Fort Ross 07-21-08

Met up with Malibu Two and his friend for a maiden voyage to Fort Ross. It was a long drive from San Francisco with a bad belly  , but I wasn’t going to pass on a chance to finally hit the salt again.

The launch was perfect, the cove thick with kelp.

I was finally on the water by ~8am. I pulled up on some kelp and got a nice black on my first drop. It was a fairly steady procession of fish. Nothing massive, but good enough for the fryer.

After an hour or so I noticed this guy lurking just off my stern, silently watching. I stared back. He wasn’t fazed. From what I can tell he’s a juvenile brown pelican rather than a regular white pelican, but I could be wrong; anyone know?


I pulled in a small black and he went for it. I swung the black around my head and managed to pull it off before the pelican got there. Still unfazed, he remained lurking. I stuck on some more squid but he went for the rigs. Not good. I managed to get them down deep enough and thought I’d just wait him out. No chance, he actually hopped into my lap. I was dumbfounded. I shook him off and tried shooing, splashing. Nothing fazed him at all. I even tried gently (and then not-so-gently) pushing on him with the paddle. He just hopped on the bow. Eventually I decided I’d better just move on. He followed, trying once again to hitch a ride rather than paddle himself.  I kept the hooks away from him for as long as I could but eventually he got his wish; a 3oz leadhead through the beak  No problem, I reached over and unhooked him. He didn’t even flinch.Eventually he got bored and moved on. Phew.

I ended the day with 6 eating fish and a bunch more released. Most were, ummm, browns I think. Or quillbacks. It’s hard to tell, even with the guide in Milton Loves book.  Malibu Two and friend did about the same, altho’ he got a really nice red as well. I’ll let him show you. We never really ventured much further out than the kelp beds. All but one of my fish were caught on a shrimp fly just off the bottom, there wasn’t much business for the fishtraps or curly tails underneath.

What a great way to spend Monday morning!


I’m off to eat fish and chips. 

Hilarious story 

Glad you got some nice eating fish.

HobieBlue

Great report and story!

Isn't it bad enough we have to watch out for sharks, sealions, seals, otters, and whales? Now we have to keep an eye out for dearranged baby brown pelicans?

Jesus...

A stringer of fish and a lap dance......not a bad day.

Nice story.  Your not the first to catch a bird.. just ask Naoaki (Uminchu).

As for your fish.. they're  gopher rockfish.  Fort Ross is loaded with them.

NB, Wish I was there!

LL

Cool report - I've certainly never experienced anything remotely similar to a pelican flopping in my lap!!!  I'm glad you two got along that well before you had to evict that deranged dinosaur descendent!  Way to get out on the salt!   

Good day of hook'n for all!!...in sweet conditions. Can't argue with that launch scene either.....there is deeper water, just outside of those beds.
Thanks for the port&pics fellas!

~NB?...did you drive 101 or theBeatlesLONG&windingROAD? 

Great job Northern Boy on being patient with the pelican who's trying to steal your
fish. Congrats on the nice stringer of fish and thanks for the pictures.

Jed

NB - great report. They filmed the movie "The Birds" in Bodega Bay I believe. Maybe he is a decendent from the Hitchcock film. Looking forward to more pics of  your urban camo kayak on big blue.

Scott

You are a patient angler!     Love the report and pics

Hey thanks folks. Fish and Chips last night and taco's tonight. Gotta love rockfishing. I thought those guys were gophers but when I got home and checked Milton Loves book they didn't look quite right; the ones we caught were very pink and didn't have much in the way of white spots. But I guess it's all too easy to fall into the trap of using color to id rockfish!

Fishunter; I drove 101 to Petaluma and then thru Bodega. I was tempted by 116 but I stuck with what googlemaps told me. I did not consider taking 1 all the way. I'd probably still be on my way home now!

Anyone ever camp at Reef to save the early start? Anyone know if you can launch from there?

Here are The Malibu Two with the red.

NB, great story, your fish are mainly GOPHERS. you will get very used to seeing them.

Fishunter; I drove 101 to Petaluma and then thru Bodega. I was tempted by 116 but I stuck with what googlemaps told me. I did not consider taking 1 all the way. I'd probably still be on my way home now!

up n.101 to River Road...it goes west to hwy.1 and will put you 20min. south of Ft.Ross, It takes an hour and 20 min from the 101&riverRoad exit  ....cutsTHATwindingROADinHALF!