for.  Eugen and Eric arrived shortly thereafter followed by PJ and Andy.  Scott Launched first while SCXfactor (that is one heavy boat) and I helped each other over the rocks.  He hit a nice window an got out early.

I was lined up next and Eric and Eugene an SCX were on my left.  We waited out a huge set that spat 1/2 inch gravel all over me and my boat.  The waves were heavy shore dump with 50% rock and water in the white water.  Sets were generally in groups of 3 to 5 but some where more and the spaces between varied.  Every once and a while a big 8-10 foot green face would brake on the gravel beach and wash up to the rocks between the beach and the highway.  Eric and I made it out on a small window after a huge set but Eugene and SCX had a differnt time of it.

After most of us were on the water we headed to the reef, "Cap de Nord".  The paddel did seem long but Eric and Scott kept up a good pace.  Scotts rod and a green sparkel scampy with red lead head were lucky early and scored a string of superior size vermillions and copper.  The bite slowed a little and I tried a few different things.

A green mackeral pattern SPRO lour with squid tip had probably lost its squid and did not seem to interest the bottom fish so I was hauling it in from about 100 feet and half way up it went horizonal and I caught a salmon  .  The photo shows my excitement.  It had dark gums in the back with white in the front pure sliver steel sides and a vertical gash below its dorsal fin.  It faught hard as I tried to remove the outside barbed hook with one hand wihtout removing it form the water and reaching for the lip grips with the other.  He flipped off after the third splashing spasm and swam away safely past PJ.  Steelhead?

I finished with a heavy limit and headed in first because I had friends waiting at camp.  I landed on an empty beach a little more center of what I like but the cove was a washing machine and there was not much beach to the left with lots of exposed rocks.  I waited out a huge set and could tast the moist exposions of salt moist excieted air while I breathed and stowed and steached my legs and but.  I inched closer and waited for my window.  Another good set while I was close and I knew a chance was near.  I let the turbulance after the big set settle and followed in a small wave.  I got dubbled under at the last minute and leaned back into a brace and washed up sideways and dry.  I hauled my boat up as far as I could but the sand/gravel was soft and while I was more than 1/2 way up, I was only safe after reaching the rocks.  Resting and watching the beach I knew again what I was in for.  I shuttled my gear and boat to the shade of the bridge and threw my stringers in the creek to keep cool while I went back to wait for and help the others radio and camera in hand.  As it turned out timing was everything on this day. 

Scott's submarine/beach boring machine impression will go down in NCKA history.  After he got hit I ran out and grabbed his boat only to be washed up to my chest as he went under a second time.  The waves were very heavy and deep water was pushing way up the beach on the big waves.  I saw several people land safely only to be wiped out by big waves that came up bheind them after they exited sfely low on the beach.  PJ, you are one awsome waterman, fisherman and writer and I hope also new friend.  I would be happy to fish with you any time, the souther cap pehaps?  PM if you are willing to divuge.   Every one was awsome even in light of some missfortune and all of us are safe if brused a little.  I was so happy no beginners came with me.  The teamwork was inspiring.

Photos are worth a thousand words

My three biggest fish, and some landings.  Can you see the baby steelhead in LK Creek?  Can you name the NCKA member?

more photos

I was saving the best for last.  This one is for you Scott.  I have enjoyed every time we have fished together.  They keep getting better and better and this was no exception.  I hope you value this photo and the memory it captures.    .  I think it is even better than I first thought.

I was saving the best for last.  This one is for you Scott.  I have enjoyed every time we have fished together.  They keep getting better and better and this was no exception.  I hope you value this photo and the memory it captures.    .  I think it is even better than I first thought.

Etienne -

Thanks for that great pic. You actually captured my attempt to brace and turn the bow really well. I think I would have been thrashed even if I had turned the boat because of the size of the wave. Like Jim Sammons says, if the wave is over shoulder height, hasta le viesta baby. It was actually my favorite trip to LK. Epic surf, epic paddle, epic fish, epic company and of course... epic wipeout. Like I told PJ, LK defines the sport for me including an occaisional wipeout, and if you are going to wipeout, it is fun to do it with some style.  Looking forward to fishing Monterey next Saturday. 

Scott

great pics! GB2, if we are ever out in bad conditions, I am going to tackle you so you don't go down with the ship again! I will send you in separately! 

is that PJ going in and out to rescue stuff, cause the grey SPTW seems to appear more than once?

Etienne, how does your marauder compare to your old scrambler? I guess you finally gave in and got a bigger boat, just in time for salmon season to not be open, but you caught a salmonid anyways! very cool.

PJ was the man.  I was not about to go back out there once I hit the hard but was able and willing to help from shore.  PJ was fearless.

I really like the Marauder, especially the storage space below .  I feel it really paid off Saturday as I could stow everything but my stringer inside the hull and my stringers (2 this time cause one filled up last time) were tied on with bungie and a metal shackle.  This makes your center of gravity lower and really helps with surf landings and also protects the fishing gear.  I was impressed with the power of the waves to rip gear off boats while tumbling in the surf zone.  Hey Eugene maybe your son can give you some tumbling pointers.   Back to the Marauder, it is very stable and more dry than my Scrambler.  That said it is also harder to self rescue as the freeboard is higher but I do have a little less mass than Bill to haul over the rail.  Maybe seals like a dry landing?  I also noticed that this boat is heavier and does not accelerate or spin around as fast but does maintain speed and direction better than the Scrambler.  This makes the back in approach then spin around to land in big surf harder so I just backpaddeled and looked over my sholder in the zone right outside the breaks until the time was right.  Also, I will never push this boat up to the highway at LK with 40lbs of fish inside, too much weight.  Overall I like it and can accept the extra mass for stabliliy speed and storage. 

PJ did go out again, attempted to rescue GB2's stringer and all my yard sale items, which he did, all but the sinking items.  Personally, I would have let my yak float away before going right back in, so a salute to PJ.

the other thing is that when you try to take a pic of a steep uphill, its doesnt really come across.  Similarly the pics of the surf dont really capture the power and size of the shore dump.  Scotts BANZAI pic comes close though!  Nice shot Etienne!

salute to all you hard chargers.  Brass ones for the launchings and landings, and awesome stringers.

LK is terrifying.  Just look at GB2's boat position!!  But those stringers...!

                                           
Etiene, Great action pic of the GB2! Nose fully submerge with nothing but beach ahead....WOW! Scott I am glad to see that you had the wisdom to use your helmet and also glad you and the others all safely had your mandogs.
Looks like a great time with some excellent memories. Frank

You guys are the MEN!  That was an expedition I would not have felt comfortable attempting without you guys & your combined experience!!!

No wonder Xfactor's boat was so darn heavy! I tried to grab it & it wouldn't move!

I think GB2 is the new NCKA Surf Champion, look at the positioning, form & 100% commitment on his face!!!  Eugene is right, the pics don't completely convey how gnarly it was!!!

Etienne thanks for taking the shots, any time any of you wanna hit it down here I will personally guide you or hook you up if I'm unavailable.  Glad to make so many new friends.

Thanks for the hotdogs Scott.  Next time I'm bringing Littoral, he would have dug it, he's out of town on business but would've been a great addition to the group.