NCKA @ Shelter Cove - 8/29/08 - ROAD TRIPPERS CHECKED IN

I've been up since 3:45...  Thursday Allen (Otobepelagic), Patrick (HOLY TOLEDO) and Adam (FisHunter) came up to the north coast even with a really crappy forecast - they were rewarded.  I got a message Thursday night that they got out on the water even though it was badly blown out, and there were even some fish caught.  There was also an endo on a steep wave in small-craft-advisory conditions with a certain father/son team pushing the boundaries of reason by wearing shorts a mile offshore - Patrick did an extremely quick self-rescue and all gear was leashed!  Sounds like they had a great time on day one.  I looked at the forecast and buoy reports early Friday morning and the Cape was howling with 12.5' of swell and a short period - that's a mess.  Pt. Arena was significantly better, so, with Shelter Cove right between those two buoys and somewhat protected, I hoped for the best and hit the road.  Got to the Cove right on 6AM and found the NCKA camp.  Adam was up making coffee and Allen and Patrick were soon up as well.  We met and it felt like seeing old friends - NCKA is always cool in that way.  An hour or so later we were getting on the water - MUCH BETTER conditions was the report from the men who braved Thursday's wind storm.  It was still steep and messy with some big swells moving under us all day, but we had a great time on the water from 7:30 to 2PM.  Adam had the hot stick - 3 legal lings, a nice red, lots of blacks, greenling, blues...  All released.  Allen was also on fire with 5 lings and a ton of rockfish - kept a 30" ling - he also had a pelican attack him but he quickly subdued it by grabbing its body and it paddled away a minute later looking embarrassed!     Patrick also had a productive day with a 20.5" cabby, 3 lings, a scorpion fish, and assorted rockfish - kept the cab.  I was slow man - largely due to running giant tackle with a big ugly octopus and other bait on there - I had 4 blacks, which weren't too hard to hook if you put on a shrimpfly, and a 30" ling - kept the ling.  I think it was also slow for me because my fish karma is changing - it's a good thing.   I like seeing my NCKA brothers discover areas that I've come to know, and helping to share it with the rest of the club by filming and trying to check out the catches. 

We headed back up to camp and Allen quickly whipped up some mean man-dogs.  We had a BS session where we all shared a content appreciation of the day and then I was off to get the kids to soccer practice.  They're fishing again tomorrow (Saturday) if they don't get totally blown out, then I'm hoping to hear from them about a possible Klamath run on Sunday.

 

I just looked at the forecast and buoys - Yikes!  I don't know if the guys will get out this morning...

Thanks Abking,

Got my Fix for today....

Looks like they were rewarded and hope they had their Scopase on board....

I was definitely feeling the quease, Don.  As I admitted to the crew, my M.O. is to go out when it's flat - those were the biggest seas I've been in and I wasn't used to it.  I'm spoiled!   

The video had to be compressed to 100 MB from almost 200, so the quality is a little poor.  I may re-publish it for higher resolution as you can't see some of the fish and other details.

This shot of Allen is his ling-target, a big octopus bait.  In the video it's a cool "watercolor" visual effect, but the lower resolution kinda lost the effect.

Anyway - Good Times were the theme of the day.

 

Thanks once again for the great post and video...hold on, one minute, a bit weezzy, felling green, tummy is churning.....I gotta puke now



okay, I'm better.  If I can't even handle the video, I don't think they even make a medicine patch or pill that will allow me to fish in those conditions.

Adam, thanks for lettin' 'em go.  That's so sweet of you.  Good karma=better fishin'.

Have fun out there

HobieBlue

I love the video. Did you guys roll the yaks to the beach from the campground?! THAT is manly. And cool. And then towed the yak behind the truck on a cart? Wow!

Thanks once again for the great post and video...hold on, one minute, a bit weezzy, felling green, tummy is churning.....I gotta puke now

Pop a Dramamine, Bry!   

I love the video. Did you guys roll the yaks to the beach from the campground?! THAT is manly. And cool. And then towed the yak behind the truck on a cart? Wow!

Allen and Patrick rolled down the hill and hitched a ride behind me on the way up.  Those two roll like this:  HARDCORE!   

Here's the video split in two for better resolution.  If your system handles it ALWAYS push the "Watch in high quality" button.   

Abking,
Brilliant! Thanx alot for the porn. Is your camcorder waterproof/resistant, or maybe has a waterhousing?

Abking,
Brilliant! Thanx alot for the porn. Is your camcorder waterproof/resistant, or maybe has a waterhousing?

Thanks, Sharky!  I bought the Olympus waterproof a few months back, but I forgot to charge it up for yesterday, so I used the old stand-by, my Sony 7.2 megapixel.  If the wind were blowing with the size of that swell I wouldn't have been able to mount it and paddle without soaking it.  I got lucky and had to watch close to keep droplets off of it.  It'll die an early death due to the ocean exposure, but I'll get 10-20,000 photos/videos out of it first.   

Yow! 

Thats bumpy water.  I'd be chumming for sure

Thanks for the report Abking.

Love your videos, but this one have more accion and the song fits just right. 

Nice vid. Thanks Abking. Looks bumpy but fishable. You were right. Without the wind.Thnks for the report and I am glad for you guys for seeing it through even though the reports were for wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy less than great conditions. You guys are seagoing wayfarers that traveled a path less traveled. AWESOME!

You guys are seagoing wayfarers that traveled a path less traveled. AWESOME!

Thanks, guys, and thanks, ravensblack.  Your statement here is reflective of something I've been thinking about all day.  I am extremely impressed with all the guys, but especially Allen and Patrick.  They both had un-dying energy and enthusiasm as well as a bold confidence and ability - these guys know their shit, big-time!  I was thinking this BEFORE I got their call this afternoon.  They'd broken camp and were in Eureka getting tackle and tips for the Klamath.  They're up there now and I'll meet them in the morning.  They went out fishing again today at the Cove!  Allen said he got soaked and they got lings and some blacks.  With how that buoy report looked this morning I'm blown away that they went out to the Whistle fishing again.   

I have a new hero, and his name is Otobepelagic.  Patrick is second in line, but only because I'm so impressed with how his Dad is kicking ass and taking names around here!  I expect to witness some impressive skills tomorrow, but, and this is the climax of this observation, I know I'll be shown the finest in courtesy, kindness, good humor, sharing and warmth.  This is how these guys roll, and it's why my kayak fishing lifestyle is so intertwined with NCKA.

 

Odds are so strong that you'll hear back from me late tomorrow night - and I predict it will be good stuff. 

Great job on taking the video Abking. Talk about season veterans. There is no way
I could have lasted more than ten minutes being out there in that condition.
Maybe someday when I have enough kayak hours under my belt.

Jed