Nice day at the Cape

Cape Mendocino is rarely as nice as it was today.  Last night Scwafish, FishShim, BlueFin17, MahiMahi, KickinBass, BigEyeDave, a friend of his and me met at the campground at the mouth of the Mattole.  We had a good time BS'ing and having a few brews around the fire as we anticipated the next day's opportunities.  With first light there was a breeze, but it proved to just be a river valley breeze, because once we drove back over to the Cape area we were pleased to see slick calm conditions.     BigeyeDave and his buddy chose to yak from the Mouth and have diving adventures up there, so hopefully we'll hear a cool report from them later.  The other 6 of us geared up and got on the water around 6:30AM.  I paddled out first and trolled a WMA on the way out, hoping for a salmon - it was not to be, but I'm glad I put in a little trolling time.  Once we got out there the bite turned on with the first drops.  Everyone hooked up early and often and many nice fish were caught.  I think Sean had the biggest lings - 2 around 34", and I think Mahi had the big red.  Mahi also brought a 4'+ Wolf Eel to the boat and I had fun for a minute trying to grab it, but it would wrap it's tail up around my hand, so I gave that up and let him deal with it using his pliers.  My total for the day was 16 legal lings - 15 released, 13 blacks - all released, 3 Chinas - 2 released, one died so I kept it, 3 greenling - all released, and 1 red - released.  Great fun out there - I just fished with one hook today - 6 oz. leadhead almost the entire time.  One could've just sat there and caught and released nice blacks all day by using small tackle - they were an awesome nuissance!  I was holding my nicest ling up by the leadhead over my lap and I should've had it in the net if I wanted to keep it because it started a death-spin, straightened out my hook as I held the leadhead, and was gone - oh well!  We headed in around 1:30 and all packed up and hit the road.  Great time - another successful NCKA hookup.

Sounds like a hell of a day! So where is rock fish open right now? I'm confused...I thought it was only south of Pigeon Point right now. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Nice fish guys.  It looks like you had an awesome time.  I can not wait to see more pics and hear more stories. 

Way to jump on the window boyz!! I saw the swell was going to be down for the day, then back up again tomorrow. Can't wait till our area opens. Nice going.

16 legal lins? WOW!! That was an awesome day.  Great going everyone.

A few more pics...

So where is rock fish open right now? I'm confused...I thought it was only south of Pigeon Point right now. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

It's also open north of the 40-10 line which is somewhere in the middle of the Lost Coast north of Shelter Cove.

"GET THE GAFF!!!!!!!!!"
Sounds epic!

Just got all the fish cleaned and the gear washed up and put away.  That was the nicest day on the ocean I ever had.  I was stressed when we got up cuz of the wind, but it all came through.  Thanks everyone..

Kickin Bass /"Mendo Crew".

Great day as well.  Weather that nice is rare any where up here, at that locale is unheard of...flat and greasy. 

Lots of quality fish, lots of quality fish released as well. Weather was great, campfire sillyness outstanding.  Thanks a ton to Eric for inviting us back. 

A few pics..

My bigger ling @ 34.5".  NCKA tag team..caught it on the Papa Bill swimmer, gaff by Kunz!



 

Tons of fish released, retained a few china floaters, a couple of big blacks, a vermillion, a cabby, and two nice lings.  Dinner is served!

 

Bluefin with one of his nice lings...

Man... those conditions out there looked awesome. I can't wait to bag some of those bad boys. You guys nailed them.

Freddie

More pics from the cape!The water was calm and the fishing was good.The low tide launch was interesting,but totally doable.Everyone had several legal lings and a good variety of rockfish.
    Thanks to Abking!
    
  
  
    

What a great time! We (Sean, Andy, and I) left Ukiah around 7:45 PM and headed North. On the way up and down, it was like having my wife in the truck, as Sean and Andy took turns dozing off, which was not a good thing since I didn't know where I was going.

We finally arrived in the big town of Patrolia, which consisted of a Post Office and Diner/Gas station. We can to a fork in the road and had to ask an inbred local how to get to camp. He made circular motions with his hands while he said just stay on the road we we on (we were in the parking lot) and cross the bridge, then turn right.

After deciphering the directions, we ended up in camp at about 11:00 PM. We B.S.ed and I took my Bonine (great stuff!) After setting up camp, we immediately turned in (01:00 AM) and were up at around 5:00 AM. When we got to the launch spot, I saw that we were going to have to drag our boats across the rocks to get to the water. I thought it was going to be a pain, but the rocks were nice and slippery, so it went smooth.

I ended up landing a lot of fish, to include the wolf eel. That thing was ugly! I didn't know what I had, so Sean said if it was a monkeyface eel, he'd take it. He paddled over and immediately identified it as a wolf eel and said, "I don't want that".

I landed three legal lings, but I didn't keep any, as they were not too big. I did end up keeping a 22 inch vermilion, and two smalled ones, a cabezon, and a black.

It was a great trip and I'd do it again. Next time I think I'd camp for more than one night.

Oh,.....and I forgot my camera at home. Go figure!

Sean, I hope you migraine is gone.

CHEERS!