4-mile experimentation...

Greg (sixmhz) and I tried 4-mile beach today. Greg said the hike in was only moderately harder than hiis
6-mile hike in the sierras.  .

We thought about trying pescadero but the electronic signs suggested to me that it might be a little rough,
so we settled for exploring 4-mile. Some coastside reports had rockfish limits and halibut in 45 feet so we
were hopeful.

launch and landing easy although it was actually surfable today, if a little weak.

The wind did come up early, but it was fine with a driftsock just outside the kelp. hard to fish outside tho,
and hard to fish right in the kelp with that much wind, although at least some fish were caught everywhere.

Quite a few PBs and I think two party boats came and viewed the 3-mile reef. The party boats passed on
fishing it and we knew why.

not that many fish, and small.

Greg got on a slow pick of brown and gopher RF  in 60 feet of water and an underling
with squid.  also a greenling in the kelp.

I did similarly, with a little more experimentation and snags, and less total fish.
I bottom bounced a broken back rebel for a brown rockfish not much longer than the rebel.
An underling on a swimbait, and some micro gophers on squid tipped iron. kept one for
smoker experimentation.

I'm thinking the bottom bouncing is a good option there. I might make more of a targetted attempt
there with that technique. not a lot of obvious structure, but fish catching reports are often good.
without pinpoint GPS #'s or great sonar, covering ground is key.

I chatted up the PB's but it seemed all they had was small rockfish and underlings too.

we saw big jacksmelt in the kelp, a big sabiki would have loaded up on those guys I think.  otherwise, I did not
see a lot of bait.

On the way home I had a tire blow, and my tires are big 75r15's, Greg was a lifesaver with the
jack.  without him,  I would probably be buzzard food on the side of 85,  .

hope you guys did better today with what we had available to us weatherwise.

J