Limekiln Memorial Day...The skunk is off!

After catching about a dozen lings down at Big Sur and not being able to bring any home, I scored a double today.

Eric (eyeatbay) and I headed down this morning and found Mill Creek to be a pretty scary, so we went to Limekiln and waited for the gates to open.  Luckily Garcia's understudy opened the gate around 7:30.  After hauling both of the kayaks down to the beach I attempted the launch first.  I waded out, jumped in, paddled like crazy and ate a wave right in the face.  I stayed upright and was still paddling as fast as I could but when I looked around I discovered I was still in the same place I started.  So I gave up on that attempt just about the time that Eric was launching.  I sure felt silly watching him sail away into the horizon.  I then waited until I had the timing DOWN and made a successful launch. 

We paddled out a ways and Eric hooks up with a keeper ling right away.  I was catching a ton of blues, olives and gophers but not what I wanted, so I scooted a little closer to Eric and immediately hooked up with a 31" ling.  Eric caught a nice cabezon and a little latter I got a 28" ling and cabezon.  The wind started picking up and we called it a day.

Landing was the same, Eric made it look easy and I could have been on America's Funniest Home Videos, but at least I never dumped it.

Eric did his best to convice Garcia to let us drive down to near the beach to load the yaks, but that guy wouldn't give in to Eric's charm.  There was only one couple camped down there even.

Eric - Great to fish with you man!  Thanks for helping me get out of the slump.  I don't have any pics of you so post yours.

Sweet! congrats on the nice fish and launch.   

Jason

In short, we had a great day on the water - good company. Congrates, Nomad got 31", 29" lings and 19" Cab. I got 28" ling and 19" Cab. We are short of reds which we had hoped for. Pics to follow.

Here goes a long version. Nomad and eyeatbay drove down to Big Sur. We knew Limekiln would not be open until 8AM. We got Mill Creek first. It was around 7AM. Weather was good - sunny and little/no wind. However, Swell was intimidating.  We turned around and got to Limekiln to check out the swell. Obviously the situation was better. But, the door was locked.

Luckily, a ranger (nice guy, not DG) opened the door for us earlier. I just learned there is self-registration available. We used it and it worked out perfectly. We had our yaks ready for launch before 8AM. Nomad went launching first. Timing was a little off. Shore breaks pushed his yak back to the sand bottom. His 1st attempt failed, put managed no roll.  This time I timed right and launched successfully. I paddled out and wait for Nomad. 10 minutes later he came out dry. A good day just began.

[Keep the fishing story short. We had no special stuff]
We fished a couple of kelp beds. Hits were wide open. We targeted lings and reds. But we got frequent hits from gophers and blues. We sent them back. Nomad had a decent size red, but lost it next to the boat.  . We got a few lings and cabs. Congrates, Nomad. It is his 1st legal ling.

We called off around 11:30AM. The way back was fun. Wind was on the back. Swell (not big) pushed us as riding a rollercoaster. Paddling back was a litte effort. We landed safely. 

One thing to point out that Park was very strict about rules. For example, by noon the ocean campsite was empty. We asked rangers' permission for us to drive the truck to the campsite and load our yaks there. We requested nicely, but got no. Nomad and I had to carry our yaks uphill to parking lot. It was daunting when both of us were exhausted. But we had no choices   Eventually we made it and got on the road at 1PM.

Oops, We both wrote and posted stories same time. I put mine here instead. The other thread is removed.

Smile at the results

Nomad's good size lings

Good Job guys! Great pictures! I gotta tag along with you guys to Big Sur one of these days.

Eugene

One thing to point out that Park was very strict about rules. For example, by noon the ocean campsite was empty. We asked rangers' permission for us to drive the truck to the campsite and load our yaks there. We requested nicely, but got no. Nomad and I had to carry our yaks uphill to parking lot. It was daunting when both of us were exhausted. But we had no choices   Eventually we made it and got on the road at 1PM.

Hey Guys, Nice job on the fish.

 But, not a nice job with the ranger   Eric(eyeatbay)  I remember talking with another board member here who sent you a very nice and detailed email about the strained relations with the ranger at Lime Kiln.  How soon did it take you to forget???    We can sit here and complain all day about the rules but it wont do any good.   So please, don't piss off the ranger anymore.     I've personally been there and had to deal with Garcia when others of our posse tried to bend the rules.   It wasn't good.  Please dont be butt hurt with my reply, but take me seriously.  I would like to be able to go camp and fish there some time in the future with out having Ranger Garcia glaring at me and my kayak.  JTF..

