Pacific Grove LP 04.16.2016

Hey guys. Meet up with LBSteve at 6:15 am at the Forebay to head over to PG. Got there at 7:30 and OTW at 8.  Fish from 8 til 1:30 pm (for me), Steve stay out a little longer. The morning the swell wasn't bad but picked up as the morning went on. The bite at the beginning was slow. There were seals all around us. We were marking big school of something. We figure it out later that it might be squid.

Figure the seal were scaring all the fish so we head out deeper. I put on a sabiki to see if I could get some live bait for the lingcod. As soon as we got to the destination, the clicker went off. I was excited to get some live bait to try for some monster ling. However getting it to the surface it wasn't the right kind of fish. I had 5 blue rockfish on the line. haha. It did put up a great fight! All fish were released.

Put it back down again and immediately hooked up again. It was another 5 bluefish. Released all again. Did this for another 4 times and each time it was 3-5 blue rockfish on. Within 10 minutes, I had 30 rockfish. As soon as the rig got down, it was fish on. All fish were released using the rig.

From my understanding, since I didn't have any rockfish onboard/stringer, I could continue to use the sabiki? If that is not correct, please let me know so I don't get a ticket I didn't keep any of the fish caught on the sabiki rig. At any rate, after 10 minutes, I stopped using it since it was only getting the smaller grade rockfish and switch it over to jigging swimbait.

Another question, any tips on getting live bait without the rockfish attacking it?

The bite was slow with jigging swimbait until Steve gave me this watermelon curl tail. Man the color combination or the favor was the ticket. It was none stop action. They would short bite it. Eventually they took the tail off the bait. Even with the tail gone, it was still catching fish. lol

Well the swell got really bad. At one point, it was so high, I couldn't see the mountain or Steve. Let just say the swell eventually got me bad even after taking dramamine. Eatting didn't help and any liquid I drank I donated to the ocean haha  After I felt better and continue fishing. Fought through the sickness but the action was slow. After many I called it quit since I wasn't really fishing haha. I was more focusing on keeping stuff down lol.

Bonus is that we got to saw a school of dolphins (bum that I didn't have the camera on) and a Gray whale circle us. Thing was massive. Was hoping to capture it on camera but only got it breaching the water for a quick breathe of air. He/she stayed around for a bit and still didn't get it on camera

Overall it was a good day beside the big swell and getting sick. Thanks Steve for joining me. Always a pleasure fishing with you buddy. By the way he got a wetsuit Until the next adventure.



 

Sounds like a good day.  Thanks for sharing. 

http://www.ktvu.com/news/must-see-video/125158415-story I was actually over in Carmel when I saw a pod of Orcas heading north. Sounds like a fun day though. Can't beat the  gorgeous weather yesterday! The drive back on 101 was horrible though, hopefully you headed back before 2 or 3

Thanks for the report, picture, and video crazyfisher.

That looks like a lot of fun. You guys should try in front of the hotel for halibut. There is also a ton of Lings and RF near the area.

Another question, any tips on getting live bait without the rockfish attacking it?

Heavier weight to get  the rig past the blues much faster.

We had a blast! As Jon said the waves were big and the wind was blowing, The fishing was slow to begin but still better than work!
Any day on the water with friends is a good day!

 And also I had jeans on but over my new NRS Little John wet suit.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/must-see-video/125158415-story I was actually over in Carmel when I saw a pod of Orcas heading north. Sounds like a fun day though. Can't beat the  gorgeous weather yesterday! The drive back on 101 was horrible though, hopefully you headed back before 2 or 3

wow that was crazy!! Ya yesterday was looking good compare to Sat an traffic leaving wasn't too bad. Usually Sunday 101 gets busy.

 

That looks like a lot of fun. You guys should try in front of the hotel for halibut. There is also a ton of Lings and RF near the area.

Thanks Keith. I will have to venture out there with the butt expert one of these days

Another question, any tips on getting live bait without the rockfish attacking it?

Heavier weight to get  the rig past the blues much faster.

Aren't the bait fish near the top? I will have to give it a shot next time. I was using 2 oz weight.

Nice job guys.

crazyfisher that's a ton of blues to bring up all at once. I would kept more. They're all good for tacos! 

True, but you can't keep Rf if they were caught while using more than 2 hooks
Good report guys. I like the video action too.

True, but you can't keep Rf if they were caught while using more than 2 hooks
Good report guys. I like the video action too.

yeah I figure that I couldn't hence why I released all of them using that rig. I asked Steve if I could use one of the smaller one for bait but he wasn't sure so I wasn't going to risk it

After some research, I could technically use a blue rockfish (if caught with 2 hooks) for bait for the lingcod however it would count toward my limit?

Nice job guys.

crazyfisher that's a ton of blues to bring up all at once. I would kept more. They're all good for tacos! 

Thanks, I am liking the rockfish! very light meat. Next time I'm going to bag a limit of rockfish

Hope to fish with both of you gentlemen this season. 

When does the WSB start hitting? after watching some video on those, I'm pump to get some 

I personally would try to catch a small blue rf and use that as live bait. They work really well for lings.

After some research, I could technically use a blue rockfish (if caught with 2 hooks) for bait for the lingcod however it would count toward my limit?

When does the WSB start hitting? after watching some video on those, I'm pump to get some

Yes, you can use other Rf as bait (provided they were caught using legal methods and exceed the min. size for certain species [lingcod love greenlings])

For the WSB, it's impossible to guess. It fluctuates from year to year. A good illustration of that fact is the commercial catch landings in Monterey Bay ports. Some years it's only 1 or 2 fish...while other years see over 100,000lbs harvested.
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Commercial/Landings

Comm harvest of WSb in Mbay since 2000
2014: 8826 lbs
2013: 526 lbs
2012: 76,601 lbs
2011: 109,629 lbs!
2010: 76,455 lbs
2009: 15,043 lbs
2008: 2,388 lbs
2007: 2,889 lbs
2006: 2,292 lbs
2005: 71 lbs!
2004: 180 lbs
2003: 7,685 lbs
2002: 23,333 lbs
2001: 54,692 lbs
2000: 24,475 lbs

I often cut sabiki rigs to 2 hooks so that I can still make bait while having rockfish in possession.  Yes you can use the blue rockfish for bait but it counts towards your limit

Cool report, looks like fun.