Eying Bean Hollow for Sunday...

I'll be checking the wind and swell for a possible Sunday outing. I'm likely to launch unless the winds come up...I don't mind a little challenge getting out, as long as conditions look good for fishing.

It seems we have quite a few folks who are new to surf launches on the board here...and I'm reluctant to give too much advice, because I know we all are prone to the occasional surf zone miscalculation (or spanking, if you prefer)

But I will suggest this:  Arrange your gear so that nothing will be lost or broken in a capsize:

place rods inside your boat, or lash them along your deck in a "low profile: fashion-they should hug the deck, not stand up like antennae.

Remove your reels, and place them in a dry bag, along with your fishfinderand radio. You can assemble all your toys on the water.

Secure everything else of value. Dress for immersion.

Now you're set: If you capsize, well, you're wet and humbled, but you can let the waves push your boat in, and try again after you stop laughing.

Lastly, don't hurt yourself trying to wrestle with a boat that is getting pummeled. If your gear is all secured, and you're in the surf zone, just meet it on the beach...it'll come home to you.

Good advice... Paul.  I can speak from experience. 

And practice surf launches and heck, just paddling and self rescue with an empty boat a few times, so that you aren't risking it all the first time..........y'know?

But I will suggest this: Arrange your gear so that nothing will be lost or broken in a capsize:

place rods inside your boat, or lash them along your deck in a "low profile: fashion-they should hug the deck, not stand up like antennae.

Remove your reels, and place them in a dry bag, along with your fishfinderand radio. You can assemble all your toys on the water.

Secure everything else of value. Dress for immersion.

Now you're set: If you capsize, well, you're wet and humbled, but you can let the waves push your boat in, and try again after you stop laughing.

Lastly, don't hurt yourself trying to wrestle with a boat that is getting pummeled. If your gear is all secured, and you're in the surf zone, just meet it on the beach...it'll come home to you.

Oh man, I wish you would have posted this a couple of weeks ago.    I not only got spanked  I was beaten like a red headed step child!! 

But thanks for all of the pointers, I will surely remember that the next time I attempt the "Mighty Bean". 

Mary

Hey Paul,

Where's Bean Hollow and what kind of fish do you get there? or what are you going to fish for? I am interested in ocean fishing for rockcods.

my kayak is rigged for kayak fishing but have limited kayak fishing experience, ie, I've only fished for rockcods so far but don't mind the rolling surf.

I can only go on Sunday's now and it would be nice to get wet again since I have not done kayak fishing for 6 weeks now...   I am 'new' to this forum...

Isn't it the swell is 8-ft this Sunday?  where's BEAN HOLLOW?

-Ron del Mundo
South San Francisco

where's BEAN HOLLOW?

....about a half hour drive South of Half Moon Bay. IMO: the Fishing is rated as "EPIC" for assorted rockfish and halibut. And the fact that the parking is easy - and close enough to the shoreline. The paddle to the fishing hole is less than a mile but you just need to pick your days out there. The wind and swells are not always friendly.

...oh...and one of our members had a close encounter with a Great White there - just last month.

Good luck.

Hello Mooch!    Thank you for the info.  I heard of "Epic" fishing off Ano Nuevo all the time.  So Bean Hollow is 30 minutes south of HMB, you said...   I sure don't want to encounter GWS this time of the year on my first time out after not doing kayak fishing for 6 weeks... (thanks for the warning about the recent sighting!!!)....  (>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>)

Ok..., I checked the Greg's fishing report in Bean Hollow last week and very impressed with what you get in there.  Those were FAT rockfishes...  man, I am 'new' to fishing (usually done spearfishing in the last 3 years...but getting into actions on using rods in the last 4 months).. how do you rigged for 'live' rockfish to catch these lings???

I got my 'Shark Shield' to countermeasure the approaching whitties... How many guys are going this Sunday to Bean Hollow?

-Ron

how do you rigged for 'live' rockfish to catch these lings???

if you catch a small black or blue rockfish (6 to 8 inches) pin your hook through the upper lip (whether your are using a lead head jig or an iron) and make sure the hook is exposed.  Send it down and hold on to your rod  I sometimes hook the fish on the back of the drosal fin. Just make sure you have your net or gaff ready once you feel the weight load up. When your pulling the "hitch hiker" (usually a giant ling) up to the surface, the ling may decide to let go (keep his head in the water) - so net (or gaff) it as soon as you can.

Best of luck and paddle safe

- follow Tall Paul - he knows the "hot spot" 

I may go too on sunday

Thanks Mooch for your reply and I'll try to do this 'live' rockfish bait.  I''ll check on Paul tomorrow if he decides to go Sunday since he's 'offline' today.
And thank you also for telling about using 'net (or gaff)' on "hitch hiker".  I had a "hitch hiker" ling once when it tried to swallow the blue rockfish I caught; I did not know what to do...  I'll bring a net this time and keep his head in the water...
-Ron

Ok, Promethean!  Where exactly is this place where you parked the car in Bean Hollow?  I am assuming it's a "state park" or something.

I want to go.  Just let me know the TIME and PLACE to hook up!  I'm desperate for fish....  I'm charging my fishfinder battery now when I get home and get the rig on how to hook the 'live' bait on the 'dorsal' fins.

-Ron

Okay, for those who haven't fished BH...

It's a little cove right on Highway 1, North/West of Santa Cruz, and South of Half Moon Bay. There's a parking lot there with bathroom facilities and such. Look for it north of  Pigeon point, it will be marked by the road signs. The parking lot has a swinging gate which will be closed until eight or so in the morning, so look for parking along the roadside a few hundred yards north. There is a trail from that location down to the beach, nothing too difficult. The best place to launch is to the far right of the cove, as you face the water. Best bet is to launch early, say 7:00 or 8:00 to avoid the winds.

It's a good idea to have a backup plan, say Davenport Landing or Half Moon Bay, in case you find conditions too rough.

The usual rockfish techniques work well here: Megabaits tipped with squid, rootbeer swimbaits like Scampis and Fishtraps, shrimp flies, any type of baitfish works well. There have been some good halibut taken there as well.

I'll be there at seven, provided conditions look good...will confirm here Saturday afternoon.

Best,

TallPaul

Hey Paul,

I'm going to try to get Sudmucker to go back out to the Mighty Bean  on Sunday, so hopefully the two of us will be there as well.  I'll check back here tomorrow afternoon to see what the report looks like.  I know that the two of us are going to be launching from the Kayak Shop in Half Moon Bay on Monday at 7am if anyone wants to come along.

Hope to see ya on Sunday! 

Mary

Ok Paul, thanks for the direction and I will check for your report Saturday afternoon...

-Ron

Okay folks, I'm going to pull the trigger...

Looks like calm winds and some swell, northwest, with a twelve second period- which sounds manageable. If BH looks tough, I'll launch at Davenport...but way better fishing at BH.

I'll be at Bean Hollow around Seven tomorrow, and hope to see some of you there!

Let's go get em!