Big Sur campout Sept 25-27

Just wanna share this, this is what got me when I was browsing and looking for kayak, Locals at Shelter Cove Accept NCKA with open arms...

I may get flamed for posting this pic (taken 05-28-05) but here's my 2 cents...

FACT: More than half the guys in this pic hardly ever go to Big Sur to fish = including myself (I try to make it up there at least once a year) AND YES, I took home some fish but I NEVER took a limit.

*it's too far to drive for a majority of us
*weather conditions are usually unpredictable
* it's a HE-UGE area and there's a lot of kelp beds to fish - and being kayakers, we (most of us) can only cover so much ground in this specific fishery.
* If you want to protect this valuable fishery, set rules and guidelines for the commercial fishermen = I've seen bucket loads of a variety of RF being caught on long lines.
*IMO: localism sucks.....locals will not survive without visitors - I live in HMB and see this localism all the time. If people from over the hill don't visit and don't support local business, who will???
* I'm no fishery biologist but IMO, this fishery will REALLY decline when someone decides to build a boat launch in the immediate area.

Pat, thanks for organizing this event and good luck to all and stay safe! I know everyone involved will represent NCKA well. I've never seen a member leave trash behind after a gathering. In fact, at the recent HMB tourney, the campsite was even cleaner after we all left!

* Say a quick prayer to Steve aka "Chef" while you guys are out there, I'm sure he would have loved to be a part of this gathering!!!

NCKA = Harmony

Note: Steve / Chef is the guy with the black gloves in the pic.

Mooch,

Thank you for sharing that pic.  Else, I probably would have never seen one.  Is that you on the left of the Chef with the smallest fish?

Rey

hey pat, i am looking forward to your party!  don't worry about the townies.  as bob franko says "when you stick your head above the crowd, someone will throw a tomato".

Wish I could make it but have to stay in town, Ive never fished there and would love to one day. Pat, thanx a bunch for the invite and 'yall have a great one, Ill be thinking of Big Sur when Im hooking into a Paradise flatty on Sat. 

I agree with RockHopper. Who's really blowing it up? All the whining is pretty annoying. Huh... funny, I seem to remember someone trying to organize a camp out/clean up at Limekiln a few months back. Talk about being a hypocrite. If I can I'll be there Friday night, if not Saturday morning.

Yeah, whining is kinda annoying sometimes, but then again so are people coming to your neck of the woods to clean all the fish out of your spots.. and, I don't consider it whining... its freedom of expression.
Ok.. sure... I tried to organize a cleanup in Big Sur, but the state doesn't have the money to fund it... It wasn't supposed to be a tournament, it was more of a volunteer opp so that we might get to fish Limekiln again, and even develop a good relationship w the campground... Earlier this summer Pat formed a small contingent of Central Coast kayakfishers on the net to share our reports on fishing Big Sur and our local waters... His idea was to not post Big Sur reports on this page as its too big and we didn't want the spot getting any more blown up, as it already has... there were a few good solid discussions about not letting the info out to anymore people then was necessary... a month or so ago he even sent me an email asking me not to identify one of the spots he had posted a picture from... And then he invites everyone on the net to our local spot... Who's the hypocrite now?
Thanks for posting the photo Mooch... great PR and totally respectful... God bless Stephan Blackwell. I hear your message about harmony and brotherhood and all that, but some of you just don't seem to get it...  Your words of wisdom hold truth and I'm sure all your NCKA homies respect you now that much more... I've gotten a whole slew of PM's from various oldskool members of this crew who think its kinda whack that Pats hosting an event in Big Sur...
Notice all the big lings in that photo?... Notice the date? That used to be very common... I have caught so many huge lings down there over the years, but not in the past couple... with all you guys out there, I'll be surprised if more than 1 or 2 lings more than ten lbs comes out of all your effort..a direct result of that area getting overfished by all the kayakers... the comemrcial guys don't keep lings, they keep rockfish, live ones, and don't even go for the deepwater reds and coppers. Anyhow, I've had my rant... Stay safe, and hope you guys catch some fish.   

lol

It s about that time to keep our thoughts to our selves!....(I think!) We really need to let this one go.

we should just...as they say..

shut up and fish!  let's all 

Bassmanben, I'll let you and Mooch  ...
Bring on the fog and wind and swell!!!... a big swell at that!... lets hope no one gets hurt!...
Rhyak, I don't think I've ever seen Bigfoot in Big Sur... Ok, maybe you could call some of the old pot growing hippies in the mountains by Big Foot, but he tends to dwell up in the Humboldt parts... Rhyak, are you from Bakersfield?

I hope you all have a wonderful time. I wished I didn't have to work this Saturday.
Man, I am missing out on another great get together.

Jedmo

Brendan, last time I went to Mill Creek I BSed with the commercial guy that I've seen there almost every time I've been there. He's a short stocky white guy w/ a mustache and gray hair. He drives a black chevy pu hauling an enclosed trailer. He uses one of those klamath boats chained to the cliff side. We hadn't caught any lings that trip and I asked him if he had. He said very nonchalantly that he'd caught and kept about six averaging about ten lbs. each. I then asked him if that was an average routine catch which he confirmed. He then said he does this about two to three times a week.

Brendan

Yeah, whining is kinda annoying sometimes, but then again so are people coming to your neck of the woods to clean all the fish out of your spots..

IT IS NOT YOUR SPOT, IT IS NOT YOUR COAST, Dude give it a break, I pay California taxes so I'm a California local, I have as much right as you to fish anywhere I want. What a ego you have. By the way, have you ever fished anywhere except Big Sur?

Pat,
I've been reading some posts from the sidelines.  I think its cool of you to organize an event, with the spirit of promoting camaraderie, good times and fun, so please don't take my post in a negative manner.  If I could, I'd be there too.

The concern that a few others have mentioned is the future impact this may have to that area. 

Rockfish/cabs/lings are territorial.  Due to their very slow growth rate and sedentary nature, they are very susceptible to fishing pressures.   I don't think everyone realizes this. 

A couple people hitting an area once in a while is fine... but consistent groups of anglers will eventually tip the equilibrium and diminish the returns.  Many don't think so, but that situation has been replayed on numerous occasions. One could look at the reports for Santa Cruz and HMB.  They all pretty much stink for RCG.  Several areas that I continue to fish just don't produce RCG like they used to.   

When we post, we invariably give information to a LOT of people - members of NCKA, lurkers, boaters, shore fishermen, MLPA people, spearfishermen, commercial fishermen, etc.  Being an open forum, we can't restrict this spread of information.  As such, we try not to give specifics out like GPS points, landmarks, depths, etc...  For transient fish like sturgeon/halibut/stripers or pelagics like tuna, salmon, etc., it's more common to share information since they're only around for a short time.  On the flip side, open postings about rockfish reefs will often lead to their decline.

Over time, fishing pressure will outpace the reproductive cycle of RCG and catch rates/size will diminish.  IMO, it's in our best interest NOT to accelerate fishing pressure.  Personally, I enjoy sharing information and fishing with other NCKA'rs, but I'm careful as to what specifics I post and more importantly, who to trust this information. 

Stuart