Who has the bigger rockfish and lings - North or South???

I've heard Stu and Freddie say the quality rockfishing for lings and reds is better in the north up the Mendocino Coast....  but then again, I've heard guys like Eric and Brendan say it's better in the south like around Big Sur?

I'd say north for sure. You get big lings to the south, but they pale in comarison to some of the dinosaurs you see up on the north coast. However, I think the reds tend to be a bit bigger down south.

The giant lings were here in the central coast area in the memory of folks still alive...but like the halibut and the WSB, the gill netters pretty much creamed them.
Since the gill netters were restricted, the but population has begun to rebound.
Needless to say, the gill netters had a lot of help.....IW

In CA I think its more about where has less pressure.  Overall however, as you move north towards BC and Alaska it is no comparison, same species get bigger, and they have other that we don't have that get huge.  Look at this red from AK.

The lings certainly get bigger as you go north.

I saw a picture of a hitchhiking alaska ling that had to have been 70#

They just have the lingasaurs up north.

MolBasser

Hey Sean... is that a Yelloweye Rockfish... I remember catching them off Cordell Banks one time on a cattle boat and they get pretty huge... one of the prettiest of the rockfish in my opinion.

How far north do we have to go to get into these Lingasarus' ? We've been hittin south pretty hard, who's up to organizing a Northern Expedition?

I'm gonna need a bigger yak...

That photo is a yelloweye-  they are closed for fishing even up here. A fish that size is ancient; probably older than the guy holding it. Over the years, I've caught a fair number of them in WA, up to low teens. Usually their pretty deep--150-200' min. They are pretty, but like most rockfish, when brought up from the depths their air bladders end up in their throat-- not much of a fight. I've always prefered halibut and ling (even black sea bass).

I agree with Sean that fishing pressure (or lack of it) most determines the size on the lings. Not many people are willing to release the big ones. A few years ago I convinced a buddy that he should release a 35# sow he caught at an obscure little reef. He went back a couple of years later, caught it again, and sent me an email  saying it was very tasty. Oh well, hopefully it produced plenty of progeny in between catchings!

Pisco Sicko,

How was your Neah Bay trip?  And how'd the new rowboat do?

I'm thinking of hitting the Deception Pass area on Sunday to get myself one of these large northern (WA) lings before the season closes on the inner waters.  At least on the inner waters there is a slot limit, 1 fish between 26 and 40", so the really big mamas swim away now.

-Allen

I also agree that it's more about how far you are from the harbors the determintes the quality of a fishery.  The area around limekiln is very far from the harbor at monterey, and san simeon, so there's a very healthy population of fish there.  Similarly, up north around fort ross and sea ranch, it's far enough from bodega bay and point arena that there aren't cattleboats and powerboaters hitting the area much, so the fish are thick.  

As kayakers we should have a map of all the harbors/launches for large boats and highlight all the areas that are 20 miles from any boat launch as prime fishing grounds.

Biggest lings I've seen came out of the Shelter Cove area on the Northern Cali coast, except for Alaska, that is.

Allen,

 I've been meaning to do a detailed report w/ maps and photos, but have been swamped since getting back. (It didn't help that my truck's transmission blew up 60 miles before I got home!)

The fishing was great- 6 butts landed on the charter ( in < 3 hours fishing), , then launched my boat just east of town and bloodied the decks 1/2 hour later with another butt (39"). The fish were plentiful but smaller than I had hoped for, between 20-30#.

The boat has a few minor details to be worked out ( glad I took a few tools), but handled the conditions beautifully, even when the wind blew up and created a nasty 3-4' chop on Monday.

BTW-- Deception Pass gets hit hard; not my idea of an obscure location. I haven't checked the tides for this week, but it has some of the toughest currents in the state. I think I recall that you can roll a kayak onto WA State ferries-- it may be worth checking out to get out to the San Juans. There are also some private ferries (landing craft style) that can drop you and your gear off any where in the Islands. I 'll try and find out the details in the near future. Also, the Skagit R. just opened for spring kings, between Rockport and Marblemount, (which is getting closer to my place in the Methow, across the North Cascades on Hwy 20.)

Yes, D Pass gets hit hard.  I've never kayaked there and have always wanted to make the passage.  Yes the tidal currents are big there.  I figure I have little time to fish the hole there before getting flushed out.  If it looks ok on the outside, I may push through when the incoming current starts up, fish around the corner, then ride the current back through.

And yes, the ferries allow kayaks on them.  I don't think I'll make that trip this weekend, but it sounds like fun for a future trip.

Skagit River kings ... I've got to figure out the river fishing up here.  I didn't do so much of it growing up.

Cool deal on you Neah Bay trip.  I can't wait to see the detailed report.

-Allen