Mendocino Coast - Sat 9/5/09

I got to escape this morning and fish the Mendocino county coast.  Ocean was as flat as could be and it got even more glassy as the day went on.  Fished from about 8 till noon.  Clear water... nice and green.  Aside from the normal assortment of rockfish that were C&R'd and several C&R lings, I went home with two nice lings (30 and 36 inches) and a fat 23 inch vermillion.  Lost the tug-o-war with a few other big fish during the day... that's how it goes. 

The bite was on and off with the big tide today.  Everything was caught on jumbo plastics... dark green colors were the ticket.

Also, this time was my first trip using the Shelton fish descender.  I had my spare rod rigged up with it and a 12 oz torpedo weight.  Used it on a few chinas that didn't want to go down.  Makes really easy and quick work of the floaters.  Two thumbs up.  If you don't have one,  you need to get one.

EK

I knew you were going to get em Erik!

Nice Lings and really nice Vermillion. And on just plastic too. Bravo for that as it reduces the mortality in C&Rs. The fish descender sounds like a good C&R tool as well.

How many feet of water were you fishing in when you got the Chinas you had to send back down?

WTG Eric. We also fished Mendocino County and you are so right the water was the best all year so far. I broke off 2 big lings that just snapped the leader at the dropper loop. You know that big green swimbait you gave me? Oh yea! Congrats on the fish . We were above you guys just a few miles.

Nice fish!!

Nice quality ling-to-trip ratio for you this year.  WTG.   

Nice ling and verm Erik. I'm sure it was even more especial catching the fish with
your very own handcrafted fishing rod.

Jedmo

SM... the chinas I sent down were in the neighborhood of 70 ft.

Most fish came off reefs in the the 50 to 65 foot range. with surrounding water in the 75 to 80 foot range.

Nice ling and verm Erik. I'm sure it was even more especial catching the fish with
your very own handcrafted fishing rod.

Yes it is... that's part of the allure of rodbuilding.  I also pour my own jig heads.

You know that big green swimbait you gave me? Oh yea!

Yep... that's the only thing that worked for me today... tried the black/silver version and it didn't get touched.  Used a teaser for a while too but all it caught was pesky blacks.

KZ, any chance we could get you show a pic of the winning swimbait? 

If you get a chance, thanks.

Hell Yes!!! Mendo coast line is sweet!!! What did your shelton descender set u back???

This winter I'm gona get into making my own jigs...and would love to learn to build a rod like u do   very impressive!!! U got mad skills on that...

Thanks for report and pics...

Excellent work EK! Your ling mojo just doesn't fade does it?
Dark green plastics of all kinds have done me well too.

Z

EK,
Hey, I was going to go with you yesterday but glad I didn't as it got me enough WAF to go fishing very soon, can't wait!!!!

NIce fish as always

strong work EK! and that wet suit is starting to look big on you.

Conditions were good all over the coast Saturday!
Stoked you were able to get out & enjoy 'em Erik.

Sweet! Great job on the fatty verm and lings. That's some great eating there!