11/4 or 5 North coast?

One last rf/ ab trip for me I think. Would love to hook up with some folks.

How far north?

NWS forecast currently shows kinda windy with a moderate swell and chance of rain over the weekend, but this page shows Sunday afternoon swell looking light: 

http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/swell/abglance.html

There's a good minus tide right at the end of the day both Saturday and Sunday.  The forecasts are jumping around big-time right now...

Have fun ~ 

I was thinking up to Salt Point, maybe Ocean cove, Id like to test out the rolleaze on that hill. Im driving from Marin so Ft ross, stillwater, Ocean cove are less than 2 hrs. I can do an overnight and just crash in the back of the truck on the side of the road. Thats some 5 star shit there for me.

This Sunday, 11/5/06, is good for me anywhere in Sonoma Coast, preferable Ocean Cove, for easy access.  But it's your call.  I'll be diving for some abs too. 

Pls let me know if you want to hook up this Sunday.  Otherwise, I will just hook up with Pete in Garrapata since I've been there before with John (JohnGuineaPig) but hell lot of work hoisting down the gear in the cliff there.

-Ron
South San Francisco

If you guys are willing to go a bit further north, there are some good protected areas to dive and fish (shallow water) at Van Damme.  I was thinking of going tomorrow (Sat) afternoon with the family for a dive and some fishing.  The swell looks to be up a bit on Saturday, so the nice protected lauch, dive and fishing areas are a welcome bonus for the extra 30 to 45 minutes of drive from Marin.  Plus, a limited and flat portage from parking to water is nice too....

 I'm just up in Windsor and it is 1 and 45 minuntes from my house to Van Damme.  I'd love to hook up with you, let me know if interested.

Norm

(707)975-2759

Thanks Norm for the invite.  Van Damne SP is quite a 3.5 hour drive for me w/c is a killer for a day trip.  I've kayak Van Damne twice and took my family on 'rental' 4-person kayak in the cave on the right side of the cove; it's pretty cool there.  I did not get a chance to see the rest of the caves on the farther right side but I'd seen outfitters taking their clients on kayaking trip through the caves there.  Just make sure you wear a hard hat with you and go during high tide.

Have a good time with your family and paddle safe!

-Ron

Ya, those caves are very cool.  Maybe we can hook up a two dayer next season, I plan to try and to that a few times, camping there at Van Damme or up at Russian Gulch just north of there.  Take care....

Norm

yeah, sure, Norm!  Let's hook up on 2 dayer in Mendo.  We always go camping every summer at least twice in Mendocino, usually at Russian Gulch SP and Mendocino Campground.  The caves at Russian Gulch are also fantastic; unfortunately, my dive buddy at the time did not want to risk going into the caves... and again, I saw outfitters going in the caves there and these guys/gals were just in their farmer johns wetsuit.  It was funny when I caught a glipse of them and they just all disappeared by the cliff rocks; then I checked it out and sure enough, there was a nice big cave.

here's my catch at this year's camping at Russian Gulch SP.  So, have you tried fishing in front of those 2 island rocks off the middle of Van Damne?  I read from Dive magazine that it's fishy in front of those 2 island rocks...

You take care too!
-Ron

 Ocean Cove for Sunday, I would hit Van Damm but have a lot of things on my plate before Mon, plus I want to hit those underwater boulders tote told me about, big lings I hear and easy limits of ab. One last harvest.

Ok for me at Ocean Cove, this Sunday too.  Do you want to meet at 7:30 am or 8:00 am?  Or what time do you prefer?

I drive a 'green' toyota 4runner with sunrise-color kayak on top.  I'll probably bring my anchor since the last time I was there there was no kelp around to tie my kayak.  The abs there are 'fat' steak!!!  gotta get some for Thanksgiving.

-Ron

Good luck out there guys.  I have not gone out of ocean cove yet.  Is it south or north of Ft. Ross?  How about portage and launch at Ocean Cove?  I'd like to give it a try.

Ya Ron, I have fished most all lf Van Damme and that area is very fishy.  I normally manage quality rockfish and a pair of keeper lings there on each trip and there are some dive spots on the inside of the big exposed reef that hold very nice abs in the 10 to 20 foot range at low tide.  My biggest ling there so far is 18 lbs, but I have lost a few that I think were probably bigger based on my inability to stop them from seeking shelter in their caves after hooking!  Van Damme was the first place that I started diving and fishing when I moved up to the North Bay about 3 years ago and it has continued to be so good to me, I find it hard to want to explore more places, but I do want to, I just need a push.

Russian Gulch sounds great, i have checked out the campgrounds there and it looks very nice.  Very nice seafood display on the yak!!  I have not gone diving there either, but would like to give it a shot.  I have gone out of Caspar Cove half a dozen times or so and done well there on some small rocks in the middle of the cove diving and the south side of the mouth of the cove for rockfish and lings.

Post a time when you decide when you will be at Ocean cove Sunday, I may be able to get away for a short morning trip. 

Later....Norm

I like Van Damm too, we camp a few times a year there, just a little far this time. You would like Ocean Cove, fairly easy path to the launch, a roll-ease make the job as simple as walking a dog. Real easy launch, even with a big swell or wind. Lots of abs, great scenery and fishy. Plus there a fish cleaning station there, you can see whats being taken, grab some crab bait, and I prefer to clean my fish as far away from our kitchen as possible.
7:30 sounds good to me, Ill be in a white dodge, campershell, ncka stickers and a green prowler.

The sites are only 17 bucks, so Im getting a site, go straight to the last left before the ramp and I like the sites to the right after the next intersection, thats where im shooting for anyway. Ill be at the ramp @7:30. Ben

$17 for camping PLUS $7 for the boat launch use.