Monastery 8/18 Lumpy but productive

Scott (GreatBass) and I fished Monastery this morning for a few hours until my stomach told me it was time to head in.  While the wind was up early it was off shore mostly and not too strong but the swell was big and frequent.  I was surprised at first because the swell did not seem so bad and the fishing was good.  I caught lots of rockfish including olives, vermillions, canaries, gophers one small blue and a nice legal female greenling that I released.  Many double hookups.  One I assumed had to be a ling as it kept taking drag straight down but it endedu p being a double Olive hookup.  I was amazed how many really small fish I was bringing up from depths of 170-200 fow.  It seems like the smaller fish have a better time getting back down than the bigger ones.  I wonder what chance a 5 inch canary or blue has to make it back to the bottom safely?  I tried to keep a few on for bait in hopes of a ling but no love.  At one time I had an 8-inch olive nose hooked with a shrimp fly above and let him swim around the bottom at 180 feet.  When I pulled back up the olive was gone and I had a 10-inch canary on the shrimp fly.  I probably had 25 fish in a few hours and we were back on the beach by 9:30.  I wanted to fish more but was too queezy when I stopped paddling.  I kept four olives and two vermillions.  Scott had a couple of olives for dinner one really nice size.  I have a few photos to post later.

Here are some pics.

Oh yeah, very swelly today, not as relaxing as usual. Fished from 7-9 AM. Caught a lot of undersized fish which I released. Caught a qualtiy olive which will make a great dinner tonight. Except for the swells, a great day of fishing. Going to have to get some tips from Etienne who seems to always outfish me.

Scott

thanks for the report!

it is odd how the period of the swells seems to be more important than the actual size of them.

Etienne, you may want to try those sea bands, little wrist bands with a bead that allegedly acts on a pressure point.  I know that with them on, I generally never feel bad, but when I forget them, it seems to be worse.  It may all be in my head but either way, it works

Greenlings make me smile.............

Great report guys! Greenlings make fantastic ling bait. They are like lingcod candy bars!

Greenlings make me smile.............

Yea,  they are very cool looking both the males and females.  I like to eat them too but they are so pretty I usually let them go these days.

Great report guys! Greenlings make fantastic ling bait. They are like lingcod candy bars!

Looking at the photo it looks like this guy may have had a bite taken at him at some time.  I had some great small olives blues and canaries 5-7 inch range though I did not use any canaries as bait after I knew what was on there .  Strange I go out almost every week and I have not had a ling bit in more than three maybe 4.

Hey guys! Looks like fun. Despite the lumpy seas.

Thanks for the report and pics!
PK