GSX - Whale Video - Page 46

Black on black - it'll be fun! 

Shelter Cove today.

Forecast models had a little nice water this morning before the wind was to bump up to 20 to 30 knots. Was laying in bed awake when a loud thunderstorm and following downpour erupted at just after 4AM - if I were planning to go alone I likely would've scrapped the trip right then, but I had my buddy David meeting me at 445 so it was on!

We drove down 101 and over the Cove road before sun up and it was raining the entire time. Didn't know if we 'd show up to a wet and nasty mess or not, but we were determined to at least check it out and get on the water if possible. Arrived at the Cove just after 6 and other than a bit of fog and the last of the drizzle it was actually looking really nice. The launch was flat and the breeze was down, so we got on it by about 7 and were fishing just past Pilot Rock where the usual nearshore baitballs were thick, and we even saw a little salmon jump. No confirmed salmon bites inside or by the Bell in the first hour and a half, so we glided west on the slick water on our way to the Whistle. About 2/3 of the way out David says, "the swell seems to have picked up..." Right around then Eric Kaai from The Tides Inn hailed me on the VHF to ask about the bite - he also told me he could see some whitecaps developing outside of our position. I thanked him and we started an arc toward Bread and Butter with intentions of heading back across the hotels and the lighthouse point from there. Very soon though the whitecaps were coming in on our position, so we aimed right for the Bell and headed back to the east. Trailing swells were popping my DeepSix, but it didn't matter because there were some fish up high - I got picked up at 20 pulls and had a hot head-shaker coming at me. I could tell it was a salmon from how it was moving, and when I got it near the boat we saw each other, and that salmon high-tailed it up under my boat and managed to shake my hooks. Nice one too - at least 10 and maybe 15 pounds. OK, now we were kinda running in from the big riffletops (worse than a whitecap!), but we had to do a few circles in the area I'd hooked up. Soon I saw another single mark on the screen around 20', and sure enough I was hooked up with another head-shaker. Didn't get to see this one as it was off quickly, but it seemed we were on a little bite. Conditions weren't supporting an extended troll in that area though, so we soon packed it in - working hard against a north wind that had now come up and over the King Range and was blowing right in our face on the way back to launch.

Still only just noon, we ate some lunch and enjoyed a cold brew before paying Eric and Verna a visit at The Tides and then hitting the road for home. It's tough going 0 for 1, but at least I got the validation of hooking a fish - it's that tough of a year!

Key info of the day: we came on the heels of heavy winds the past few days, and the water temp was 49 when we started and very low 50's when we finished.

Watch for that next window...

Hi Eric,
Thanks for giving us who have not been there a taste of Shelter Cove. Can't believe how beautiful and pristine it must be to be up there!!!
Looking forward to he hoards of NCKA guys and gals very soon!!!
As always, beautiful photos!!!
Mahalo,
Da Bruddah (Michael Y.)

Thanks for the report Eric.  Crossing my fingers that we'll have some steady north winds in the days leading up to GS!

Very nice Eric.  Thanks for the report.

I get excited when I see your posts.  Great fishing grounds.

I get excited when I see your posts.  Great fishing grounds.

Yes! Who knew I should have listened when a guy I knew bought a lot in the Cove in the '80's and told me I should, too.

It seemed like Tuesday might have been a better window cause it was calm most of the day even though the forecast said otherwise.  The north winds are going to blow til Sunday giving a decent window on Monday and Tuesday for salmon/halibut combo.  I have yet to get a salmon and halibut combo out of the Cove, but I have accomplished that few times out of Trinidad.

Kelly and Lawana - owners of B2Squid - are joining us at the Cove for GSX.  They've been involved for a few years, and I've known them since high school - known Kelly since grade school.  They're great folks, and they've been generous with GS - a B2 in every goodiebag!

This year they want to get in on the competition!  They're not competing - they're offering a prize.

Biggest lingcod fought and landed on video using a B2Squid product gets a stout gift basket full of B2 products - you should be set for the summer!

If no one achieves a video with a B2-caught lingcod then the basket will go in the raffle.

I'm going for this! 

PS - You need to have the means to show your video at check-in.

Most likely I will not be attending this year due to Family obligations.

 I registered just in case. Can someone bring my Shirt order back to Sonoma County/Santa Rosa area? If you pm me I will let Eric know who will be claiming my stuff...Thanks in Advance!!

Everyone have Fun and Be Safe!!!

Most likely I will not be attending this year due to Family obligations.

 I registered just in case. Can someone bring my Shirt order back to Sonoma County/Santa Rosa area? If you pm me I will let Eric know who will be claiming my stuff...Thanks in Advance!!

Everyone have Fun and Be Safe!!!

Unless it's yours, weddings are not an excused absence.

Most likely I will not be attending this year due to Family obligations.

 I registered just in case. Can someone bring my Shirt order back to Sonoma County/Santa Rosa area? If you pm me I will let Eric know who will be claiming my stuff...Thanks in Advance!!

Everyone have Fun and Be Safe!!!

Unless it's yours, weddings are not an excused absence.

Especially if it's yours.  Don't make the mistake of having both Mother's Day and an anniversary in early May.  That would be extremely foolish and we will all point at you and laugh.  Sucker.

Coming together... 

Thanks for all the hard work you do to make this event happen.