Goat Rock Night Surf Smelt'n

  Red Dog and I headed out Thurs. night to see if the nite smelt were running. Haven't been in years so I was shocked to see a sign saying no dogs on the beach. With plenty of light we headed off to another dog friendly beach and let the dog wear himself out.
   Back to Goat Rock to discover another sign that says gates locked at sunset. Parked the truck up the hill and hiked down to watch the sun set. It was windy so I took shelter in a driftwood fort and nodded off for a bit. In the dark I put my pfd on (already had the farmer johns on), grabbed the vhf, and headed for the surf. I walked the beach taking dips here and there for nada. I was fun being on the beach all alone ....just me and the pounding surf. The moon played hide and seek in the cloud cover but still supplied enough light to get around without the headlamp. Called it quits around ten thirty...tired, sandy and somehow recharged.
   There was supposed to be a group of us going again tonight but without a single fish and the surf and wind forecast looking nasty I called it off. We'll get them next month.

Great report, never done the surf smelt thing before, sounds like you had a good outing, I understand the recharged thing, it's not always about the fish, or maybe it's never really about the fish,

Thanks for the visuals

Way to give the night Smelt netting a try    Hope you'll find them next time. Thanks for the report and beautiful Sunset picture Allen.

One of my fav surfing spots. It's a shame the lower parking lot has been closed off all winter.

You're on a good path.  I wish I lived closer.  Keep up the cool adventures.   

nice allen, looked and sounded like a good peaceful time, cameron

Hope you get them next outing allen.

thats my Idea of recharging the batteries great report thanks

  Thanks for sharing he advenuture, long week of work for me so it is great to be able to dream!

You never ran out of adventure, Allen. Nice pics!

They have the sign up that the gate locks at sunset.But I've been down there after dark for surf smelt. The south beach is the best by goat rock. The road down to the lower beach is closed.So there is some parking at teh last gate. Havnt been out this year but last year was good. ED

Sorry I missed going out with you Allen.  The "family" came up for the weekend, so I got stuck "entertaining".  I would have been a lot more entertained getting skunked on smelt though.  Next time, ok?

-Allen

that got me all swollen-eyed Pa'       

Nice report! I like the pics, the last one with the net, was that home made and was it very hard to handle in the surf. Looks really cool.

Alex 

   Alex, The nets were made in the 70's. There was a large housing project named Oakmont and on rainy days the carpenters would set up shop in a garage build nets and other cool things "on the clock". I remember they even had a lookout stationed outside. Night surf fishing was big then. Over the years people moved on and the nets (3) ended up at our shop and as I took over the business in the mid 80's I became "keeper" of the nets.
   The A-frame nets actually become a crutch of sorts helping to brace you against the incoming surf. I did discover that it's very difficult to take a picture while dipping into the wave.
   When the next magic opportunity arises I will post a hookup and we can all have a shot at the tasty fishes...