Shelter Cove - 7/23 and 7/24/20

Thursday I took Mike from Auburn out.  He rides a PA14 and had been on lakes and Tomales - wanted a salmon.  Bite's been scratchy at the Cove still, but the average grade has been nice - teens.  We went over the inside water and picked up a few rockfish before heading out to the red can for more rockfish and hopefully lingcod - ended up on a big pile of bait where we loaded the stringers with a nice grade of mostly blacks, a few lings and also managed to find a 10 pound king and we released a silver - no net.  We were headed in a few hours later calling it a good day when Mike hooked up his second salmon of the day.  Hot fish in shallow water = watch the fuck out!  It came to the boat hot, and I was waiting with the net at his bow.  I didn't want to dip early, and when we did have it a bit tired I went for it only to have it dodge me and pull the tackle down where the 8 ounce cannonball got caught in the net!  I just lost a nice fish in slop when my weight got caught in the net a few weeks ago, and I couldn't believe it was happening again.  I exclaimed, "the weight!" as I reached for it and the little spreader bar simultaneously.  The king was still as I grabbed and pulled fast, breaking the weight line.  Mike was now fighting his fish with no weight - it's my new service!     We got it in the net and celebrated - it was a miracle.     Cold brew and a long fillet session capped the day.  Sending my guest with a stack of fish and pulling down a generous tip makes the 1.5 hour drive home a smilefest.  I'm a lucky guy.    

Friday with Brad the ocean had blown up - way worse than the day before that had a call of 15 to 25 knots and 7 @ 7...  That's the ocean.  We got on the water with a big group of others who were looking for fish where we'd gotten our last one the day before, and I decided to head outside to give Brad the tour since no one seemed to be catching in close.  The water at the Whistle was horrible with chop, wind and a hard current sending us toward Alaska.  We messed with some rockfish and lings before heading back in as a boat announced a couple of salmon at the point.  As we got back over there Mike (from Thursday's trip) called me on the VHF to announce that he had a nice one in the net.  A bit later he came on to say he'd lost a 2nd and was calling it a trip and heading out of town with the 3 Chinook and thanks for a great trip - that was a much appreciated bone thrown.  Brad and I went on to hook and lose 3 before calling it mid afternoon.

The yaks are catching more per rod than the powerboats lately, and there are some hogs around.

7 out of 9 days was a burn, but I'm a happy guide.  One more July trip, a change of pace for a few days on a different kind of trip, and then I'm looking really forward to some August action.

Go get it.   

Friday with Brad.

He got a nice pic of me right before my fish jumped out of the water a second time and spit the hooks.  "Salmon torture" I call it.   

Thanks for the great reports and pictures Eric.

Thanks for the great reports and pictures Eric.

+1

I think I was the guy you were looking for a report from.I love your write ups, and everyone speaks highly of you in the cove, can't wait to meet you one of these times[emoji106]

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I think I was the guy you were looking for a report from.I love your write ups, and everyone speaks highly of you in the cove, can't wait to meet you one of these times