Kayak fishing the Cape - sort of...

With the closure up here it was torture seeing the flat water and light winds all week.  Thursday afternoon I took my stepmother and my boy over the hill for some fun at the beach.  We soaked a little bait from a couple of favorite rocks (that you can walk to at minus tide, so we were "legal" to kayak to the rocks and fish...   ), didn't catch anything, I did a very quick ab dive at sunset, but there wasn't time or light to find much.  The real objective of the day was realized in the S'more Smile that arrived around 8PM.  Good Times for sure (but I still miss fishing offshore from the yak!).   

sucks to see you not able to fish AK, but way to have some fun!

maybe you should try surf perching for redtails?

John

The fun and smiles that are apparent as was experienced by that small face was an epic catch, awesome! 

John

    Eric, Great story, picture, and video..........   thanks for the "where does your soul live".....ending.

Good stuff! Like I've said so many times, you have a beautiful backyard / playground

alil'Abking is in ALL of us!.....maybe he'll remember that and want to be just like you when he grows up....just like me!
WANTtoGROWupFIRST...ANDbeLIKEyou! 

WANTtoGROWupFIRST...ANDbeLIKEyou! 

Never grow up!   

O.K...nevermind that ONE!  

maybe you should try surf perching for redtails?

Uh, John,...  that's...uh...non...uh...non-AOTY, you &#(!_%(#@_%*!+!!!!!!!   

Sorry, sorry!  I got myself under control.     I have actually been wanting to target the redtails for a long time.  One of the prime redtail fishing holes is 5-10 minutes from my house at the mouth of the Eel.  I've never checked that fishery out but would love to, especially if there's a good kayak angle on it.  I'll make a point of checking it out this year. 

maybe you should try surf perching for redtails?

Uh, John,...  that's...uh...non...uh...non-AOTY, you &#(!_%(#@_%*!+!!!!!!!   

make a DayTrip or better yet!. an overniter to BAM bro!
YOUcanSCRATCH-OFFaFEWofTHOSE&#(!_%(#@_%*!+!!!!!!!   

Looks like another perfect day at the Cape to me Eric.  Good work!!

Norm

(that you can walk to at minus tide, so we were "legal" to kayak to the rocks and fish...   ),

Careful tiger. This is technically not legal. I double-checked with the DFG because I was hoping to do the same once the season closes. I wouldn't want a jobsworth warden to cite yer.
 

(that you can walk to at minus tide, so we were "legal" to kayak to the rocks and fish...   ),

Careful tiger. This is technically not legal. I double-checked with the DFG because I was hoping to do the same once the season closes. I wouldn't want a jobsworth warden to cite yer.
 

I asked one of the local wardens about it and was told that if I can walk to the rock then I can fish off of it.  I don't see how F'ingG can make me twist my ankles instead of paddling across a tidepool.  I'll fight it in court. 

(that you can walk to at minus tide, so we were "legal" to kayak to the rocks and fish...   ),

Careful tiger. This is technically not legal. I double-checked with the DFG because I was hoping to do the same once the season closes. I wouldn't want a jobsworth warden to cite yer.
 

I asked one of the local wardens about it and was told that if I can walk to the rock then I can fish off of it.  I don't see how F'ingG can make me twist my ankles instead of paddling across a tidepool.  I'll fight it in court. 

Ah right. Sounds like another one of those rules thats open to interpretation depending on the warden.

Just for the record, this is what I asked and the response I received:


Hello again!
 
I have another small question about the rockfish regs.
 
When the rockfish (boat) season closes, is it legal for me to kayak out to some rocks, catch fish from those rocks and then kayak back?
 
Would it make a difference if those rocks were fully accessible from the shore (but just easier to get to by kayak!).
 
Thanks.
 
Phil


Hello again Phil,
 
No, that wouldn't be legal I'm afraid. Once the season closes for boat-based anglers, boats must remain completely out of the picture. They cannot legally be used to take or assist in taking groundfish once the season is closed for boat-based anglers.
 
yours,
 
Mary Patyten
 
Mary Patyten
California Department of Fish and Game
Marine Region Education and Outreach
(707) 964-5026
[email protected]

Thanks, Phil, for the info you've provided.  I just emailed Mary myself:

"Hello, Mary.  I am a kayak angler in northern California ocean waters.  I know that the rockfish and lingcod season is now closed to boat-based anglers.  Does this mean that I cannot ride in a boat across Humboldt Bay and fish from the jetty?  Does it mean that I cannot kayak to fish from a rock that is accessible by foot?  Does it mean that I cannot kayak with my fishing gear from say, Eureka to Trinidad and then fish off the rocks there?  The essence of my questions is this:  does USING a boat to get to a destination actually change the legality of the activity at that destination?

Thank you, Love,

Abking"

OK, I didn't really include "Love, Abking", but I did email her - so we'll see how she responds to my rather pointed questions.