SW 101 Report

Despite a scary forecast we were blessed with the same glassy conditions we all exploited.  We had to look for surf at Caspar, but we found some little ankle biters that were perfect for a first experience...




We spent a few hours learning to launch, land, surf, bracing and controling your momentum and direction enough to avoid unvoluntary surfing. The guys did a great job and we all had fun in the small glassy waves...



After going for an open ocean cruise we all played in the surf until we were pooped.  I couldn't resist having a little fun myself...



We warmed up at the Mendocino Bakery with coffee, snacks, and a powerpoint on rockfishing to prepare for Sunday.  Sunday the ocean was a lake.  The bite was a little slow, but it turned on later in the morning.  Arron caught an ice verm and retained a few gophers with fatal barotrauma...



We pot-holed the kelp and found a better grade of fish hiding in the bushes.  Aaron lost a pig in the kelp.  Later Chad was on...



After a nice fight and a little kelp wrangling Chad was rewarded with a nice thick 31 inch ling...



By lunch time everyone had put together a great first stringer of saltwater fish!



I had retained a fat verm and a few blues the day before for Sundays lunch.  We had cerviche tostadas and Coronas before heading home...



Thanks for coming guys, we had a great time!

Beers and Fresh Cerviche after school that's my kind of Class. Looks like a lotta fun Teach. That kelp is thick.

Thanks Mike...putting that giant cutting board to good use!  The kelp is NUTS everywhere on the coast that I have been this year.  The kelp in Caspar is ree-dick-you-lous!!!!

Looks like you have some pretty happy customers there Sean.  I'm starting to get jealous that I had to figure out all this stuff the hard way.

Brian

Beers and Fresh Cerviche after school that's my kind of Class. Looks like a lotta fun Teach.

No doubt, Sean knows how to put it together. 

I'm ready to go back to school.   

Nice class with awesome treats!   You're the great teacher, Sean! 

Looks like you have some pretty happy customers there Sean.  I'm starting to get jealous that I had to figure out all this stuff the hard way.

Brian

yeah Brian, you & Mickfish are the ones that thought me the hard way...

Looks like you have some pretty happy customers there Sean.  I'm starting to get jealous that I had to figure out all this stuff the hard way.

Brian

Yep, we were happy little campers at the end of the weekend. And yes, it's definitely an invaluable service - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to anyone thinking about getting started on Big Blue. Of course, we still have a lot to learn & practice but Sean's coaching gives us a huge head start. 

Launching through that gnarly surf was pretty scary, though.

That looks like an INVALUBLE EXPERIENCE & ADVENTURE!!
Getting "Paddle-Time" in REALTIME and then getting yer' HUNT ON too!
= PRICELESS x2   

Did you guys camp out? the conditions were nice, but you guys probably wanted the rough stuff?...better small&fun than getting FREEK'D OUT and giving in. Learning the RIGHT WAY, while building confidence with each outing and you'll be Leading the Crew in the near future.    
I'm still an Ocean-Rookie myself and have learned something new everytime I go....LIKEwhenTOsay NO GO!

~Chad- that is a BEASTLING Nice save back from the kelp-monster!!

Thanks for sharing the class Sean&Students.   
No pics of the GRADUATION CERAMONIES??
DIDtheyPASSorFAIL?   


 

Yes the surf was terrifying!  After a lecture on how to pick the sets, we immediately selected the "worst sets" as they were the only waves big enough for practicing.

Glad you enjoyed the class!

Adam-everyone passed, and went home with a bag of fillets!

Good going once again scwafish. Awesome pictures and the video. Congrats Chad
on the ling.

Jed

Sean,
Very nice job on the class. 

On the kelp, just wait till you see Elk, its unreal how much kelp there is this year.  The little spot between the second and third big rocks just right of the launch is virtually unfishable and to the north it is as big as I've ever seen it.

first time is always fun... nice job guys...I like that lingcod.

~kayakito~

Sean,

I'm a little worried.    Are any of these guys fishing the elk tourney???  If so, I may need to come up there and take a clinic with you.   It just seems to me that this might be a little advantage doing clinics up there with an old school barnacle like yourself.     JTF

Just remembered an added bonus on Sunday:
The chance sighting of a humpback breaching in the distance--not just breaching--but an Olympic jump clearing at least 30 ft into the air before splashing back down, and then resurfacing periodically for 15 -20 mins. Sorry, no pics. 

But speaking of Olympics, Eric was the champion of China. He caught the most fish by far and almost every one was a China - they just wouldn't leave him alone! 

JTF, no ELK for me this year but I'll be sharpening up for next year.