Cambria - Leffigwell Lings 5/26

Got to Leffingwell at 6 AM. Hooked up with Ethan and his family. Launched through 2 ft surf and headed south towards Cambria Rock based on recommendations from PJ and another local (thanks PJ). Paddled about 1/4 - 1/2 mile out and started working the kelp in 40-50 FOW with a motoroil twin tail and hoochie. No luck but Ethan gets the big bendo. After a short fight, Ethan boats his first legal ling 25-26". Paddled the group SW to 50-60 FOW and Ethans friend goes bendo on his spinning rod. Pulls the ling up to the surface and I paddled over to help him since he didn't have a lip gripper or tape measure. I stretch the ling as hard as I could and he comes out at 24 1/8". He asked me to help him put it on his stringer and pulls out this trout stringer with little metal clips. I told him he was killing me catching lings on a trout rod and stringer. Finally found some action and hooked a 17" kelp bass and rock greenling on a kalins glow single tail. Uneventful landing with enough fish for tacos for 4. Pretty decent day although a little slow, wind and swell were fine. Must have been a dozen yak anglers out there. Ethan - nice to meet you and  your family and thanks for the squid. Pics to follow.

GB, glad you guys had a good day.  You should try a blue & white 5.5" fishtrap type, if you go down to Morro, Virg's has them.  They seem to be the ticket w/ the lings around here.

I hit Harvey & headed a couple miles south.  Fishing was so so. Had a lot of blues & gophers, i think.  All were pretty small.  Also got the smallest ling i've ever caught around 10".

Later i ended up getting a 24" ling, ocean conditions were nice but overall fishing was pretty slow.

PJ I like that shot. Almost looks sureal...

Velvety smooth water like that is nnnniiiiccccccceee.   

Nice to meet you to Scott and Thank You for your help/guidance yesterday.

Actually, it was my brother-in-law that caught both Lings.  It was his first time and my first time kayak fishing.  We weren't expecting to catch much, thus the trout stringer  !

Gary and I caught a few small rock fish but all were released.  My first time kayak fishing and I had a blast!

Some pics

Jared's Catch


Jared and his dad Gary


Scott


The three of us

Got to Leffingwell at 6 AM. Hooked up with Ethan and his family. Launched through 2 ft surf and headed south towards Cambria Rock based on recommendations from PJ and another local (thanks PJ). Paddled about 1/4 - 1/2 mile out and started working the kelp in 40-50 FOW with a motoroil twin tail and hoochie. No luck but Ethan gets the big bendo. After a short fight, Ethan boats his first legal ling 25-26". Paddled the group SW to 50-60 FOW and Ethans friend goes bendo on his spinning rod. Pulls the ling up to the surface and I paddled over to help him since he didn't have a lip gripper or tape measure. I stretch the ling as hard as I could and he comes out at 24 1/8". He asked me to help him put it on his stringer and pulls out this trout stringer with little metal clips. I told him he was killing me catching lings on a trout rod and stringer. Finally found some action and hooked a 17" kelp bass and rock greenling on a kalins glow single tail. Uneventful landing with enough fish for tacos for 4. Pretty decent day although a little slow, wind and swell were fine. Must have been a dozen yak anglers out there. Ethan - nice to meet you and  your family and thanks for the squid. Pics to follow.

No luck but Ethan gets the big bendo. After a short fight, Ethan boats his first legal ling 25-26". Paddled the group SW to 50-60 FOW and Ethans friend goes bendo on his spinning rod. Pulls the ling up to the surface and I paddled over to help him since he didn't have a lip gripper or tape measure. I stretch the ling as hard as I could and he comes out at 24 1/8". He asked me to help him put it on his stringer and pulls out this trout stringer with little metal clips. I told him he was killing me catching lings on a trout rod and stringer.

LOL Scott. Those will be on the boat for sure next time we're out. After dragging that 26" behind the truck on the way home. Measured out to be 28". Went on the grill that night. UUUUMMMM good. Thanks for letting us hang out with you Scott. Hope we can meet up again.      

Here are my pics...

That cabbie sure is red! Nice work guys!

2 legal lings on your first trip is pretty good! I got a legal ling my first trip then took 8 more trips before catching another! Well done.

One of the reasons why I never take pics of fish next to a tape measure: because somebody is always gonna say something lame, like "how long was that cabezon?"

Thanks for the great report and pics guys!
PK

2 legal lings on your first trip is pretty good! I got a legal ling my first trip then took 8 more trips before catching another! Well done.

One of the reasons why I never take pics of fish next to a tape measure: because somebody is always gonna say something lame, like "how long was that cabezon?"

Thanks for the great report and pics guys!
PK

Whoops... I thought it was a rock greenling when I was tryining to ID it. Never seen a red cabezon.

Scott

"Whoops... I thought it was a rock greenling when I was tryining to ID it. Never seen a red cabezon."

Look for the lack of scales - CABBIE!

Man, I knew that dude looked familiar! Thats my buddy Jared from college. Ha! Small world.
What a lucky guy, catching 2 lings on the first kayak fishing adventure. Lemme know when you're back in Monterey and we'll go kayak fishing up here.
PK

LOL!  That is too funny.  I will make sure he reads this post and catch up with you PK!

Ethan

Man, I knew that dude looked familiar! Thats my buddy Jared from college. Ha! Small world.
What a lucky guy, catching 2 lings on the first kayak fishing adventure. Lemme know when you're back in Monterey and we'll go kayak fishing up here.
PK

Scott?.....when do you find time to post?  inbetween campsites and launches?  You must have quit work or is it a sabatical?
Great report and pics!!  keep postin and I should have taken you up on that offer to join ya'   I got trout stuff I could have brought.

out this trout stringer with little metal clips

The metal clips are actually good to use for rockfish...it just needs a little modification (I got this tip from Papa Bill) Simply put together a stringer with 10 clips so you can keep track of how many rockfish you have on board. However, I would do it this way:

With the 10 clips on the stringer, I'll only use 8 of em strictly for rockfish
and use the game clip for the 2 lings that you are allowed to keep. Also, sharpen those "tips" so it's easier to hook the fish from underneath the jaw and out through the mouth to secure the fish