BigJim's 2014 Summer Vacation

Took a week off work to spend time with my parents who were visiting from New Orleans.

Started the time off in the water looking for butts, but no love to be found just a big brown hiding in an old pipe.



Then headed to Paso Robles for some wine tasting with parents and inlaws. If you ever get down there do yourself a favor and check out Sculpterra.

http://sculpterra.com/

Then spent a few days chilling and taking my daughters to their swim lessons. Awesome to see how comfy they are both getting in the water!

Tuesday I tried to go dive BigSur with shark_bait and e2g but was too rough... Ended up back up in PG and harvested three small but yummy cabs for the family to eat.



That night we went to Aptos St BBQ for Ribs, brews and blues.

http://aptosstbbq.com/

Wednesday one of my buddies stoked us out and took us out on his awesome sailboat! Cruised from Monterey down towards Carmel and back and my Dad caught his first ever Lingcod!!

 

Thursday was meant to go out on a Zodiac with Dad and some buddies, but the boat had some troubles so we hung with the family at home and went to Bargetto winery in Soquel and then out for a nice sushi dinner in Santa Cruz.

http://www.bargetto.com/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g33048-d797493-Reviews-Shogun_Japanese_Restaurant-Santa_Cruz_California.html

Friday we went to the parade here in Watsonville and had a good time with the kiddos and then BBQd some steaks back at home. 

Saturday I headed out kayak fishing with Dad and Valentina and dpshim.  Ocean was super calm, but bite was slooooow...until we paddled over to Daniel...he hooked into something BIG and passed the rod right over to Valentina!! 

She fought it to the surface and Dan reached down and pulled up a 23.5 inch Cabzilla!! 

Dad paddled over to see the beast and have a beer, and I decided to drop a jig while we were chilling...BAM!! Hooked up and bendo and give Valentina the rod and she fights it up and I can tell it is gonna be a nice Ling...when my Dad sees the big open mouth full of teeth poke up out of the kelp he yells out "Holy Sh*t!!" 

Dan helps me get the fish into the yak and onto the clip and Valentina is super stoked!!! She wants to stop on a high note so we start paddling in...on the way cruise next to this washrock and see some monster owl limpets so harvest a few. 

Spent the rest of the day chilling at the beach and having fun with kids and family. 

Yesterday we took advantage of the nice weather and BBQd ribs, did the big cabby whole, had some ling filets, some sheephead sashimi and whole Ling heads....all with some cold yummy beverages.

Perfect end to a great vacation!!

Here are a bunch of pics.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

 

Few more pics!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Sounds like a great stay at home vacation.

Thanks for sharing your Summer vacation with us Jim.

When we lived in the valley we would go to Monterey/PG all the time.  Lots to do. We even joined the Barrgeto wine club and had stuff shipped every month.  That's a lot to do in a short amount of time. Is it time for a vacation from the vacation?

The water has been looking real good in you videos. I saw lots of kelp at the beginning of one so you must be going out a bit to get away from it or are they different locations.

When I grow up, I want to be like Big Jim

Way to go jim! Looks like a fun couple of weeks.

Nice vacation. Was the rag boat a Beneteau?

Nice vacation. Was the rag boat a Beneteau?

I believe it was....

Nice vacation. Was the rag boat a Beneteau?

I believe it was....

Not sure on the make of the boat...it's name is Blue Eagle.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Nice pair O' lings.  Pops looks like he was having a good time!

Sounds like an awesome vacation Jim! What could be better than chillin and getting the fam together to go fishing?

thanks for the great video!

Aloha,

Isao

Nice pair O' lings.  Pops looks like he was having a good time!

LOL!!

Yeah, when I saw the hat turned sideways I knew it was game on.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Great times with your family Jim!  Thanks for sharing them!