Shelter Cove - 4/13/19

Hadn't counted up my NCKA fishing reports in a few years, so I breezed through them just now.

247 Members Only reports and 302 Public reports - counting this one.  I stopped posting in M.O. because I like to share with anyone who wants to look.  In almost 5 years of having my license (and almost 6 since I left my corporate job and reliable income) guiding has been tough in terms of filling my schedule, but the trips have been awesome - better than I ever imagined due to the connections made with people, materialization of incredible experiences and catches, and, here is the clincher, my ability to share with many more people on more meaningful levels has been accentuated as well.  I am here to push a positive vibe about living with honor and being a part of nature, and I do my best to help people propel their kayak fishing repertoire to a new level - because kayak fishing is an excellent vehicle for attaining some level of enlightenment about what life is really all about.  I believe this.  I live it.

The salmon opener at Shelter Cove looked iffy with a Small Craft Advisory, but it's the Cove. 5 kayaks shared the water with maybe 15 to 20 powerboats. The water was ridiculous early - too rough to safely hit the Whistle. Worked on the inside for an hour or so before deciding to head outside - the fleet was catching good numbers of kings just a mile offshore. Just then Matthew picks one up near the Bell, and then Rob arrives and gets one quickly, but I was committed to heading outside. After negotiating swells sloppy enough that I wouldn't have taken a client on them (except when Coho Joe and Fisherman X joined me early last August on even worse water, but they're on X-Factors), I got out there and there were still 8 or more powerboats working south of the buoy - many others had limited and were back on shore. The bite seemed to have died, but I worked it for a couple hours since the wind wasn't coming up, and at one point the water actually got pretty nice - summerlike! A bite broke out around 11AM, and I managed to hook and lose one briefly, and then I had a hot one that came right to the boat with my reeling before turning its head and spitting my hooks - nice 28 incher swam off under me in crystal clear water. At this point I was 0 for 2 and worried that may be as close as I'd come to opening day success. I was fortunate that the conditions allowed for staying out there, and soon I was hooked up with one that was stuck on my barbless tackle. The first couple I'd had on were so urgent or brief that I hadn't thought about the video, but this one was hooked well, and I really wanted the documentation, so I adjusted the camera and got a good 4 minute video of me landing my prize. Cold beers on the ramp in the sun and then a great visit with old friends on the patio at the Tides Inn rounded off an awesome afternoon.

Shake-down run in the books. Ready for the season. If you have any inkling that you want to catch a salmon, lingcod, halibut or rockfish from the kayak, I hope you'll consider booking a date with me. Let's go on your adventure!

Thanks for another great report and video brother.
Even when I am living front and center, I always feel taken away with your stories of the days adventures.
Keep on bringing the epic tales from where Life is Good!
;0)

...

Thanks, Inn Keeper.  You are a solid part of the foundation.   

Good times for such a bad forecast! I'm sure glad that we got some salmon action, just looking forward to a day we can get out and really do some prospecting.

We watched a team kayak around the point last year with a newbie bringing up the rear, just before dark. Windy and choppy that day.

Hi Eric,

Years ago, back in 2015, I hired you to show me the treasures of Shelter Cove. We didn't catch salmon then but you landed a 9-foot thresher shark and I caught my first halibut. I learned a lot from you on that day and caught many nice fish since. Thanks for sharing your adventures!

And yes, I paddle west of Pilot Rock, but I'm a sea kayaker now and do this sort of thing for fun

Thanks for another great report from the Cove.  I always enjoy reading your reports and watching the pictures and videos.

Thanks for the report and congrats on the nice fish!  That drag sounds really wonky; I’d be happy to fix it for ya for free.
Cheers,
John

Great report and video Eric.  Keep em coming, maybe a Cape video soon. 

Hell yeah Eric!  Nice job on the opener chrome!!   

Hi Eric,

Years ago, back in 2015, I hired you to show me the treasures of Shelter Cove. We didn't catch salmon then but you landed a 9-foot thresher shark and I caught my first halibut. I learned a lot from you on that day and caught many nice fish since. Thanks for sharing your adventures!

And yes, I paddle west of Pilot Rock, but I'm a sea kayaker now and do this sort of thing for fun

I remember that day, Marc!  Thank you! 

Thanks for the report and congrats on the nice fish!  That drag sounds really wonky; I’d be happy to fix it for ya for free.
Cheers,
John

I appreciate that offer!  I'm almost ready to just give up on my stockpile of ancient Penns and go with a new reel!  We'll see where I'm at within the next few weeks...

Great report and video Eric.  Keep em coming, maybe a Cape video soon. 

I'd like to take you to the Cape, Mel.

Thanks for the report Eric!

Great video! Thanks for the report.

Great post, thanks for sharing. I'm sitting here wishing I was closer to the ocean