Shelter Cove - 4/26/10

Got some blood on the Hawg Trough today, and scored some AOTY points.  Too bad it wasn't my primary target, but I'm thankful for a little action.  I saw a window of opportunity developing for yesterday afternoon as the weekend's strong swell was forecast to subside by Sunday evening as winds also died down.  I did a family afternoon at a favorite creek yesterday, so couldn't swing the evening run to the Cove.  This morning I knew big wind was coming with this front, but I noticed the buoys were still looking really nice after I got to work and got some things taken care of on my desk.  I quickly wrapped up some loose work ends and jammed for home.  Got the truck loaded up and hit the road for the Cove by around 10AM.  With the forecast being south winds 5-15 knots, building to 15-25 w/ gusts to 35 in the afternoon, I knew I could be driving into the brunt of the oncoming storm.  An hour out from the Cove I heard the latest buoy reports - blowing 16-22 up at St. George's Reef already...  Pt. Arena still good...  Oh well, I told myself, I'll scrap it if it looks nasty.  I rolled down the hill into the Cove and saw very little activity.  There were maybe 2 or 3 powerboats out, and they weren't centered on any apparent action like north of the whistle or other usual spots.  The water was nice, but a wind ripple was there, and it was an ominous one with that forecast.  I decided to head out to the Bell Buoy since it's just about directly south of the launch - that way the big south wind that could turn on like a light switch (BTDT) would (theoretically) blow me back in to the launch.  I got OTW around 11:45 and headed out toward the Bell.  Beautiful clear water had already blown in with the south wind and half way out I was enjoying bluewater trolling.  No action on the radio, but I did spot a paddler in the distance - whoever this psycho was he had some balls; hanging out north of the Whistle with a south wind forecast, and, literally, a small craft advisory starting at that very hour.  As he got closer to me I was curious but kept heading south toward the Bell - the wind was holding both of our progress at a slow pace.  I snagged up on seaweed a couple of times, but was lucky enough to not lose any gear.  Soon I saw that the mystery psycho-paddler was in fact our very own Boogieman - he's apparently training with the paddle so he can win legitimate prizes at GS4!     Nice to see you out there, Dan.  He reported a fish on and to the surface, but it shook the hook - that  sounded like great action to me.  I gave the salmon trolling 3 miles or so - working around the Bell and then about half way out to the Whistle and back before trading out the expensive trolling setup ($32 - see video...) for a banana weight and double hook rig for the chove.  I trolled that in to southeast of the launch and did what Boogie had already done on his way in - drift bait with the wind hoping for a California 'but.  No luck on the flattie, but I did see a couple guys whomping on the perch as I landed.  I quickly made friends with one of the perch-whompers, Steve, and begged a weight, snelled hook and a few pieces of shrimp from him - good guy!  I paddled back out just inside the breakwater and whomped on 4 perch in about 30 minutes - what a kick!  I considered not divulging this, as it's a key "bonus" species for AOTD action in 2.5 weeks...  I couldn't bogart that kind of good info.   

Nice!!

Glad you got out and had some fun OTW AND scored some fish as well!!

Counting the days until we are up there...even my wife is getting excited to get away for the weekend!!
 
Sincerely,

Jim

Thanks for scouting the area for us Eric.    Nice Surf & Red Tail Perch you got there.  Looking forward to see you in May.

Forgot to mention that today's report was no fish caught, but yesterday 6 were caught - one of them a 20 pounder. 

Nice Eric! Great try for the salmon. I hope they come in close soon. Down here too. Plus at 12 points an inch you cant go wrong playing the new game. Right on.

Nice report Eric a lot of work for the salmon Don't tell Craig about the 180 pionts you got for the perch

I've noted r'black's frustration with some of the new rules, and I sympathize with him.  I do like the new format because it gives me even more opportunities to try new stuff.  As for perch, anything I can add to my ocean fishing arsenal is a good thing. 

The number of species someone may have access to for GS4 is the real hot news here. 

Perch -              12 points / inch
Greenling -         11
Cabezon -           7
Rockfish -           7
Lingcod -            5
Salmon -             5
Halibut -             5
Flounder -           8

Likely score at GS4:

16" greenling -           176
20" cabezon -            140
20" rockfish -             140
30" lingcod -              150

                               606

Add salmon bonus

28" salmon -              140

                               746

Add perch bonus

12" perch -                144

                               890

Add halibut bonus

40" halibut -              200

                             1090

Add flounder bonus

10" dab -                   80

                             1170

Add to this the consideration that there's another 200+ points possible in bigger fish in those categories, and someone could just about pull a top 10 score at GS4 - top 10 for the yearly competition that is!   

It's fun to fantasize.   

I see a report from you and I try really hard not to skip ahaed to see if ya scored a Salmon...

  Nice try Once Again...

Nice Perches....  Next Time ....

 Use them for bait.....   

Poor old Craig... your gonna give him an ulcer. Man those perch sure are puurty. Can always count on your reports. Thanks bud.
 Randall

Great story, fun to read.

I had a hard time not going strait to the pics and seeing a nice salmon...

great read. I cant wait to get a salmon. Only time brother, only time

i felt a salty spray, the read was so good.    you're giving it all you can, when you can, that IS FOR SURE!!

Poor old Craig... your gonna give him an ulcer. Man those perch sure are puurty. Can always count on your reports. Thanks bud.
 Randall

he'll be up there soon!   you watch

Cool report Eric,
I was thinking a perch and / or other bonus species will probably decide the GS 4 tourney.
I'll be perchin for sure

Eric,

It's ripping that you can take advantage of the little breaks in weather ma nature sometimes provides and go get after it. Saw the oceand laid down for a bit on sunday. Too much to do for me to go. Got all dive gear squared away and ready for the cove. 

Shannon

Nice Perch  And great report, as usual  Nice job on the Mooching too