12/4/10: Fresh fried RockFish in December!!

Worked my butt off moving stuff into our new house in Watsonville until 1PM and earned a hall pass to go down to Monterey and try and shoot some fish!!
 
Could see on the drive to the beach that conditions were GREAT...FAC glassy seas and vis so good I could see the underwater rocks in the shallows!!
 
Unfortunately in the moving madness I forgot to pack my camera!!  

When I got in the water I realized quickly these were the best conditions I had dove in all year!!

Had a BLAST diving and exploring and checking out all the cool structure, holes and kelp forest....felt like I was in the Aquarium!!  

Missed my first 5 or so shots cuz I suck...no blaming my misses on the surge this time, I just flat out have crappy aim!!  

Then got into a groove and picked off a few nice Kelp Rockfish and started feeling better about myself!!  

Could literally feel the stress of moving/work/life melting off me as I dove and hunted....love this stuff!!

Saw a nice big Ling swim by me and I just smiled and waved at him...I'll be back for him in January!
 

Spooked a chunky 16 inch cab and followed him into his hole and managed to eventually line up a shot and nail him!!  

Few more rockfish and then repeat the cab spooking/following/shooting procedure!! This one took me 4 or 5 dives to get a good shot...kept on having to swap out light for gun, gun for light and then the fish would move a bit and I would have to go up and get a breath and then dive down and do it all over again!!  

Finished the day with 5 Kelp RockFish, 1 Black and Yellow and the two twin 16 inch Cabbies...PLENTY of meat  for a fish fry with the boys last night, and for more fish eating fun today as well!!!  

Really wish I would've had my camera with me to show you guys how clear the water was and how beautiful it was down there...really was amazing!  

Here are some pics of the mess of fish and the cooking/eating fun!!
 
Sincerely,

Jim

Thats great to see Jim.  Too bad about not having your camera with you, I liked the aftermath pictures though!  Its awesome how you described how you could feel the stress and everything melt away, then after all that being able to get friends together for a good time!  Just great man.  Thanks for the report!

Looking good!

Could literally feel the stress of moving/work/life melting off me as I dove and hunted

I liked that part too.  Remembering to melt the stress off is key.  WTG.   

Jim
Your reports have inspired me. For years now my diving activities have been reduced to a few ab trips here and there. I have pulled the gun out of mothballs and picking up some new bands today.
I love the food prep photos also. One of the best parts of the dive is when family and friends come together to enjoy the bounty's of the ocean.
Thank you

Rob

Jim
Your reports have inspired me. For years now my diving activities have been reduced to a few ab trips here and there. I have pulled the gun out of mothballs and picking up some new bands today.
I love the food prep photos also. One of the best parts of the dive is when family and friends come together to enjoy the bounty's of the ocean.
Thank you

Rob

Thanks Rob!!!!

You want to go diving together some time let me know!!
 
Sincerely,

Jim

Some day I would love to join you as well, Just the swim alone in those conditions would be great.

WTG JIM!!! You must be great at makin rockfish and plantain chips  i think every food picture you post has plantains in em. Cant blame you, I love the hell out of em myself  Right on for gettin out there after a tough day     

Can't beat fresh fried fish for dinner!  Thanks for the report and pictures Jim.

no camera = no pictures = didn't happen   its just a figment of your imagination - damm good imagination

Glad you got out bro! Awesome report.

Crazy FUK! ......

Congrats on a satisfying go-out Jim! Love the fishonadish shot!

You moved from Cap? It's a longer wheel-eeze trek from Watsonville.

I was thinking about everyone while I was in Goleta this week. It was the flattest, calmest weather I have seen all year.

You moved from Cap? It's a longer wheel-eeze trek from Watsonville.

Yeah, we finally bought a house in Watsonville (where we both work). We put an offer on this house in June of 2009 and finally got the keys right before Thanksgiving!!

Have moved all the big stuff (with the help of many friends including Stoggie and dpshim!!) and now have until 12/15 to get all the rest (mostly Ana's clothes and shoes!) out of the Cap house!

Yeah, no more wheelez strolls from the house to the beach and back, but the place is a HUGE upgrade in space and quality and cuts our commutes down as well. Plus the mortgage is pretty much the same as the rent in Capitola!!

I also got a perfect spot for FishMaster1's cleaning table, but now it is in the back yard instead of the front!!

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

You are a one man wolfpack of rockfish harvesting! I really admire the way you just go for it. Thanks for the report & dinner pics.

Saw a nice big Ling swim by me and I just smiled and waved at him...I'll be back for him in January!

The newly-adopted regs go into effect in early March each year. So I suspect lingcod will not be shootable until April 1 2011 (early March at the soonest). But we'll be able to shoot em through Dec 31st!