Abs, Cabs, and comedy at Caspar

Went out to Caspar on Sat. AM for some snails and a little rockie fishing with Jelly, my friend Joe P. and my neighbor Darin.  Although the ocean was mixed up outside, it was nice and flat in the cove.

We hit the outer abs zone and the viz was good, about 10-12 feet.  As soon as I hopped in I noticed its getting cold out there...much colder than my last dive at Stillwater.  Anchored up and grabbed two before having Jelly jump in.  Jelly brought his usual enthusi-spasm to the show.  What a goofy kid!  Anyways, after a bit of time Jelly grabs a nice 8 incher and everyone else is limited.  Just like my last dive, I dove down to get my anchor and its stuck on a real nice snail...bonus!



We paddle in and dumped our belts and grabbed the rods.  We didn't have a lot of time to fish but we thought we'd give it a try.  As we head out I can see my favorite spot inside getting worked by the south swell.....hmmm.  We decide to hit a little reef close-in where I have caught nice cabs in the past.  Things start out slow with the usual mix of little blues and gophers, but then we get into a pair of nice cabs for Jelly and Joe.  

I look over to talk to my neighbor and just as he going to answer me a little swell peaks below him 100% parallel to his yak.  As a total newbie, he over reacted somehow and he flipped over instantly...in a Pro-E which is a SUPER stable boat for its size.  He pops up and looks stunned, and then starts laughing.  I then realize he had one of my rods in the rear...no leash      As I look around at the upside down yak and I notice his mega bait had swung around as it flipped and hooked the keel of the yak by a tiny spec of plastic.  Then I notice my neighbor is just about to climb in...I yell...don't move...don't touch your boat...I gingerly grab the jig and pull in my rod   .  After he gets back aboard we all laugh and breathe a big sigh of relief.

His luck soon improved as he boated a dandy of a cab, a 22 incher.  I also stuck a nice cabby and everyone is limited on cabbies...unusual!  As we were paddling out, Joe was telling Darin to beware of hitchhickers.  About 5 minutes after boating his cab, my neighbor starts yelling to get our attention...uh....I got a fish, but its being eaten by a bigger fish, I need some help over here!!!  Darin did a great job of keeping the ling in the water, and attached to the gopher.  I paddled over, carefully grabbed the leader and gaffed the hitchhicker.  Capt. Flip now had a nice cab and a 26" ling on board.  Rookie luck! Wet, cold, and happy!




With just a few minutes left before its time to go, I decide to snuggle in to a little gap between to wash rocks...it just looked fishy.  I drop the jig, and as soon as I start to lift it it gets slammed.  My new Kunz slayer is bendo and spectra is zooming off the reel...woohoo big ling!  The ling starts towing my yak...weeeee....right into a nasty wash rock....oh $hit!  I start yelling to Joe that I need a tow....TOW!  TOW!!!! I NEED a TOW!!!!  Joe thinks I am yelling JOE!  JOE! CHECK IT OUT JOE.  As I get towed closer to death Joe is giving me an oblivious thumbs up...nice fish!  I keep yelling and Joe and Jelly start talking...

Think he needs the gaff?
Nah...he's got the gaff.  What the heck is he yelling for then?
What the heck is so damn excited about???
Who knows?
Man he's getting towed right to that rock...

Finally the light bulb goes off and they realize I need a tow!  Just as they paddle over my ling comes to the surface.  I stick him with the gaff, throw his butt between my legs, drop the rod in my lap and start back-paddling with a vengeance.  Once away from the rock, I dispatch the ling...a nice blue 33 incher.  Time to paddle in. Ended the day with the ling, a 18 inch cab, and a nice limit of snails.  Not too bad for about 3 hours total water time.



Joe with his 20"+ cabbie...



Finished the morning with coffee and food from the Mendocino Bakery...YUM!  Another great day in NorCal!

right on Sean, sounds like a fun day . I think i need to start to buy lotto tickets again. adventures like that are what life is about!!

Great report, Sean!  That ling was worth it.........
Pat

Great report Sean... I love Caspar Cove... gotta get back up there sometime.  Glad the new stick came through for you...

EK

Erik: I        the rod you made, it simply perfect.  Caspar is a great newb spot, but it also still kicks out some decent fish too.  Also a great place to yak surf.  Jelly surfed his yak with his new rudder yesterday and it was a thing of beauty...the kid is getting good.

Great report Sean..  Can't wait for mendo

See ya

JD

GREAT report.
This is exactly why kayak fishing kicks A$$ over the rest of the crowd. Can't imagine having that much fun in Any other watercraft.

Agreed.  I don't miss my "real" boat at all.

I used to have a rod that I didn't leash...  

I'm sure we can all make a list of "donations" to the fishing gods.  I also used to have a nice new whuppin stick that I donated to the fish gods last Sat. at Mendo.  If anyone catches a new whuppin stick at the striper tournament let me know.  I think I will leash me 2nd rod from now on.
Dave