Davenport 8/31/06 -bumpy

Stalled a little, picked up some trash at the parking spot,  got out at 7:30.
Fog clearing on beach, calm in cove, some small breakers on sides, surfers going by and going elsewhere.  Outside, it was short steep stuff, probably not very high, but the kind of stuff that makes it uncomfortable, and when the sets came thru, could turn you over.  Not much wind, perhaps 5 from south, drift maybe 1mph to the north.
    At 50 ft Dropped stinger rig with dead herring rigged head down (rubber bands around gills and hooks, two hitches around tail) and got nibbles right away. Bouncing a little too much to tell what it was, pulled up a 12" gopher, released.  Had a gps fix on the launch, but I need a couple of others some distance apart, because I couldn't readily tell where I was, tho I thought I was drifting north and deeper.
     Decided that being out alone in fog in those conditions was doable but not the best choice, so I paddled to a soft landing.  A while later Allen came by and helped me get my yak up the hump near the beach (Thanks again). 
    I metered a lot of fish on the way out and in, but I was looking for the sandy bottom types and was, I guess, a little too far north.
     From the marine report ,government forecast discussion, Monterey Bouy and the surfing sites, I thought it would be FAC and sunny.  Sometimes you have to believe your eyes.
     Oh -go spray your tie down strap metal ends with WD -40- the little spring in there rusts and breaks-makes for a fairly useless strap.
     I guess I'll just have to try again tomorrow.

I had a similar experience yesterday. I also got fooled by the marine forecast. Then I thought about it. Davenport isn't really part of Monterey Bay. When I listened to the forecast for the Bay area, there was a small craft advisory. I guess for Davenport you need to look at both reports to get a better idea. Luckily, the wind was very low, so it was glassy. I couldn't imagine getting stuck out there in 7 - 9 foot swells with wind chop mixed in!

I have fished in those conditions, maybe a little bigger, and a lot windier, just north of there. it is possible to catch fish but only fun for the sheer stupidity of it. hanging a drift chute off the bow and stradling the yak is the only way to do it, but it is possible.

snagging is bad, you must immediately paddle up past the jig and prepare to break off as you float back by if you can't unstick it.  keep your eyes peeled for the wave that breaks over the bow, you get wet on those,  .
you can still catch gophers and coppers in those conditions, I like those guys myself, they bite anytime and fight as hard as their size lets them.

Tom, the forecast I saw was for windswell today, so I am not surprised at the conditions. it should drop slowly through sunday, should be good by saturday. try again sunday.

J