Trinidad was World Class today! Video Added

Imagine spouting whales at dawn, no wind, clear water, and a 10" ab...   

The movie should be good, and I even took a couple of still shots.   

"Abking", the life philosophy, moved on to a whole new level today.   

boy do I need to taste saltwater

Way to get us on the hook, Eric! 

Imagine spouting whales at dawn, no wind, clear water, and a 10" ab...  

The movie should be good, and I even took a couple of still shots.  

"Abking", the life philosophy, moved on to a whole new level today.  

Looks great

The story starts yesterday afternoon.  I made an appointment to look at a job near Trinidad for this morning around 10AM.  Knowing there was a minus tide and the forecast sounded like a decent ocean, I was pondering a paddle and dive in Trinidad Bay - just to get wet first thing in the morning before my appointment.  On my way home from work I called Domenic and we started BS'ing.  I suggested I might hit the tide Friday morning and he says, "yeah, me too, that's why I called..."  I'm like, "I called you, Dude!"  And it turns out he had left me a message at home, so we were on the same page, unbeknownst to us!  (*that message/callback before getting message phenomenon has happened to us a few times now!   )

So we agree to meet at 6:30 at the launch inside Trinidad Head.  I got up at 5 and checked the forecast, which was still looking good, but the buoy report was a different story - blown out and not as flat as the call...  Trinidad Bay is nicely protected though, so I knew we'd at least get a good paddle in, whether it was cold and windy with muddy water or not... 

We met at dawn at the beach launch - the only two lucky souls there to witness the start to a glorious day.  As first light filled the Bay we saw whales spouting about a quarter to a half mile straight out from the launch.  Our energies quickly focused on the unexpected pleasure of a self-guided whale watching tour to start the day.  As we paddled out I had both cameras filming - one on the tripod and one in my hand or laying in my lap ready.  The anticipation of getting up close to some big critters was a thrill and a great way to start the morning.  We stealthfully eased our way up to where the whales, 5 of them, were hanging out in about 20' of water.  As we arrived at a good viewing spot about 100-150' from the whales a mother and calf left the group and skirted past us right between Domenic and shore.  The others stayed put in an area of about a half acre or less, circling around, hanging parts of their tails out of the water, blowing consistently in the same general areas, and acting quite relaxed and happy, like us.  One of the larger animals seemed to be hanging nearly upside down, as part of its fluke was nearly always out of the water in between spouts.  We'd watch as it seemed to move gently up and down and side to side, and I think it may have been scratching up against a rock.  In the hour or more that we sat there, amazed at the easy nature of this brief and wonderful union of time being shared by terrestrial and marine mammals, Domenic pointed out how the spouts of the three whales we were watching were unique and possibly represented a way to identify different animals.  There was the little spout (a calf?), the double spout (some whales apparently have a septum?), and the big question mark shaped spout - that was the big one that was rubbing its bod on the rock and hanging a corner of its tail out of the water making it look like a huge dorsal fin!  At one point two of the whales surfaced and spouted as they headed toward me and they were 50-60' off my port side.  I paddled backwards one handed as I continued to video with the other hand and could hardly control the glee!  What a joy to have that experience on such a beautiful morning in paradise - and not another yak on the Bay!

We tore ourselves away as I was down to minimal battery power in one camera and a maxed out card in the other.  We cruised the Bay to the southeast and found a place to dive.  Domenic noted that the water was extra nippy at 46.5 degrees, and it didn't phase me until I got in the water.  Within a few minutes of starting to dive I wasn't able to feel large sections of my fingers - they felt like frozen sausages.  Being a bare-handed diver, I knew I'd get cut up badly if I pushed it and kept diving while lacking feeling.  I never get cold like this...  So I decide to push on - we're looking for an ab in territory that used to have many and has been picked over due to the sheltered nature of the Bay - it's very very rare to see any abalone there.  The rocks we chose to dive on were nice ones - ledges, caves, cracks, the typical flora and fauna of a rocky spot that doesn't get scoured by silt.  I persisted and right when I was thinking it would be wise to wrap it up I came upon a special prize.  What could've been my 60th 10" abalone was hanging in a nicely accessible crack, in full view with about 4' of visibility in the area.  I didn't touch it, and I knew it looked like a 10.  I signaled to Domenic that I'd found an ab and I swam to the nearby anchored boats for my camera and 10" guage.  I got a video of putting the guage on the ab and confirmed it was a 10.  I also realized that finding the big ab made my hands warm up!  I left the ab as it was near a landmark rock, and we searched the area for another hour or so  hoping to find more abs and trying to get an angle on spearing a fish.  We didn't quite get a shot at any of the fish we saw, including a pretty big black, an eel in a hole, a super fat-bellied grassy, some greenling and perch, and we didn't find any other abs.  As I dove around enjoying my world class morning, I realized that I didn't feel like taking that ab home.  I told Domenic that I'd be honored if he pulled it, as his ma-in-law is visiting and he had ab dinner on his shopping list.  Now, this is no easy transaction:  one grown and capable man offering another grown and capable man the pull on an ab.  There's a pride issue involved.  Fully aware of it, and really wanting to make it a null point, I told Domenic that I consider the find a team victory, because I wouldn't be out there diving without him, and I know him to be an excellent ab hunter, so it was really a certain amount of random luck for me to have swam up to the apparent only ab in the area.  He graciously took me up on the offer, and I was stoked to be able to get some footage of the pull.  Turns out it's a pretty damn good way to get some ab meat without having to clean it myself or use one of my tags!   