But, not a nice job with the ranger   Eric(eyeatbay)  I remember talking with another board member here who sent you a very nice and detailed email about the strained relations with the ranger at Lime Kiln.  How soon did it take you to forget???    We can sit here and complain all day about the rules but it wont do any good.   So please, don't piss off the ranger anymore.     I've personally been there and had to deal with Garcia when others of our posse tried to bend the rules.   It wasn't good.  Please dont be butt hurt with my reply, but take me seriously.  I would like to be able to go camp and fish there some time in the future with out having Ranger Garcia glaring at me and my kayak.  JTF..

Hey JTF. There was no "piss off the ranger" stuff as you described, even not a complaint. We just pointed out the example of the strictness for people on this board to consider. We have maintained a good relationship with Rangers as of yesterday. I would hope others will do the same. Nomad can chime in for comments.

Yes Eric, as it was pointed out to you.  Yet you still asked.  Yes, maybe others here will consider not asking the ranger garcia to bend the rules.    Please understand my concern.  Nice pics btw.  Save some lings for the rest of us.  JTF..

I'll definately chime in.  Eric and I were very polite to Ranger Garcia.  There was no complaining about why we couldn't drive down to the beach.  Relationships with that guy aren't going to get any better by just ignoring him.  I find it insulting that you would chastise Eric and assume that he pissed Garcia off.  We are all adults here and don't need any etiquette training.  We both knew about the guy from reading previous posts and acted as perfectly fine ambassadors of our sport.

Eric did his best to convice Garcia to let us drive down to near the beach to load the yaks, but that guy wouldn't give in to Eric's charm. 

All JTF is saying is that - don't even try to "reason" with this particular ranger. It's very clear that he has something against kayak fishermen - so why give him the chance hate us even more.

I too, would like to go back there sometime soon...and not have to deal with Ranger Garcia. But if I do have to deal with him - I'll be polite and talk as little as possible.

No offense to anyone.

Nice catch by the way!

Eric did his best to convice Garcia to let us drive down to near the beach to load the yaks, but that guy wouldn't give in to Eric's charm.  There was only one couple camped down there even.

Nomad, I'm truly sorry if I irritated you with my post.  I honestly believe that no one here needs to try to charm Garcia for favors.  Good to know that you guys didn't piss him off.  I never implied etiquette training.  But, I know plenty of adults who need it.  In fact, the whole world needs etiquette training, including myself.  

For anyone who wants to understand where I'm coming from, here it is.  Last year, in July, a friend and I went to Lime Kiln on a day trip.  I had been here once before with a bunch of guys from ncka and had experienced the Garcia in full effect.  So, we didn't see him in the morning.  When we landed though he was waiting on the beach for us.  Something about a pregnant seal, staying clear of the seal and he checked our catch and licenses.  No problem.  We then proceeded to bring our yaks up to the day use parking.  When we were loaded up and ready to go he came over to talk to me.  He asked if I had been with the group before that had given him some hassles and I replied yes, but we had never intended to give him grief.  He just nodded at me.   He then asked me then to relay to all of these people involved that the rules were there for a reason.  He was polite but at the same time very stern.  He was concerned about campers being disturbed by noise in the morning, the day use spots being filled and other concerns such as litter and use of the showers.  But, being that he is the law, I took it seriously.  It kind of worried me in the end that this very sensitive and pristine spot might someday restrict kayaks from launching at the beach. 

John

I agree with both sides in a way, but I camped down there with my family and had a way different experience opening weekend.  The rangers were very professional and one of the rangers even talked about going kayak fishing later that week off the beach.  Overall, following the rules doesn't seem that bad and keeping a positive light on the sport is important.  I also think that the anti-kayak feel from the rangers might not be as strong as it once was.  The one thing I worry about that if everyone goes down there nervous waiting to be jumped on, does it become a self fulfilling prophecy?
Ed

if i was following all the rules and the ranger was giving me a hard time i would file a formal complaint to the department of parks. as far as i know our california taxes are paying to keep aprks and access open. who wnats to go to a place you know you are supporting with every paycheck and get hasseled. assuming you are following all the rules and aren't looking for a favor. if the ranger is just being a jerk and for no real reason i would file a complaint. if i was doing something against the rules and was asking him do look the other way then i would understand why he would be stiffer on others who partake in the same sport. sounds like he had a bad batch of kayak anglers somewhere sometime but if you are following all rules you should not get hasseled.

people don't become jerks for no reason. i think its best in this case to file a complaint or just go about your business and follow all rules set for the said park. no communication really has to occur betwene the ranger and usedr unless he wants to see the license and the catch.

above all, if you feel something is not right and you feel intimidated and scared as well as risk getting strongarmed to use a certain spot to access the ocean file a complaint. you help pay their paychecks so if you feel they are doing something unjust then you should state your case and back it up with reasons and document when where and what took place.

things like this make the remote areas of our coastline more fun to explore. there are so many spots you can go and not have to deal with this BS and probably hold twice the amount of fish in water thats twice as shallow and fish are twice as big. access might be hard but who knows, maybe its worth it.