SC 7.7.11

Sorry for the quick and dirty report. Got otw about 7:00, peddled just outside of the mouth for bait. No luck. So turned left and went to ??Paradise?? point and drifted between the kelp beds for gopher. Then, all around me fish are jumping. I pulled in two 1#+ jack smelt. Drifted one in hope of the mother of all lingcod  ... no go. Fish jump all around me. I LOADED UP on sardines and mackeral. Started a drift from the North edge of the kelp for  instant smallish ling and brown rock cod.  And then it stopped. Picked up some more choives, 4 at a time, as a school surrounded me in kelp. Fast and furious fun.

The weather has, all this time, been transitioning from FAC to a nice breeze to a fairly stiff breeze. As I head back the wind waves are starting to break on top of a mild swell.  The last half mile or so was a real cardio peddle.

Does anyone know if someone got in a bind otw there yesterday? There was a big cargo like plane circled a few times, then a helicopter positioned itself directly outside the harbor about a mile, I'd guess.  Saw a Coast Guard boat jet out there.

Ben

Ben,
Sounds like you had some fun, I have yet to able to "load up" on bait fish, I've just been able to pick up the odd ball.  So far anything fresh seems to taste good but I've yet to get a sardine or chovie on the grill, fresh little macs are good tho.

With all that bait in the water it probably stopped when everyone got full.

Where's the pics of the silvery little devils?

I think they were training.  I saw the 129th  (or is it 229th) Airforce Guard pjs (pararescuemen out of Moffett) going over the hill  with their black zodiak and truck.  They don't generally do rescue stuff in close, only way off shore stuff w/helos.  I know they do alot of joint training with the Coasties though.  Also, didn't see anything in the SC Sentinel today.  Big key is, you made it in.  Thanks for the report.

Big bait=Big Fish.  Or at least a lot of fun watching your pole tip twitch.

Sounds like you had some fun

Ya know, I could catch bait all day long. It's just a hoot.

Here's your picture

I think they were training ...

I saw the black zodiak and wondered what it was all about. Glad to hear it wasn't something serious.

Now that's a mess of fish, and if you have any left over, you can always go catfishing

Sorry for the mixup ... 'dines, not 'chovies ...

Glad to hear it wasn't a skunk report Ben. At least you had fun catching fish regardless of size.

Jedmo

  I tried that same spot for bait the day before and got nothing. Things always moving around I guess.
    I fished  a 12" jacksmelt on a single large hook out by the mile marker a few years ago and got the kayak towed for about 40' by something that left a big bite mark right behind the hook. Never was hooked, it just grabbed the tail and pulled.

Nice haul, Ben.
I'd argue that jigging up feisty mackerel all day is more fun than drifting the sand for a small shot at halibut.

A little rosemary, garlic, and olive oil, and you got yourself a BBQ!

Cute little Sardine pile you got there    Thanks for the report and pictures Ben.

A little rosemary, garlic, and olive oil, and you got yourself a BBQ!

The Mackerel won't see any heat at all ... just a little soy.

Since my wife is away (just me eating) I plan to pickle the sardines (a first).

What wouldn't taste good with rosemary, olive oil and garlic? 

Ben, thx for sharing.  Look forward to fishing with you again.  I too have been eating those macs for dinner from my last 2 outings in Capitola.  They are tasty BBQ, but halibut would have been heavenly.

I am now 0 for 4 on halibut this year, and will need to recharge my batteries by catching some easy fish.  Let's go RF fishing!!

A little rosemary, garlic, and olive oil, and you got yourself a BBQ!

The Mackerel won't see any heat at all ... just a little soy.

Sashimi! Nice.
I did that too, but being a hypochondriac, I was certain for months after that I had something laying eggs inside me.