So we stowed the gear, mounted our yaks and paddled back to the trucks with the morning sun on our backs and big grins up front.   

The crossroads that I navigated out there today really made me feel good.  I'm happy to be at a place where I don't feel like I need another 10" ab.  I love to find them, and I still love to pull them and provide special meals for my family, but I don't need to take abs, even 10"er's, just for the sake of the harvest.  I am out there for the fun, and that includes everyone on the team.  Thanks, Domenic, for helping me on my trippy way.  And thanks to the rest of the team - you guys - because telling the stories has become as sacred to me as pulling a 10 inch ab.   

Wow, what a wonderful experience.  You seem to live in one of the most blessed places on earth dude.  I love the reports you send out.  Thanks.

I've been lurking around this forum for months. It is stories like this that lure me back everyday, looking for more. I really enjoyed reading your stories, videos, adventures. It'd be my honor to be able to tag along in one of your trips some day, learn the abking way of life, if you'd let me

Mooch had recently helped set me up with a Trident 13. Unfortunately, before I had a chance to get into kayak fishing, all the recent ab reports got me excited. Really want to see an ab in the wild. Just got myself a Picasso suit. Ready to hit the water. Just need time, practice, advice, and possibly someone to show me the rope. Actually, I played hooky and drove up to Van Damme from Hayward monday. Then drove down the coast to Bodega Bay, checking out all the ab spots that I read about. It was a nice drive, but I was not brave enough to touch the water. Some day.

Posts like this help get me through my boring work days. I really appreciate it. Thank you.


ernest

Ernest, don't go alone!

Eric, you really need to start enjoying your time outside more... great read. Looking forward to the film premier...

I've been lurking around this forum for months. It is stories like this that lure me back everyday, looking for more. I really enjoyed reading your stories, videos, adventures. It'd be my honor to be able to tag along in one of your trips some day, learn the abking way of life, if you'd let me

Mooch had recently helped set me up with a Trident 13. Unfortunately, before I had a chance to get into kayak fishing, all the recent ab reports got me excited. Really want to see an ab in the wild. Just got myself a Picasso suit. Ready to hit the water. Just need time, practice, advice, and possibly someone to show me the rope. Actually, I played hooky and drove up to Van Damme from Hayward monday. Then drove down the coast to Bodega Bay, checking out all the ab spots that I read about. It was a nice drive, but I was not brave enough to touch the water. Some day.

Posts like this help get me through my boring work days. I really appreciate it. Thank you.


ernest

You're welcome, ernest, and welcome aboard!  I appreciate your kind words.    The best thing you could do if you want to hookup with NCKA is show up at one of our events like Gimme Shelter III or Albion...etc.  You sound like you're primed for the Madness.   

Here's the video of the day's events:

In a word......gloves!!!!   
Felt like I was there Eric. Thanks.

WTG guys, the whale spouts are awesome and pullin' a 10's not bad either.

I wish everyday could start like yesterday! It was a little chilly though -33 deg before dawn. But, once Abking and I saw the whale blow, the M.O. of the outing changed. No one else was around - couldnt believe it- and I didnt care if we got in the water or not. The dive spot was around 100' from where the two largest whales were and sometimes one would circle within half that distance! Very humbling experience.

Well, I have half of that ab in the fridge for ya. Thanks for the opportunity to harvest a big ol mossback ab.

The honor was all mine.

But, while you had to go work right after we got back to the launch, I went down to the MOE for some hot perch action.

A quadruple whammy- Whales
                               10.5" ab
                               Diving in paradise (albeit a cold one)
                               Hangin with the King

Here is a pic of the ab.

A very epic day.

Domenic

 With a little more notice I could have made it as I started spring break yesterday. I was reading the hook-up post as you guys hit the water and looked for you on the harbor cam on the pier. I would have made the 3 hour drive just for the whale watch and coastal therapy as I love the Trinidad area, maybe next time!

 The wife and I make numerous trips to the area each summer when it is raging HOT in Redding. Now with kayak and ocean gear, I plan to fish the area this summer and hope to hook-up with my Humboldt area NCKA brothers.

 Great report and video guys, more notice next time please

 See y'all at GS III, Tad 

Nice one, Domenic - that's a hell of a double-day.  I was beat at my office through mid-day - way to tap into that second wind. 

I hear you, Tad, but it's not that easy, especially in any season but the heart of summer.  Around here you have a 50/50 chance of not even wanting to launch due to wind, mud, swells...  I've come to learn that a hookup here is prone to potential pitfalls.  I love to hookup and share time with new friends, but it's almost a threat to a new friendship to encourage a big time and resource investment when there are no guarantees on the outcome of the trip.  That and the fact that we were only there from 6:30 til 9:30 mean it's "buyer beware" when it comes to signing on to a Humboldt Hookup.  Save your enthusiasm for Shelter Cove and we'll make up for it there.   But...  if you get a wild hair and feel that you have to head over here be sure to give us a heads-up and maybe we can meet up.