North San Mateo Rockfish Opener 6-13-2010

I was pretty excited last night.  I kept thinking about opening day north of Pigeon Point.  I thought of my favorite reef and the big halibut and ling cod it holds.  I also was drinking Pliny, so I’m not entirely sure this is exactly what I was thinking.  But it probably was.

This morning I drove down to the launch.  My buddies Bill and Obkook were there, as well as a couple guys I didn’t know, Bink and Bassbay.  Unfortunately, conditions were less than ideal.  The tide was WAY out, and the water was looking snotty.  Obviously the remnants of yesterday’s wind.  We opted to launch from a safer spot further south – south of PP.  

My enthusiasm was still high.  All we had to do was paddle north for awhile up to the reef.  Only, that proved difficult.  The combination wind swell and ground swell made things nasty.  Bill was the first to give in, suggesting we fish south.  South of the lighthouse.  Like where I could fish yesterday.  Or the day before.  Where I’ve been blown out continuously, scratching for the random fish.  Oh my…

So we begrudgingly headed south.  Bill and I knew a pinnacle set most people don’t fish, and we be-lined there.  Then something magical happened.  Karma repaid me for all the old lady’s I have helped across the street, all the stray dogs I returned to their owners and all the times I wasn’t a d*ck driving on the freeway.  It got sunny, the wind stopped blowing, the swell died down, and we caught lots of fish.

We caught some grass rockfish, like the one below.

We caught some black rockfish, like the one below.

We caught some lingcod, like the one below.  40” and 20 lbs!  Ok, maybe not.  But legal.

We also had a good collection of cabs (most let go).  In fact, we let a ton of fish go – way more than we kept.  Bink must have caught and released 20 black rockfish.  Bassbay got his first yak fish (his first two he released).  And on the paddle back, I barely regretted not hitting my favorite reef to the north.

I had an interesting conversation loading my gear.  Not everyone is keen with me posting hookups to fish that section of the coast.  I have fished/surfed San Mateo and Santa Cruz for 20 years, and I understand why people are protective of their favorite spots.  In that regard, I try to put forth a spirit of conservation and stewardship for the ocean with those I fish with.  Before my friends bought kayaks, I came on this board to find people to fish with, and fortunately found a few like Dustin and Obkook.  I am just trying to keep karma rolling.  To balance concerns, I’m going to continue to post hookups, but I will be less specific about where I am fishing.

Really nice mcag. Love ur reports man.

Not everyone is keen with me posting hookups to fish that section of the coast.  I have fished/surfed San Mateo and Santa Cruz for 20 years, and I understand why people are protective of their favorite spots.  In that regard, I try to put forth a spirit of conservation and stewardship for the ocean with those I fish with.  Before my friends bought kayaks, I came on this board to find people to fish with, and fortunately found a few like Dustin and Obkook.  I am just trying to keep karma rolling.  To balance concerns, I’m going to continue to post hookups, but I will be less specific about where I am fishing.

If people have problems with you posting hook-ups ....I say "EF THEM". It's your choice. NCKA was organized to get like minded people together. If "these people" have problems with that, then why even bother being a part of this community?  

sounds like an awesome day out there! I'm glad it worked out for you guys... thanks for the pics and report. looking forward to fishing with you again!

roger

Yes, it was a great day on the water.  I expected it to be much worse based on my experience at op yesterday.  But, it was a beautiful day and the conditions were much better than expected.  I got teased for using bait for the first half of the day, but I did catch the first fish of the day, a short ling on a left over herring from yesterday's abandoned op halibut run.  Caught a few more blacks on bait and a black and yellow.  Switched to a gulp jerk shad fished carolina style and caught a bunch more blacks, a few kelp greenling, a striped perch and couple of black and yellows.  Toward the end of the day I hooked up to a nice cab.  I released all but the cab and two blacks.  It was great meeting and fishing with mcag, bill, obkook and bassbay and I hope to see them on the water again in the future.  While we didn't 'really' fish the north of pigeon point opener, the fishing was good and the opener will just have to wait another week or so .

Michael

I'm stoked the weather improved for you guys!

I think it's going to be another good season up in San Mateo Co.

Great report, mcag.   

