Fort Ross?

I also recall seeing a large heavy wire gripper for gripping bull kelp at a local dive shop.  I wonder which one is more effective.

Henry

I bought one of those heavy wire grippers from my LDS last week. I think it was around $12 or $15. Attached a float to it. Haven't tried it yet

rockfish habitat out of stillwater is better.  Mark the pinnacles on your GPS and you're ready to go.

http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm?lat=38.542754&lon=-123.30465199999999&scale=24000&zoom=100&type=1&icon=0&searchscope=dom&CFID=1755298&CFTOKEN=30505524&scriptfile=http://mapserver.maptech.com/homepage/index.cfm&latlontype=DMS

The Maptech Topo Map is awesome.  I almost forgot about it.  I really like how the GPS coordinates changes as you move the cursor.  Like Josh said... you can pre-load the coordinates of your target structure on your GPS before you go out.

P-spark, thanks for the great link!!!!!!!!
I am sitting here updating my targets........
Pat

OK...where is everyone going?  Ft Ross or Stillwater?

Fort Ross for sure !!! with a couple friend..

Kiel

Malibu Pro2 Tandem

" Wasabi "

What time will most everyone be launching?
What is the fee for parking?

All right.  How many people are heading up to Fort Ross on Saturday and are planning on staying up there somewhere?

I need to check on 1) whether I am in CA this weekend, and 2) if the cabin in Cazadero is free.  If the stars line up and the answer is yes to both, then I have a place for us to crash that is 45 minutes from Fort Ross. It's actually only 15 miles, but it's a beautiful winding road over the Old Fort Ross Road.   Right now there is a 50% chance, but if there is enough interest, this may go up!!!

-Allen

My GPS has been MIA since I move (I put it some place safe - a little too safe...)   I'll probably get a new one, they're most important for sturgeon season, which is coming up.

I'll go to stillwater.  Haven't been there in a while, and IME, it's a little more productive.  Weather report looks excellent for saturday.

After reading promethean_spark/Josh's post -
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=192

I'll vote for Stillwater Cove on Saturday, and maybe even Sunday.  I also recall ab diving there once many years ago.  Josh, how does 8 AM sound?  Do you know the highway marker number closest to the launch site?

BTW, I'll be staying at Santa Rosa for the weekend starting Friday.  I am thinking about launching at Bodega Bay on Friday around 11 AM if anyone likes to join me.

Henry

Eithe place it's a hump to the parking lot, but at stillwater it is through a nice shady wooded trail, while fort ross is out in the sun.  I recall the stillwater trail being considerably shorter, maybe half as long and half as tall as fort ross.

When you launch from Fort Ross, is it from the Fort area or from Reef campground? We used to launch from Reef a lot and paddle to the south wash rocks for tank diving and abs. Never found too huge of abs, but probably 8"'s anyway.

If anyone is going to launch from Stillwater, why not just drive the extra 1/4 mile north and launch from Ocean Cove where you can literally drive to and launch from the waters edge??
Sure saves a lot of humpin' back, especially if you are fishing and ab diving.
One short walk to your vehicle, then drive down to the water and load everything.

When you launch from Fort Ross, is it from the Fort area or from Reef campground? We used to launch from Reef a lot and paddle to the south wash rocks for tank diving and abs. Never found too huge of abs, but probably 8"'s anyway.

Launch at the beach below the main fort.  It would be a heck of a hump to get a kayak launched from the Reef campground.  

Even though its a popular diving spot for shore-based divers, there are plenty of abs in the kayakable spots... easy pickens for sure and some big ones if you look hard (which I never do... I just get in, get my abs, and get out).

EK

IMO, The "hump" at both Fort Ross and Stillwater are not worth worrying about as they're both relatively straightforward (anything is compared to Elk, right?)  And yes, I've humped the Triple at the Reef Campground.  Now that's one I will complain about.

It looks like I'll be in town this weekend.  Now I'm just checking on cabin availability.  Anyone still need a place to crash?  I'm open as to where to fish.  I kind of like Fort Ross, but will do Stillwater as well.

-Allen