Very Big Sur - LK 9.13.08

Kevin, Zisco, and I went medieval on the rockcod and lings yesterday out of LK.  Limits on big vermillions, coppers, and quality olives.  One ling apiece, up to 29 inches.  Good quality stuff in AMAZING conditions.  Don't know what the forecast read yesterday, but whatever it was, if you see conditions like that again, GET DOWN TO SUR AND FISH!!

First stop was the big paddy in 70 fow out front of the Lucia Hotel.  Started banging big olives in gin clear water.  Vis was 20-30, could see schoolies hitting the jigs.  Really neat.

Then we spotted a HUUUUGGE school of birds working bait on the outside.  I pedaled like crazy to catch them and started throwing a 6 oz glow in the dark sumo jig.  Stripers, yellowtail, salmon, maybe barracuda?  Who knows, silvery fish in the 5 lb range just busting bait all over the place.  Never seen anything like that in Northern Cal.  No luck on the boils so I radioed back to Kevin and Zisco.  They were creaming the vermillion.  Paddled back to their position, which was now about 1 mile north of the Lucia in about 100 fow.

First drop was a 5 in big hammer on 1.5 oz hammerhead.  Pulled up my kicker ling!  Woo hoo!  Finally.  After that, we cherry picked the area for quality limits.  We all ended up switching to 10 in Kalin's jumbo grubs on 8 oz of lead to see if we could coax some more lings home with us.  I picked up another ling on the jumbo Kalin, and Zisco lost a big ass ling at gaff.

The paddle back took forever, 1:10 minutes of torture.  No appreciable wind or swell, but we were definitely fighting a funky current in boats so laden with fish we were totally low ridin' for sure.  The waves were pretty tame as far as LK goes, but I managed to eat it anyway.  Semi yard sale in front of a decent sized crowd and park staff.

When my boat dumped, my game clip sprung open.  It was practically open already from all the fish, but getting flipped was all the encouragement the clip needed to spring. LK is definitely a two or three clip trip.  Sooooooo, in front of the assembled beachgoers, I stripped down to my wetsuit and sought about collecting all the floating fish in the surfzone, and my net.  After a few minutes, all fish were accounted for, and I only failed to retrieve one tray of tackle (the iron tray of course!)

Don't know if I'll get to go out again for another run at Sur like this one.  Even if I don't, i'm stoked to end it on such a note.  Magical trip, lotsa fish, and got to make a new friend in Zisco.  Of course, Kevin is my favorite carpooler.  He always kicks in generously for gas and lives nearby, so its all good.

Kevin and Zisco took some pics so hopefully they'll share. 

Great report, can't wait for the pics... I've only fished twice this year, to many commitment's. But at least I get to read the reports everyday..

Craigh

Thanks for the great read this morning yakuza. Congrats on the stringer
of fish.

Jedmo

Sounds like a great day, Martin.  Cool report.   

maybe barracuda since some were seen in capitola area? An all white, blue and white or all silver smaller iron is supposedly the ticket. the glow 6" sumo might have been a bit big for them?

another fun thing to have there is a 4.5" floating jointed fastrac rebel (remove either head or tail hook to make legal for olives).

John

Awesome report, Martin. Sounds like a very satisfying wknd. And who doesn't love mystery fish?! Let's jsut assume they were WSB 

Cohos?

I would bet WSB.  I have a couple buddies who have speared them in that general area.  I have to get down there.
Dave

That is a roadtrip worth reading about! thanks for the details and yardsale story.
Even after that, I would have been stoked, just like you are!

Thank you for that. There is no place on earth I'd rather be.............

 hello Martin  I have been trying to post some pictures with no luck.  not the greatest pictures anyway, seems I took most of them at the worst time, video of  flying fish  is not near enough to tell  what type of fish is doing the jumping,  I sure took some poor pictures (must work on that) 

Sounds insane Yak! Congrats on what sounds like another epic yakfishing trip. Thinking of  crystal coastal waters pulling up rockies and lings sounds like a dream. Don't forget to thank chef!

Z

Sorry for the delay on posting pics. 

We had a bit of a sketchy start but fishing was off the hook!

1st.  The haul
2nd.  Zisco in the background
3rd.  Gives you an idea of the swell; not bad at all
4th.  Big reds

Martin - thanks for driving!  Francisco - good meeting you.

OWOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a great day!!!!!!!!
Fantastic   fish  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

badog