Stillwater South late report (6-5)

Friday was my birthday, so Chryss said she would go over to carmel with me and fish (so nice).
We got on the water at about 11:00 and fished till 5:00 with a nice lunch break.  I fished out in front of the clubhouse and south to the kelp about 1/4 mi out.  Manages 11 fish to boat with 7 kept. 

Should have left at 4:00 when I was scared half to death by a seal blow on my elbow!!  Had to push the seal away from the yak as it kept trying to board me!!  It would snif around and push itself way out of the water and start leaning onto the yak, very cute and neat, but not so cool...Last thing I want is a 150# seal in the cockpit with me!  It left Chryss alone after a couple sniffs revealed she had no fish...
Then we paddled about a mile upshore and started fishing again, only to be rejoined again after a few minutes.

This seal was marked with green/pink/green on its head, I assume its gotten in trouble before, anyone know the story on this?

fish taco's for dinner on the beach made a great end to the birthday!

It was nice running into Hermit (and solsrfr?)

Pics:
Chryss w/ boats
Great weather
seal nibbles on the paddle (it was ridiculously cute, for a fishbreath)
the haul

nice report, that place is great!

are those hip waders you all wear on the kayaks? i don't know if its true but i had heard somewhere of people getting in a lot of trouble when they fell out of a boat and their waders filled up with water and they were trying to stay afloat. i don't own waders so i don't know how all they work and don't mean to pop off but just wanted to bring that to your attention. that would be a lot of weight to pull back on-board a kayak after a tip i'd imagine.

nice rockfish haul, those look pretty fat!

that is one of my favorite places to spear and fish.

thanks again for the report!

nice looking fish.  that's some thick kelp as well.

Happy belated birthday and congrat on your catches.  Thanks for report and pictures.

yep, we haven't the $$ for wetsuits to use 3 times a year.
we have tested the drowning theory by getting dunked and jumping in the pool.  What usually happens is some wetness to the waist, but the water pressure closes them up tight at first, so not much water gets in...

I have also fallen in deep rivers and swam for 2-300 feet, when I get out, I was wet, but there was only about 2 cups of water in the waders...

in case of an overboard situation, with trouble getting back in due to the waders, they unclip FAST.

Safety precaution 2 and 3:
we always stick together, 20 50 feet apart max
we stay close to shore

Wetsuits are on the 2009 wishlist  

the kelp was crazy thick!

Thanks for the report! That might be the key for fishing at that spot hit it early afternoon and stay late. I am alwys there semi early and dont do so well.... Thanks for the report, and IMHO, I dont see anything wrong with wearing waders... ...Andy

Looks like a beautiful day. That seal would have scared the hell out of me as well. Like you said, don't need a 150# seal in the cockpit stealing your catch. I need to get out there one of these days.

When a seal does something strage like that, in a frantic manner, it's a good bet he's trying to get away from a shark.

yep, we haven't the $$ for wetsuits to use 3 times a year.
we have tested the drowning theory by getting dunked and jumping in the pool.  What usually happens is some wetness to the waist, but the water pressure closes them up tight at first, so not much water gets in...

I have also fallen in deep rivers and swam for 2-300 feet, when I get out, I was wet, but there was only about 2 cups of water in the waders...

in case of an overboard situation, with trouble getting back in due to the waders, they unclip FAST.

Safety precaution 2 and 3:
we always stick together, 20 50 feet apart max
we stay close to shore

Wetsuits are on the 2009 wishlist  

the kelp was crazy thick!

good deal, as long as you all are prepared. my wife and i use the cheap dive 2 pc bottoms from the local dive shop. we got them used for like 25.00 a pair. not new but ok for the job.

thanks again!

When a seal does something strage like that, in a frantic manner, it's a good bet he's trying to get away from a shark.

It may be true occasionally, but by-and-large, I don't think it's usually the case.

Should have left at 4:00 when I was scared half to death by a seal blow on my elbow!!  Had to push the seal away from the yak as it kept trying to board me!!  It would snif around and push itself way out of the water and start leaning onto the yak, very cute and neat, but not so cool...Last thing I want is a 150# seal in the cockpit with me!  It left Chryss alone after a couple sniffs revealed she had no fish...
Then we paddled about a mile upshore and started fishing again, only to be rejoined again after a few minutes.

Didn't sense any urgency on the part of the seal in the write-up.  Sounds more like curiosity.

Michael

Agreed, the shark thing, not too likely... At least if your in or near kelp and don't have your stringer in the water!!! Bad news, if it's a otter, you can't do a thing about it! Don't touch! Take a look at my thumbnails @ mbkayakfishing.com. GREAT shot of an otter on my yak!

   Blake

   I just watched a KSBW (Salinas) news story about malnourished sea lions being taken to the Marine Mammal Center (in Marin?) in record numbers.   So maybe they're hungrier this year, supposedly because their food is further out to sea because of warmer waters, and the young ones don't know to swim further out for food. 
But, watching the file footage of the mammal center, i could see GREEN PAINT on the head of the seal lion they were feeding with a tube (learning that people = food).
   I had a sea lion nudge my yak at my hip this year off Capitola, a first for me.

WTG on the rockfish dude. Thanks for the report and pictures. BTW, if I was
surprised like that something coming out of the water, my initial reaction would be
bunking it's head silly. That would be enough for me to get freaked out.

About the wader thing, I love mine. I have the Farmer John 3mm but it seemed
every time I had gone out with it, I got sea sick. Perhaps the smell of the neoprene, snug fit, and the swell combined just does it for me. Since I switched to
the waders and making sure I have the belt on tight, I was fine since. I still bring
the wet suit in all my trips just in case the weather is really bad.

Jedmo

Good fishing rockfish. Thanks for the report and pics.

Waders (w/waist belt) then paddling jacket then PFD. And don't fall out. 

  someday wetsuits... being unemployed/newly self employed sucks as far as $$ goes...

the seal was definitely not trying to get away from sharks..."she" ('cause its so cute) wanted in the boat for the fish in my tankwell, and pestered me for about 15 minutes the first time, then showed back up a mile away!  thats when I decided it was time to head in and get dinner...

I did see 2 dead seals in the kelp, Chryss looked closer and commented that they were headless...

I talked to the otter biologists at the clubhouse (they were doing the daily track and count).  They said that there have been alot of starved birds due to low food supply in the inshore waters, there is even some concern that the offshore waters are low in food this year as well...

the following is conjecture only, and should not be taken as statements of fact or professional opinion

2+2 = maybe the seals have to search harder for food, getting in the way of sharks (who are also hungry) and get munched...partially...

so when a hungry seal smells fresh fish on a silly kayaker (maybe others have fed her in the past?) its time to pester for a safe and easy lunch...