Ling-o-rama mendo 10/30

If anyone were interested in coming up to the Mendo-Fort Bragg area, now would be a great time to do it.  The lings have started coming in for fall, and there seems to be a lot of them.  They're all cookie cutter fish, about 28 - 32" and they're hungry.  Use anything big (about 9") that looks like a blue.

Two of us went out on Sunday for 2 hours before dark and picked up 10 before we stopped because we started feeling guilty.  We switched to light tackle and the blues and blacks were a fish per cast.  The visibility was probably 50'.  At one point, I had this school of about 50 blues under my boat, about twenty feet down.  At the edge of the school, I see these two big shapes following them around.  I realized they were two nice lings tracking the school like wolves.

The fish are at 30 - 60 ft around any pinnacle where the blues are.  Some guys at the dive shop told me they saw the same yesterday and today at around 60': Lots of ling cod.

Also, it was flat today.

I would love to see a ling stalking rockfish.  I keep eyeing the underwater cameras..........$$$$$.........but I still think about it....
Pat

Dave-Bummed I missed it, I'll be out as soon as my days off and the ocean align.

Hi,

Where did you two fish exactly? I am interested in knowing kayak launch points. A couple of pointers are appreciated.

Caspar is a great place to launch, with access to lots of good structure on the north side, near the point.  I think when the lings come in for winter spawning though, you can't go wrong at any launch area - just find some structure.  Here's some launch sites: Noyo harbor, MacKerricker Park, Big River, Van Damme State Park.

A note of caution:  It can get way big in a relatively short period of time around here.  Avoid the temptation to get too close to point breaks, and make sure your exit strategy will work in big water.  Caspar works well for all these conditions. Forget about relying on power boats to help you out - most of the time you're on your own.  Pescadore.

Guest,
Then buy them a camera....

Not everyone has cash for the fancy cams...

Sorry, didn't even think to take pictures.  And, embarrassingly, I don't know how to post them.  The image would look like four normal lings and some blues and blacks.  Just thought I'd let folks know the fish are in, kinda return the favor for all the great info I've gotten off this site.  Pescadore.

Thanks for the report.

I don't think your Post was worthless.
Thanks for the Excellent Post. Didn't really need pictures.

I can picture it in my mind ... and that's what keeps me coming back for more.  Thanks for the report.

-Allen

I think I figured the picture thing out.  This is my wife's worst nightmare:  2 day old fish guts sitting in the bucket in the backyard.  WAF is below zero - call the lawyers.  Anyhow, imagine these fish with their fillets still on.  This was my portion.  Hopefully my friend Dave got rid of his before dangerously low WAF.  Maybe we can get a twofer on lawyers.

Cool... That pile of blues looks like good crab bait to me!

I don't think that's the picture Allen was creating in his mind   . It sure made me smile though. What about fried cheeks?

Damn that is funny!