Salmon at Trindad?

Anyone been out to Trinidad in the last few days?  It figures that it would really lay down once the work week started.

I went out at 1:30pm yesterday.  I started trolling at 70ft and went out up to 120ft about 3 miles out. It was a lil windy, no birds and no bites.  I came back in and played with the rockfish and only managed to catch and release a 19" black and a 18" copper for 6.5hrs otw  There werent many salmon caught yesterday in both Trinidad and Eureka.  The bite has been slow since friday.  Last wednesday I hooked 5 salmon and had many bites for a limit of 1@ 35.68" 21lbs & one almost 1@ 25" 7lbs.  Most action came at 145ft to 155ft straight off Trinidad head about 5 miles from the beach launch.  I was back at the beach at 8:00pm after battling thick fog and white caps that came up after catching the second keeper.  8 fun long hrs otw.

Sounds like you had a good time out there.  You going this weekend?  I assume that you were out there alone.  You should have posted and tried to get some company.  Safety in numbers.

-Mike 

What's the wx and ocean conditions for this weekend for Trinidad. I trying to make up my mind to drive over or do some local lake fishing.

What's the wx and ocean conditions for this weekend for Trinidad.

SCA - that's Small Craft Advisory - through Saturday anyway.  Sunday is looking much more promising:

.SUN...W WIND 5 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FOOT OR LESS. NW SWELL 3 TO 5 FT. PATCHY FOG.

but we'll have to see if that really pans out.  It's the last go for ocean salmon this year...  I might have to hit it.

I will be on my buddy's boat saturday for salmon trolling.  Its the same friend I bought my last 3 boats from.  We have caught many hogs together.  Hopefully I can hook a salmon in the 40lb range to top my biggest of 42lbs. 

After saturday it will be time to chase the longfins for a few days.  My neighbor finally got his motor fixed so its time  for a tuna massacre.  My shelves are empty as I have eaten all my jars.  Time to restock.

Another weekend I have a green light from the war department, and another iffy forecast.  Dave, if that Sunday weather holds I'm game, and I know Tim was interested in hitting it too...we'll keep tabs on things and pray to the fish gods for the best!

beenfishin

SAT
NW WIND 5 TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. NW SWELL 5 TO
7 FT.

SUN
NW WIND 5 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FOOT OR LESS. NW SWELL 4 TO
6 FT. PATCHY FOG.

Ben and Dave,
 you guys thinking a bonzai run or O/nighter?
Have not run it by the wife yet, but sounds like fun
Tad
 

Forecast for Sunday and Monday looks stellar and I'll bet Saturday evening will even have a sweet spot:

.SAT...NW WIND 5 TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. NW SWELL 6 TO 8 FT...SUBSIDING TO 5 TO 7 FT BY LATE AFTERNOON.
.SUN...NW WIND 5 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FOOT OR LESS. NW SWELL 4 TO 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.MON...NW WIND 5 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FOOT OR LESS. NW SWELL 3 TO 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. 

I may be heading a bit south one of those mornings, but I'll hit Trinidad if you guys are coming over the hill.  I'd give my left paddleblade to fish with the North Valley Slayers this weekend.   

Hi Guys,
I cannot figure out what makes it a go and a no go on the ocean. How do you figure that out? Is there a link to another spot on this site that I can get a lesson? The Saturday night thing sounds like an interesting trip. Sunday could be a go and maybe Monday (I have Labor Day off!). I guess I am open to anything as long as the wx is ok and I can get a room somewhere for my son and I. I usually just go to Motel 6 (save the good $ for the wife) or Howard Johnson; however, may not be available due to the holiday. I am in training and meetings until late tomorrow night. Let's keep in touch!
David

Hi Guys,
I cannot figure out what makes it a go and a no go on the ocean. How do you figure that out? Is there a link to another spot on this site that I can get a lesson?

Dave - There are several threads about this - might be tricky to find though.  I always use National Weather Service's Marine Forecast page - here's where I start, the Eureka site:  http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/eka/  Go to the marine forecast link and find the Point St. George to Pt. Arena forecast - out to 10 nautical miles.  Pt. St. George is north of Crescent City and Pt. Arena is down south of Fort Bragg.  I've been watching forecasts and buoys since way before I had kayaks - sorry for being presumptuous.  Here are some basic thresholds I look for:

- forecasted winds of 5 knots or less represent potential ideal conditions
- 5 to 10 knots is a good forecast, and up to 15 knots may be do-able
- forecasted swell heights below 6' often mean flat water near shore
- forecasted swell heights up to 8' may be do-able, especially if the 'period' between swells isn't low, like less than 10 seconds
- ideal forecast:  "Winds variable to 5 knots, N or NW swell 1-2 feet"
- nice forecast:  "Winds 5 knots, N or NW swell 2-4 feet"
- still nice:  "Winds 5-10 knots, any swell to 5 feet"
- any forecast could be way off...
- from there you just have to see how reality is matching up to the forecast - that's where the buoys come in
- buoy 22 SW of Eureka is out of commission suddenly, so my main current info is offline
- buoy 27 off Crescent City gives wind, swell and temperature info
- buoy 13 off the Cape shows only swell height and period

It's 9.2' at 8 seconds at the Cape right now...  That represents steep and dangerous seas and indicates wind.

Last, a small swell like 3 or 4 feet with a huge period like 20 seconds will create huge shore breaks at some spots - those usually come from the south, generated by large storms way down by the equator or farther.

Thanks for eliciting my ramble - I love that part of my life that is the study of ocean and wind conditions.   

Thanks for the details Eric, now I'm ready to jump in my truck and head over 
What do you think Tad, banzai run ?

X2 to Eric's post above, some great info in there.  Sunday looks sloppy but do-able, Monday is looking really nice.  With a nearly 400-mile round trip drive it's a bit of a gamble for us stuck in the valley, but worst case scenario is to sit in Trinidad bay, have a few brews, and pick up some blacks and perch close to shore.  After this weekend I'm booked until mid October, so I'm game for a banzai run either Sunday or Monday, preferably Monday.

SAT
NE WIND 5 TO 10 KT...BECOMING VARIABLE LESS THAN 5 KT LATE.
WIND WAVES 1 FOOT OR LESS. MIXED SWELL...NW 5 TO 7 FT AND SW 2 TO
4 FT. PATCHY FOG.

SUN
NW WIND 5 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FOOT OR LESS. MIXED SWELL...
NW 4 TO 6 FT AND SW 2 TO 4 FT. PATCHY FOG.

MON
NW WIND 5 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FOOT OR LESS. NW SWELL 4 TO
5 FT. PATCHY FOG.

Sounds like Brandi is down for a trip, and Domenic may also be in the mix.  I might have to hit the Cape one of the days - let me know if any of you guys can do Cape Sunday at dawn and then Trinidad Monday.  The Cape would add an hour driving each way, but the fish are bigger and more plentiful if we can get out...

Sounds like Brandi is down for a trip, and Domenic may also be in the mix.  I might have to hit the Cape one of the days - let me know if any of you guys can do Cape Sunday at dawn and then Trinidad Monday.  The Cape would add an hour driving each way, but the fish are bigger and more plentiful if we can get out...

Monday might work for me at Trinidad.  I'll keep watching for posts.

-Mike