Not everyone is keen with me posting hookups to fish that section of the coast.  I have fished/surfed San Mateo and Santa Cruz for 20 years, and I understand why people are protective of their favorite spots.  In that regard, I try to put forth a spirit of conservation and stewardship for the ocean with those I fish with.  Before my friends bought kayaks, I came on this board to find people to fish with, and fortunately found a few like Dustin and Obkook.  I am just trying to keep karma rolling.  To balance concerns, I’m going to continue to post hookups, but I will be less specific about where I am fishing.

If people have problems with you posting hook-ups ....I say "EF THEM". It's your choice. NCKA was organized to get like minded people together. If "these people" have problems with that, then why even bother being a part of this community? 

Nice Grassy, the tastiest of the R.F. me thinks.

MCag, your hookup probably saved my sanity! After 7 weeks with our new baby, I was ready for some water time (as Sean can attest to given my compromised personal filter in the hookup thread.

Rolling up this AM, I saw Bill surveying the original proposed launch, and it was not pretty. Soon Angelo (Bassbay) and Michael (Bink) arrived. Introductions were made all around (thanks to the fact that we are all on NCKA!) and we discussed our options. MCag was the last to show (Pliny?), and we opted to hit PP instead.

The rest is as MCag and Bink already related. For my part, the action was slow but steady, and I caught several blacks, 2 greenling, a cabby, (NO ling, underling or otherwise... ), and kept 2 decent blacks for the dinner table.

I decided to bug out a little earlier than the others in order to keep the WAF topped up, and thankfully Big Wave Dave was onshore and nice enough to help hump the boat. (Thanks Dave!  )

The friendly neighborhood DFG was waiting for me at the top where he asked a lot of questions about yak fishing, asked if he could look at my fish, and then almost reluctantly asked to see my license. I bought my license off the new internet system and this was the first one he'd seen. Although I was certain everyone in our group was legal, I radio'd Bink to let them know to have their licenses handy.

Below is a shot of the Blacks, and a shameless bragging photo of my daughter.  

I was thinking about you guys during the ARW event, I am glad the weather cooperated and you guys had a good catch. I remember the opener last year, we launched at Bean Hollow with perfect weather and awesome fishing! One of these days I'd like to join you!

You have a gorgeous baby and those are Bomber size Blacks. Both very Nice!!

MCag, your hookup probably saved my sanity! After 7 weeks with our new baby, I was ready for some water time (as Sean can attest to given my compromised personal filter in the hookup thread.

Rolling up this AM, I saw Bill surveying the original proposed launch, and it was not pretty. Soon Angelo (Bassbay) and Michael (Bink) arrived. Introductions were made all around (thanks to the fact that we are all on NCKA!) and we discussed our options. MCag was the last to show (Pliny?), and we opted to hit PP instead.

The rest is as MCag and Bink already related. For my part, the action was slow but steady, and I caught several blacks, 2 greenling, a cabby, (NO ling, underling or otherwise... ), and kept 2 decent blacks for the dinner table.

I decided to bug out a little earlier than the others in order to keep the WAF topped up, and thankfully Big Wave Dave was onshore and nice enough to help hump the boat. (Thanks Dave!  )

The friendly neighborhood DFG was waiting for me at the top where he asked a lot of questions about yak fishing, asked if he could look at my fish, and then almost reluctantly asked to see my license. I bought my license off the new internet system and this was the first one he'd seen. Although I was certain everyone in our group was legal, I radio'd Bink to let them know to have their licenses handy.

Below is a shot of the Blacks, and a shameless bragging photo of my daughter.  

first of all it was nice meeting you guys Peter (obkook), Michael (Bink), Mike (Mcag), and Bill. Sorry forgot your screen name, today was the day I was waiting for since it was my second time in the ocean and as part of the NCKA i want to said that I am glad to be part of this comunity.
didn't know any body and you guys rock thanks for all the help and the advise.
Finally finally my first fish, three hours past and I was desperate NO FISH and suddenly boom my first LING oh man Under size but it was my first ling released and then minutes later my first Cabezon ( under size ) I released, and then lost couple that got of the hook and later caught 3 nice grass of man Wat a nice day everybody catch fish many got released some under size some for good karma over all it was a great day here are some pics.
hey mike nice ling see you guys next time I can learn much from you guys thanks for all the info.

Thanks for the report and all of the pictures.  It looks like you had a great day on the water.
Jarod

Nice day guys - WTG!

I appreciate your reports Mcag.

Nice work Mike!

BTW, it's a big fuggin ocean and its not like you are giving out wavepoints for reef locations....

Mooch is right.....