Caspar Cover, 8/5, abs and lings

Made it up to Caspar cove to meet some friends from Fort Bragg for a day of beach fun, diving, fishing and BBQ.  We dove first thing in not great conditions, high tide, 3 ft vis, and nothing shallow.  We had to dive around some kelp in 15 to 20 feet to get some keepers, but the three of us diving got our limits.  After that we did some family paddling around the cove, but nobody wanted to venture out to where the toothy bottom dwellers were  living, so we headed back in for some food.  I could see several PB's out on the point to the south side of the cove and the itch drew me out again, which is not easy when the food is almost ready!  I couldn't get anyone else to go with the food coming, so I solo'd it for about an hour and a half. 

It was immediately apparent what all the boats between there and the Pt. Cabrillo lighthouse were doing, as the bottom dwellers were snapping.  There was a good size swell(6+), but very far apart, so pretty easy fishing.  Not much current, just a slow uphill so not alot of repositioning was needed either.  Managed two nice keeper lings and 3 unders.  Lots of small rockfish, released, kept a few of the mortally  injured blues, one greenling, one gopher, a China, and a decent size Sole that attempted to attack a large hair jig when I drifted away from the rocks for a minute. 

I'd like to explore this area some more when I have half a day to meeter around, lots of nice 40 to 90 foot rock bottom, great for swimbaits.  I'll post up when I can go again to see if anyone else is interested in giving it a try.  One ling on a 7" swimbait, the other on the old standby megabait.  Beautiful weather in general, in the mid to upper 70's with a slight offshore breeze made for a great day at the beach!

Hi, Norm - Nice ones. how long are they?

I was at Caspar and intended to go south of the cove. But, Swell stopped me that day. I would love to try the area someday. Next weekend we will be at ELK for tournament. Are you there too? We could spend a day at Caspar instead, if the condition permits.

Eric

Nice report Norm! I like Caspar too. Just be careful around the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse because it's a closed area for fishing. At least it used to be. Just South of the Caspar beach in a subdivision call Caspar South. If you drive Southbound on Point Cabrillo Road, past the beach and past the first Caspar South entrance, you'll hear up the hill. When you get close to the top there is another entrance to Caspar South on the right. Turn in and drive about a 1/4 mile (I think that's how far it is) and there will be a road on your left called Vega Drive (it's the second street on your left. Turn down Vega and then drive to the end (it's about 100 yards). You can park there and there is a trail that leads to a secluded beach with good abs and rock fish. You have to be careful not to venture South of the cove area because you'll enter the Point Cabrillo reserve where you can't fish.

I think THIS is a link to the Google map page of the area.

I'll admit it's been a while since I've dove in this area, but it used to be a real good area, and I don;t remember how easy it will be to bring your yak.

CHEERS!

Hey Guys,

Eric, the one was just over keeper size and the other abot 28 inches or so.  I would love to go out this weekend, but it is looking like Family obligations time on the horizon for me.  Good luck and let me know how you do if you go up, i will be back at it, hopefully the following weekend.

Mahi, Thanks for the tips.  I know there is a sanctary there, but was not sure how far up it extended, so I didn't venture more than a few hundred yards south of the mouth of Caspar Cove.  sounds like a great dive spot if you can still get down there.  I have two dives left on my card for this year and woudl be willing to use one there if you are interested in giving it a try sometime.  i went on a flurry of diving this spring, trying to make up for last spring when i was sidelined with a broken L2 vertebrae.....Thansk again and hope to see you on the water one of these days....

just got back from there Norm.  Visibilty was great, and there were a ton of fish around those rocks to the south.  It was my first time there.  I like it, but not as much as the headlands.