Cypress Pt. 5/31

We had tentative plans for a rope down the cliff type of launch at Garrapata but then Eric and Pat could not go leaving just Scott and I and then porceline god got the best of Scott so at 5:30 AM, coffee and oatmeal in hand, all loaded and ready to go, I guess I will be fishing alone or join one of the groups I know will be an the usual spots.  I left the house thinking I was gong to follow through with the rope drop when I realized there was no way I was going to do that alone.  I saw the small waves as Seaside St. Beach and figured I could launch anywhere I wanted in these conditions.  I was looking for something more adventurous than Stillwater but did not want to drive to LK.  I decided to try for one of the beaches along 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach.

The excitement built as I passed the turn for Stillwater and it seemed for ever until the road got back to the coast.  My hart dropped when saw the fences blocking off the beach for seal pupping then past the end of the fence a turn off with steps and a pond easy launch.  The first two photos.  I made it out without even getting water over my booties.  I should point out that this beach can be very rought in a swell and there are many huge shallow rocks on the way out that will make boils and breakers in bigger conditions.  There also seems to be more current here than I am used to feeling in the ocean.  I think that there are several places along this strech that are good potential launches in the right conditions which do not happen often.  Please make sure you know what you are getting into if you decide to launch around here.  Stillwater is almost always a safe backup plan if you an not sure  .

There was structure everywhere on the way out but it was mostly shallow (now I know why it breaks here like it can) mostly no fish though.  I tried several different lours and moved around a lot trying different areas as I watched the bottom up to 30 feet below.  I wondered if it was still brown and murky at MBK like it was last Tuesday evening.  The sandy areas where covered in broken up kelp and while it did not cause snaggs, it did foul the offerings.  I followed a line of kelp to deeper water fished a few boils and around some rocks, into a small cove and then out past the point toward the bouy.  By this time I had fished 10-15 spots for 5-10 minutes each and just had a few rockfish, one brown, and one gopher kept and a small blue and a kelp released.  Fairly slow with lots of snags and some  lost tackle but I was finding my way.  I had one huge take down that bent open my snap swivel after furious head shakes and not mcuh headway realling it in.  I should have taken a photo of the swivel  .

Outside, I found an area where there was a point at 70 feet surrounded by about 100 foot water.  Swim baits were gonig down too slow, so I tried a knife jig with two stinger hooks, and no sqid teaser.  I got a just legal ling really well hooked in the corner of his mouth.  I needed a good measurement because this one was close so I got the lip grippers on him to get him unhooked and he went totally ballistic.  He broke his jaw in two places as he thrashed around before I could get the hook out and measure him.  Nore more than 1/8 to 1/4 over 24 but leagal and he would not have had much of a life with a 3-piece lower jaw.  I strung him up.  Things were getting interesting.  I drifted that area but could not find  the spot again so I went in to fish the kelp between Cypress Pt and Sunset Pt.  I had fairly steady and successful C&R of gophers and chinas and kept one decent kelp RF.  By the time my fishfinder battery went dead (third trip without recharge) I decided to head back around the point and in.

As I passed about the same place I caught my ling, I saw a fish jump say 20 yards from my kayak.  White color and definately fish shaped, I have no idea what it was.  That was too much to stand.  I had a 6-oz mega bait on on rod and I casted it just past the spot as I drifted toward it.  I think I drifted to vertical and jigged for a while thinking it was interesting that my line counter showing flutuating bottom depths from 80-100 feet.  I got a hit and it seemed to come off as I reeled in and tried for a hook set.  I dropped back down jigged some more and felt a good strong tug.  Not much shaking and heavy, this was not a gopher or china.  As I saw color the big ling took a 50 foot run until thumb pressure could slow him down.  Back at the surface the second time and the Kuntz gaff found its mark right in the lower jaw.  I am starting to like gafffing big fish. 

So I headed strainght in and took out the bigger ling of the stringer to measure it and it came out one or two inches longer than the tape on my paddle which is 28-inch.  Since it was not bigger than Pat's last one.  I did not bother for a better measurement.  I left the fish in my boat while I hauled rods and stuff up to the van.  While there I heard a commotion and when I came back the big ling was in the sand a few feet from the kayak.  I rinsed him off and took both lings up to the car and put them in the cooler in the van and closed the lid and went back to the kayak for more gear.  When I returned to the van, the big ling was on the ground next to the van.  After a second rinse on the beach, I covered the fish with ice and while I heard some more thrashing, there where no more escape attempts.

I had my wife snap a shot of the two lings.  I also ended up with three RF and released up to 10 others.  This was a cool place to fish. away from the crowds at SW though there did seem to be more power boats.  There are more areas left to explore to the north next time we have a clam period.  Hope you feel better soon Scott.

I had one huge take down that bent open my snap swivel after furious head shakes and not mcuh headway realling it in.  I should have taken a photo of the swivel  .
 

It is seal.   

When I returned to the van, the big ling was on the ground next to the van.  After a second rinse on the beach, I covered the fish with ice and while I heard some more thrashing, there where no more escape attempts.

Funny 

It is great narrative. Thanks for the report & exploration. It is nice. Now I owed you two times. I do not have more excuses left. Let us explore more ...

Nice outing and report.

Wish I could've joined you Etienne. Really want to launch there. Scoped it recently and it looks good.

We gotta get you a bigger "fish be cool" stik!

My son and I were fishing coral street, (not worth a report ) when sackyak hailed on 69.  It was easy spotting the bright yellow rack on your ride.  Interestingly my kid found that really cool, that we could talk to someone in a car.

great job scouting the alternate launches and getting a ling limit!

Way to take advantage of a good day. Launch site looks awesome. I like the nauticle theme in the backyard. I think I have a similar collection of things from the beach.

Ling limit = longer report than usual!     and a great report it is.  Way to go, Etienne.     Looks like one of those cool blue lings.

Nice job Etienne!  I'd like to try that spot as I expand my launching horizions this year. 

Thanks for the details and pics E!
2 in the hand, is worth 1 in the...?  you know what i mean!

Way to get into em.  Hanging with the comrades is nice, but sometimes you just want to put the beat down on the lings!  Nice little launch