Shelter Cove bottom fish

I was in Shelter Cover over the 4th and the bottom fishing--lings, all kinds of rockfish, cabezon--were hammering everything.  It is a very short paddle from the launch and is pretty hard to beat for the fishing.  I think we should try to plan a kayak fishing contest, but let's let some people try it first. 

thanks for the nice report. i have always wanted to try but dont even know how to get there, i think i passed it on the way north but forgot where it was.

john

Where is shelter cove and the launch site sounds like a plan never been there.

are you talking about the Shelter Cove over at Linda Mar?

Or are you talking about Shelter Cove in Humboldt County?

Pretty sure there's one in San Diego, too.

I'm going up to Shelter Cove on the 22nd.  I'll report here when I get back.

I was there checking out the area recently.  did you launch down by the lighthouse?  Which direction did you paddle from the town.  I know Punta Gorda is a ways north from there and that is where the real giants live apparently, but there has to be some stuff close to the town, sounds like you found some of it!

yeah I with that. I also want to launch off of mattle road just north of petrolia at cape mendocino or  bear harbor.

Shelter Cove is about 45 minutes to an hour of winding mountain roads off of 101 at Redway/Garberville in Southern Humboldt County about 3-4 hours north of the Golden Gate.  The launch is nicely protected and Todd B is right, the fish are close in.  The bite does vary quite a bit from day to day, week to week though...  I fished this past Tuesday (7/11) and picked up 7 blues, 2 blacks and a 7# cabezon in about 2 hours of fishing in 50-60' of water around a mile out using a 6 oz leadhead and 1 shrimpfly with old, bad salmon-trolling chovies on the fly.  Kept 3 nice blues, the blacks and the cab.  I was hoping to pick up a ling, but I had limited time and the spots close to the launch I find hard to scratch out a legal ling.  It does generally take some time to get on the fish close to the launch, but it's rare to get skunked on rockfish. 

If someone wants to hookup I'm trying to hit it on weekends this month because that's when salmon is open.  Next month I'll hit Bear Harbor for a few days too, ab opens again, and salmon goes back to being open all the time there until November I think.  Get in touch if you want to hook up.

Previous two shots:  my dad paddling in 2/05 after salmon fishing; 4/06 beautiful conditions at the launch.

Here's another nice shot of the scenery around the Cove from the fishing grounds.  6/06.

Sounds great, I would like to try Bear Harbor, for fish and abs. I have camped there in the past just as I was traveling up the lost coast.

I have been to Shelter Cove several times surfing but have never fished there. I know the Salmon and rock fishing can be great. They have a okay camp ground at the top of the hill, and an easy launch, you can drive right down on the beach (At low tide), Let me know when your going and I will try and work it in.

Aloha,  William 102

wow, that place sure looks and sounds like a nice launch and fishing area. i sure wish i lived closer to the water and could do more fishing!

Is the lighthouse off the road that appears to branch off Machi Rd. to the beach?

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Machi+Rd+%26+Lower+Pacific+Dr,+Whitethorn,+CA+95589&ie=UTF8&ll=40.024295,-124.068518&spn=0.014854,0.037251&om=1

Hmm... I think it's about 3 hours North of Elk....?  Wish it were closer to Ft Bragg - then I'd do a Shelter/Elk Friday/Sat...

I will be there the weekend of 8-12 (and likely before) to introduce my little brother to the pleasures of the sport.  Look for the yellow Malibu II (covered in lots of duct tape for floatation) and come along. 

I typically paddle from the launch out past the lighthouse and even with the bell buoy.  Jig rubber bodied rootbeer jigs (or metal)...maybe a little anchovy...let the current drift you toward Abalone point...I think I caught on average 15 fish per 2-3 hours a couple weeks ago when I was there...I generally just save enough for dinner (makes the paddling back easier)...