Bolinas/Dux Chrome Hunt 8/10/2014

WWW.THELOSTANCHOVY.COM
KAYAK BLOG AND TUTORIAL

Note: I just updated my blog with a tutorial on Halibut fishing. I'm working on a Salmon tutorial too.(Need to fish with Loletaeric as I'm sure he will teach me a thing or two about Salmon fishing, the guy is a one man salmon slaying machine)

(Video to come)

The report
Fished Dux yesterday. The weather was cloudy with slight overcast. A little bumpy in the morning but it flattened out by 10:00 a.m.

Trolled for most of the morning around the green buoy for nothing.  I ran into a commercial fisherman who was a really cool guy. He told me the fish have been biting on herring in 45 ft of water trolling. Luckily I had a few pieces of herring in the brine.

After trolling for another 30 min. I got lazy and started mooching/drifting. I drifted south of the green buoy and saw a nice ledge on my FF. I dropped  my herring to the bottom and pulled a couple cranks up. After a few cranks my line goes slack and I thought (Damn the floor must have came up quick)... Reeled back in my line and immediately felt pressure!! FISH ON!! It ran away from me started to peel line. It felt like a good sized fish. After a few quick runs the hook pops off with a big "DAMN!" from me.

Quickly put on another herring and redrifted over the same area.  As I came up the ledge, I immediately get slammed again. This time I got a solid hook set on it. Got the fish to surfaced and it looked to be a possible shaker. Got it on board and measured.
It came out to be 25 inches! My smallest salmon to date, but I'll take it! It was probably a good 8 lb fish.

Trollled for a few more hours for nada, but saw some fish landed by others. Over all great day. I got exercise and a conciliatory fish. Life is good - Keith

Nice work Keith!  Sounds like you found a productive spot at the end to save the day. 

Right on Kieth, good stuff as always!

Great report! 1 fish + lots of hook ups which is still better than nothing

Great job on the save..In the end, chrome is chrome. Wtg

Nice fish Keith, I'd take it.  I'm new to kayaking and I'm wondering where you launched from?  Any other pointers you have would be appreciated.  I've only caught rock fish and kings so far by mooching.  I always use a barbless circle hook.

Thanks,
Bruce

Do you launch on the beach then park in town? 

Where is the Green Buoy?  Paddle West I presume? (GPS Coordinates perhaps?) I don't see it on Google Earth.

I'd like to give it a try soon as I have plenty of experience now in the Bay(s) and under the Gate, but I must admit I'm a little apprehensive about taking off on big blue on my own.  Ive been out there on charters and it can get rough.  What do you consider a calm enough day to attempt this?  I see wave height 3-4 feet, wind 8 knots WSW.  That seems pretty doable.

Nice fish Keith, I'd take it.  I'm new to kayaking and I'm wondering where you launched from?  Any other pointers you have would be appreciated.  I've only caught rock fish and kings so far by mooching.  I always use a barbless circle hook.

Thanks,
Bruce

Bruce sorry for the late response. I've been a little busy at work.  There are two places to launch at Dux. Wharf rd or Brighton.  At Wharf rd, you got to go through some surf breakers. In the afternoon it can get a little harry, so you got to time the lull and sets on the wave right.

At brighton, the surf launch is easier, but on a swelly day it can get a little challenging.

So mooching for kings is easy. They are either at 40 ft. or at the bottom.  I have a few places marked but with salmon its a hit or miss with them since they are always on the move. Herring has been working well at Dux.

Do you launch on the beach then park in town? 

Where is the Green Buoy?  Paddle West I presume? (GPS Coordinates perhaps?) I don't see it on Google Earth.

I'd like to give it a try soon as I have plenty of experience now in the Bay(s) and under the Gate, but I must admit I'm a little apprehensive about taking off on big blue on my own.  Ive been out there on charters and it can get rough.  What do you consider a calm enough day to attempt this?  I see wave height 3-4 feet, wind 8 knots WSW.  That seems pretty doable.

The conditions have been pretty flat.  The only thing you need to do is get past the surf breaks. (Basically, just paddle straight through them). You also go to time the lull and peaks for re entry if you are gonna park at wharf rd.

The Green Buoy is straight out. Just keep going and you can't miss it. It is about 2.5 miles out maybe 3.  It should take you 45 minutes...maybe.  There is a lot of bait at Dux, but the fish are on and off. If you get on them, the fish will be big. Watch out for the commercials, some of them are dicks, so try to stay clear. Find a buddy to team up with and be safe.  Bring strong leaders, i've seen some threshers jumping in the area. You might get lucky! If you got questions just PM me. -- Keith