The Mooch report:Oct 1 Oyster Point /Oct. 2 Monterey (PICS)

thanks for the info jmairey - I fished greyhound rock a couple of years ago with josh and ethan. And back then, I didn't realize that Ano was at a visual distance from where we were fishing.....kinda spooky now knowing that the land lord swims around this area more frequently that the other spots.....I guess I'd feel the same at Davenport.....

I was aware of that, but I didn't bring it up since you were already saying stuff like "I've never been this far from the shore before..."  Ignorance can be bliss.  

thanks Josh....I think  

...by the way...to those of you who are interested on the TOP SECRET type of Iron jig I used = 3.5 oz. Dart / Candle fish - Blue & Gold...I replaced the treble hook with a single buck tail hook   . I used this lure all day and caught a variety of rockfish including 2 lings. Bought mine at Sportmart.

Mooch,

Kmart in Redwood City had the green/yellow candlefish on sale for around 2 dollars a couple weeks ago.  I'm going by tomorrow to see if they have the blue/gold ones on sale.

Henry

Thanks for the heads-up Henry - that's a great price. I'll have have to keep my eyes open for deals like that  

I'm hoping we can all post as much fishing-sale-items as we can - so we can all benefit from it   ......I'm trying to save money so I can buy a Cobra Mariner from Sean  

Nothing like a photo of a butt to get me excited!  I launched yesterday about 9:00 at MBKayak at Del Monte and followed a couple of guys who seemed to work at the store out to that red can.  Fantastic weather/water smooth as glass til 11, not much wind until 1:00.  
 First drop of dead squid on trap got me a nearly legal ling, then nothing for a while, so I got bored and trolled a 4" anchovie-look-alike floating rapala, behind an 18" dropper and 8oz ball, paddling in that 60 ft line toward Sand City, bouncing the ball on the bottom from .7 to 2.0 mph.  Within 15 mins got a 27" ling on a good fight. As I was measuring it and getting the hook out, I noticed an octopus about the size of the one in the photo hanging out of it's mouth.  It was dead, and I don't know whether I got it first or the ling did.  
    Went around in circles for a while and between there and near the red can I got 4 other near-legal lings and a 25" one.  I was about to check my regs to see how many lings I could get when I finally snagged the rapala for good and paddled in by 12:30.  As long as I stayed a little out from the surface kelp I didn't snag much or was able to pull it free.
    So I got plenty of practice/fun fighting lings. Seems they are just heavy weights until they get that first look at the light just before you can see them, then be ready to loosen the drag and let 'em rip to the bottom a couple of times.  Also, those $10. Cabela's red fish grippers sure help tame the lap dances.
    The other 2 yakkers were fishing squid pieces and got a few rockfish in that spot.  They offered the MBK washoff facilities to me.  I parked in the lot to the East of MBK-meters start at 9 and take 4hrs of 3 quarters an hour. A pleasant place for my wife to feed to feed the meter and take a walk, sit and read on the beach- she said she didn't see a meter maid -but this was a weekday.

way to go Tom  

Posted a reply for Tues, 10/4, but it never appeared, possibly because I used an abbreviation for halibuts and referenced them as being exciting. Or, there's a better chance it was my poor computer skills.
   Went out about 9 to that spot and to the East a little on Tues, caught one almost legal ling on frozen squid, then got bored and trolled a (2 hook legal) anchovy-like floating Rapala behind an 8 oz ball, and hooked up 5 or 6 lings, two of them legal. One coughed up an octupus about the size of the one in the photo, don't know whether I got it first or the fish did.  I learned to loosen the drag as the fish saw light, 'cause they all zipped right down to the bottom.  No swell, no wind, no fog, perfect day til noon or so,then a little wind and chop. Very clear water.  2 guys from MBK shop fished small pieces of squid at the can and got a couple of rockfish.  They said the shop offers its washoff facilities to the public. There's a posted public toilet there, too.
   Went back Thursday, same conditions except water a lot less clear(looked like semi red tide) and moderate swell.  Used same gear and didn't get a single ling, only a couple medium and lots of small rockfish.  Wind started at 11, stronger at noon and  big fog bank rolled in by one and very windy.  I parked to the East of the shop and fed the meter the max hours (.75/hour, 4hrs) and got back just after I caught a $20 ticket.
Next time, I pay the $8 and park on the west side!  
   Non-fishing family members can find plenty to do in this area from sitting on the beach to walking the paved trail thru Monterey and up to Pacific Grove, as well as plenty of shops and places to eat.  the whale-watching boat skippers were on the radio- chasing quite a few.   there were some sea lions that kept checking on my hookup rate- I was ready to cut the line if they started to graze.