santa cruz to ano nuevo - 8/11/08

got the new flir navigator installed, had the dual yamaha 150-4's go through their first 100 hour service, threw on a coat of wax, did everything except the albacore dance.  still no tuna off the northern california coast.  ok, let's go for rockfish!  and hey, let's take four guys that have never done this before!

we launched out of santa cruz, grabbed a full scoop of live bait at bocci boy's, and ran up the coast about 25 miles to ano nuevo.



swells were running 4-6 feet and coming in every 6-8 seconds from the nw.  quartering into these seas made for pretty bumpy ride, even for a grady.  you can still jar the boat a little when you come over the top of a swell and find nothing but 3 feet of air!  i started out at 3900-4000 rpm and 25 kts, then backed off to 3700-3900 rpm and 20 knots around the rougher patches at davenport.  everyone still had their fillings when we finished our 25 mile run.  i set up several drifts in deeper water off ano nuevo and stuck several nice rock fish.  it actually started laying down.

meet the crew, greg and john, jr.



kevin and john, sr.



john jr. got a very nice vermillion and a nice cabezon.





we were picking up fish at a pretty slow rate.  normally i'm metering fish top to bottom and we're done by 10am.  i never found a single concentration of fish the entire day.  we ended up the day at 2pm with 36 rockfish for 5 guys, plus one cabezon.  i spend the entire morning keeping these guys rigged, scooping bait and cleaning fish.  i did take one little break and tossed an old worn out megabait.  hooked up on my second cast.  i was going to hand this fish off, but he was up to the boat before john, sr. could reel up and stow his rod.  he took three runs under the boat and even tried to get around the prop. when he took that first run under the boat, i figured i'd better land this fish myself.  glad i did.  i'm sure john, sr. would have lost the fish in the prop. 



just a side note to ncka only - most of the fish were picked up about 100-200 yards off franklin point.  that's well within kayak range.  um, all you have to worry about are the sharks..........

Great report Alan!!  I can only dream about owning a boat that awesome

If you ever have room for an extra just let me know. I'll bring sandwiches and I can pitch on gas 

-FF

  Reminds me of when I used to go out with my dad on his 24' bayliner.  Back then we each used a 3 hook yarn rig, and penn jigmasters ( I remember one of the rods had a level wind reel)  He would pilot the boat up to Davenport and 300' of water and we weren't out very long before the fishwell was (limits) full. (Mid 80's)
  I also remember the work on boat after the trip.  At home, the boat got a complete soapy washdown, towel dry, (Engine flush again) all the wood was gone over with teak oil wipedown.  The boat lasted him 10yrs and he got a real good resale price because of the "after" care.

that's well within kayak range.  um, all you have to worry about are the sharks..........

Geezzzz, did you have to say that...
Really, though, thanks for the pics and report! And, all my reels are working great, so thanks again for the build workshops.
Steve

I agree...GEEEEZZZ!  Thanks for the report Alan. Seems like that's the story up&down the coast fo far this season...at least you got that ling! and on your second drop..that's skillz.
 and yeah, everytime I rinse my reel, your face appears over my good shoulder.

cool, I can test out my new shark shield! 

I just need a couple guys to be the 'control' in the experiment, 

looks like you had a spinning reel and got some lateral movement on your megabait for that ling, eh?

J

Adam, Shark Shields are $500 on sale...  let's go halvsies and ro sham boe for it at launch.

Adam, Shark Shields are $500 on sale...  let's go halvsies and ro sham boe for it at launch.

eric b, always good to have along a human in 'trophy size' or 'quality grade', to make up for 'dinks' like FH and me, 

Hey I was out there That Day... feet danglin, and it chose the bite sized guy on a fast kayak...  draw your own conclusions.

Alan,
NICE BOAT! Ive been outta the loop. Last few tuna seasons ive been looking for your old boat out there whenever i heard you on the radio( ive been DH on the Y-Worry 36 Rivierra Flybridge for the last 5 yrs).
jmairey, ive been useing "controlls" in the form of my buddies put onto my spare yak at HMB and muir beach.
Results have been inconclusive so far ...

Hey I was out there That Day... feet danglin, and it chose the bite sized guy on a fast kayak...  draw your own conclusions.

not the most talented of humanersharks. needs to work on his skillz. 

...i'm almost done with giving TheeMightyJ.Lee it's  "NaturalSharkShield" and will post it in General Talk, Gearing Up and in the GWS MasterThread too.

...if it doesn't work out....Eric,Igot$250.ooONit! roe sham boe it will be!(i may need to R-S-B for the use of your kayak too)

just a side note to ncka only - most of the fish were picked up about 100-200 yards off franklin point.  that's well within kayak range.  um, all you have to worry about are the sharks..........

Strong brotherhood elicits loyal side note - nicely done, Alan!   

Ah, Franklin Point - I spent some great days there diving for abs and fishing from the rocks in the early 90's.  Saw a huge lingcod there diving in 20-25' out in front.  Special place for sure.   

I love "Ro Sham Bo"... It keeps things so simple!!!

Blake