Labor Day weekend at Ocean Cove

Went up Thursday afternoon with DiverDoug and DiverDanno, beautiful day, and selected a campsite. Didn't seem necessary then but we took one that was wind protected. By Sunday we were glad we did.
Ocean Conditions on Friday were not too bad. A 6' swell from NNW but no wind and a glassy surface. We Paddled out of Ocean Cove and the water was Pea Soup green until we cleared the first wash rock. The vis then opened up to about 5', best we would see all day.
We headed north and paddled about 3/4 mile. Very, very thick kelp everywhere near shore, extending to 50 FOW.
Found some mangeable holes in the kelp but with the swell and surge had to be very careful not to get wrapped. At least you could see light at the surface and aim for the holes when you made your ascent.
Tough limit in about 20 FOW. Saw a very large fish when entering the water, but didn't have my speargun yet. No other fish were seen.
Ended up going back out and jigging the bottom south of Ocean Cove that afternoon, caught a couple of rocks and an undersized Ling. Tough conditions on the ocean but nothing but sunshine on shore.
By 10:00 Saturday morning the swell and wind had picked up. We decided to drink beer and tell lies instead of diving.
The Sac Dolphin Divers had a meet scheduled for Sunday but cancelled due to the sea conditions. Left Sunday at noon. Unfortunately came across a bad motorcycle wreck south of Ft Ross. Too much speed on the hairpins.

I was up there too. Fished right out in front of the campground friday night late/sundown for nothing and then dove the cove by myself for two small ab's saturday morning. The visibility and kelp were both horrible and it was very windy sat/sun.Drank alot of beer. Labor day morning was doable but I opted not to fish as my better half was over it. Hoping this coming weekend has better conditions.      Amusing story:   Saturday afternoon I was looking off the top of the cliff and spotted an unattended float-tube just floating around down in the water. Immediately alarmed that someone might have drowned I ran down the cliff trail looking for a floater. Got down to the water's edge and didn't see anything. After maybe 20-30 minutes the tube finally got close enough to grab it. Took it back up to the campsite and laid it down on the ground to dry with my gear. Hours later my group, about 10 people, was eating dinner and some guy runs into our camp grabs the float and says "You didn't take a weight belt from were you took this did you?" with a plainly accusatory tone of voice.I got out "Found that floating in the ocean buddy", as he marched out he replied "Yeah right!" with a scowl. He then proceeded to quickly walk back to his "Ultra" class c rv telling people "That guy stole my gear!" Up until this point I was feeling very mellow, and the sheriff and dfg had already been thru writing tickets for the campsite next to us, so I was all for just ignoring the intrusion but my enraged dive buddy,recovering from double bypass, got in this guy's face and got a forced apology as it was clear he really believed I stole his gear. So to be clear. Dude I did not steal your gear! Dude don't leave your gear at the water's edge with a rising tide and breaking waves! And finally dude next time you have your panties in a bunch just call the waaahmbulance cause your crybaging really came off like a total jerk. God I love camping on major holiday weekends. Never a dull moment.    jim/redyak

That is almost as good as the time I watched, from afar, an argument between adjoining camps result in a guy driving his 4X4 over the other camp's table and tents. That guy got arrested. Fun times at Ocean Cove where $19 gets your car in but doesn't gaurantee a place to put down your sleeping bag . 

Ouch that's a good one Andy! Last time we were up there the dfg busted this guy down at the cauldron for no fishing license. Late that night we could here a loud argument erupt from his campsite. Then the guy or one of his buddies running across the campground with a bunch of people, mostly women, chasing him as he yelled back over his shoulder " I didn't do it! I swear I didn't do it!" I believe he spent the night down in Stillwater park minus sleeping bag/tent. Gotta love the O.C.   jim/redyak

Gotta love Ocean Cove , always something going around the campground but I do have to say that is what I like most about this place. Always open and most of the time great people and a great place to launch out of.

Bad ocean conditions+ alcohol = uncontrolable emotions= jail time or bandaids and ice.

I was at O/C as well Arrived thursday it was Very nice friday was great until the afternoon when the wind came up.  My dive buddy and I got our limit in the kelp in the cove friday 8 1/2" to 9" ers in 25 Feet.  No fish seen.

Friday afternoon I was driving through the camp site and saw my wife talking to some blond gal I have never seen before.  Stopped to tell her we would be back in a while were going to the store to get some half and half the blond got up and walked over to my truck opened the door and crawled in onto my lap and said where are we going. She was very drunk. My dive partner said to get some half and half. At this point she leaned back onto my partners lap and said I could use some half and half. I looked at my wife and her eyes were as big as mine were. She got up and walked back over to my wife.  I drove off and all my partner could ask was do you think those were implants?  Ocean Cove weard.   

Saturday went to Bodega and took the yak out crabing to windy to do much got enough crabs for dinner.  Looked for hali but the viz sucked.

Sunday went to Fort Ross and picked three more abs viz was about 2' and dark in 25 feet.  It was a lot of work for the limit. Again no fish.

Nice report, NapaAndy, and welcome aboard!      Great first post!

fishSticker - keep the camera handy, bro!