Shelter Cove - 7/29 & 30/16 - Video on Page 2

I couldn't make it to Albion due to Friday and Saturday evening family stuff, so I stayed close to home...

After a great family vacation at Tahoe where I didn't even take along any fishing gear(!), it was time to get back on the water today. The wind and swell are still kinda volatile like springtime, but Shelter Cove lives up to its name this time of year as north and northwest influences are blocked by Cape Mendocino and Punta Gorda to the north, often providing fishable water near the Cove even when the forecast looks rough. I wanted to get on it early so I hit the road just before 4AM with bright stars and balmy temps along pre-dawn 101. Yesterday's extreme heat was holding on in pockets - one spot was 75 degrees above Bear Creek at 5AM and pitch dark. I love things like that about early morning summer trips.

Arrived at the ramp at 515, and it was still dark with pretty thick fog. I got my gear laid out, parked the truck, ate my breakfast and got on the water before anyone else showed up at the launch. The fog was thick but not horrible with about 60 yards of visibility, and the fact that there was no wind made that OK. I used my compass, my ears and a long history of kayaking at the Cove to get me to the Bell and then on to the Whistle and points north. I did refer to my GPS a couple of times just to confirm that I was where I thought I was, and I was!

I'd started out on lots of bait near the moorings - seems to often be the case - and I picked up several blacks and a few lings as well as a few other mystery strikes and brief hookups from there to out near the Bell. I couldn't say any of it was salmon, and the rock species were eating enough of my bait that I just chose to troll on toward more typically salmony waters outside the Whistle and northwest of the reef. When there was nothing happening out there other than a few more rocks and a ling I made my way all the way back through the fog to my starting point. The fog and a bit of a mixed swell had me feeling a bit off, so I was about to scrub the mission and call it a day...

You've always got to troll the way in though!

As I worked my way closer to launch I had a couple more small lingcod and was close to pulling in my line when in about 25 feet I hooked up on something hot and heavy!! My line went tight very quickly and whatever I'd hooked was heading south for the Bell. Soon I was being towed that direction at about 3 to 4 knots as I simultaneously tried to gain some line and horse this thresher up to the surface. I had the video rolling, so I wanted an aerial show! I captured over 4 minutes of being towed, but it never gave me the air show. As I got it to slow down and get under me in about 45 feet of water it sliced me off and was gone.

That got me going, and it wasn't long before I hooked up on another hot fish. This time a stout salmon had found my offering, and it was all over the place running horizontally in 25 to 30 feet and breaking the surface multiple times. It had me worried for all its running around and head shakes, but soon I had it in the net and the morning had a whole new source of inspiration!

I ended up staying longer than I'd wanted to since I'm joining Domenic for tomorrow, but it sure was a fun day. Shelter Cove is in Prime Time right now for opportunities to hook really fat salmon that provide an amazing fight and challenge. If you know the Cove I urge you to get on it, and if you don't and you want to I hope you'll consider getting ahold of me for a trip. Thresher rides and all day lingcod and rockfish bycatch are pretty nice too... 

Goooooooood times, I wish I lived closer.  I enjoy your thoughtful posts and of course the carnage.  For sure would look you up if I was headed up yonder!

Once again a great adventure documented for us to enjoy. Thank you brother.love it!!!

Right on Eric.  Congrats on the salmon.  We will all miss you at Albion.

Nice fish, and thanks for all the inspiration.

Nice King  . Thanks for the report and pictures from the cove Eric.  You will be missed at Albion.  I have to work today but will head to Albion after work.

Nice one.  It's too hard to leave home for Albion when the fishing is good 5 minutes from my house.  Matt and I picked up 2 nice ones this morning.

Monday pacbuts open so the Cove may be in the cards.  Halibut, salmon and thresher in one trip.  I've done salmon + pacbut a few times.

Very cool report! Nice to read about Salmon at the Cove. Greetings from Nashville, looking forward to being up your way in a week!

Man, I'm envious Eric. I need to make another trip to Shelter Cove...

Thats a beauty Eric! Thanks for the report. 

The fog was thick but not horrible with about 60 yards of visibility, and the fact that there was no wind made that OK. I used my compass, my ears and a long history of kayaking at the Cove to get me to the Bell and then on to the Whistle and points north. I did refer to my GPS a couple of times just to confirm that I was where I thought I was, and I was!

lesson...

Nice one!

What a beautiful spot that is, nice to see the pics

Thanks for the replies. 

Got back down there with Domenic and it was great again today!

Domenic has gone to the Dark Side! Sporting a new Hobie Outback, he rolled into town and hammered an early morning limit in close - what a way to break in the new ride!! We were running different gear - both of us have caught fish on either setup, but Dom was on fire today. After bagging his two kings he offered his setup to me, but I was stubborn and wanted to get one on what I was running - worked yesterday, so... Well, an hour later I caved and took him up his offer and lo and behold I got one too! Thanks for the tackle, man! It wasn't just the tackle - I couldn't get a second in a couple more hours trying. Dom had some awesome mojo today - well deserved salmon karma for my good bro.

We also got to see a thresher working bait right in front of us, and Dom got bit off by it as it passed below us. Saw a few other nice fish caught, but ours and one other kayaker's salmon were the only ones recorded by the fish counter, Dan the Man, in the early afternoon when we landed.

In case I haven't made this message obvious yet: GET ON THE COVE IF YOU CAN!

Congrats Dom and Eric.  I see the dark side was with you Dom.

Great pix.  Great report.  I'm thinking cove very soon.  And Dominic in a pedal kayak!  I'm shocked!  SHOCKED I SAY!