Shelter Cove Salmon Opener - 2/17

I just got back in town and see that the prospects of good fishing at the Cove seem bleak: 

CAPE MENDOCINO TO PT ARENA OUT 20 NM- CAPE MENDOCINO TO PT ARENA 20 TO 60 NM- 850 PM PST TUE FEB 20 2007  ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING... ...HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING CONDITIONS EXPECTED SUNDAY...  .TONIGHT...SW WIND 10 TO 15 KT...EASING TO 5 TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. NW SWELL 12 TO 13 FT AT 12 SECONDS. RAIN. .WED...S WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. NW SWELL 14 TO 16 FT AT 14 SECONDS. RAIN. .WED NIGHT...SW WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 3 FT. NW SWELL 14 TO 15 FT AT 13 SECONDS. RAIN. .THU...SW WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 12 TO 13 FT. SHOWERS LIKELY AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF TSTMS.  .THU NIGHT...W WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 12 TO 13 FT. CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF TSTMS. .FRI...NW WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 3 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 13 FT. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. .SAT...SW WIND 10 TO 15 KT...BECOMING W 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 3 FT...BUILDING TO 4 TO 5 FT. W SWELL 10 FT...BUILDING TO  17 TO 18 FT FROM THE NW LATE. CHANCE OF SHOWERS. .SUN...NW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 4 TO 5 FT. NW SWELL 19 TO 20 FT. CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

It doesn't look like it was very nice out for the past 4 days, so it may be the case that there is nothing to report from Shelter Cove yet, and based on the forecast it will be a while.  If there is some action out there please report! 

Hi Abking,

I checked with my friends whose own the tea house in the cove to find out the Salmon fishing condition there.  He said they caught several salmons on the opening day but the weather turned sour so the boats aren't going out.  I'll bring my other kayak to lend him for the trip in March so he can join us.  BTW, you said we don't need to use the downrigger for Salmon trolling in Shelter Cove, could you educate me how to rig for it?  I know the "usual way" where you lose a canon ball when you catch a Salmon.

Thanks,

Sailfish

I posted a report from my day out last saturday. I'm sure my luck will improve when I get out there with Abking.

they caught several salmons on the opening day

Great news!

This Saturday's call of 9' swell building to 17' looks like a potential very short window, but not inviting by any means.

Sonny - I rig with a "DeepSix" diver.  These pull free when a decent fish strikes, so you don't lose gear like with the cannon ball setup.  The one in this photo is light green - I've also had luck with bigger ones and in red or silver.  You rig a flasher between the diver and your hooks.  I've never used an Apex, but I'd put it in line with this rigging as an option to an anchovie.

Thank you Abking for the picture.  I'll do more research on this "DeepSix" rigging.

Hi Abking,

Found it on line and orderred a green one since the silver is on back order!  Should arrive sometimes next week.  Thank you for the info.

Sailfish

Lots of rain, high surf, wind...  I like taking vacation time in the Summer better!

CAPE MENDOCINO TO PT ARENA OUT 20 NM- CAPE MENDOCINO TO PT ARENA 20 TO 60 NM- 253 AM PST FRI FEB 23 2007  ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... ...HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING CONDITIONS EXPECTED SUNDAY...  .TODAY...NW WIND 10 TO 15 KT...BECOMING W 5 TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 12 TO 13 FT AT 13 SECONDS. SCATTERED SHOWERS. .TONIGHT...S WIND 5 TO 15 KT...RISING TO 10 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 3 FT...RISING TO 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 11 TO 13 FT AT 12 SECONDS. SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN. .SAT...S WIND 15 TO 20 KT...RISING TO 20 TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 3 TO 5 FT. NW SWELL 10 FT AT 11 SECONDS. RAIN LIKELY.

Not a great window this afternoon or Saturday, but still tugging on me... 

I hate when everthing is in place but the weather will not cooperate.  I am still hoping for a good window next weekend.