SC 7/22/21 rpt...

Headed 2 Santa Cruz planning to meet up with Rich and try for some halibut.  Arrived early and had the pleasure of meeting Fishbushing, and soon after FuzzyTom.  Tom trolled for salmon... and I must say... I was a little jealous.  I think he had the right idea, but I was planning for a nice butt if one would be foolish enough to bite.  TBC re: salmon ?!

Hit the water with the boys little before 7.  Rich hooked up a 22" halibut, but tossed it back hoping for something bigger.  Fishbushing caught a handful of nice RF, but like me, struck out on the Hali... 

Lotta bait and birds were diving.  Used the sabaki to my advantage and caught smelt, and a lot of anchovies...  I sank the smelt which yielded a nice 30" blue ling.  Eventually hooked a vermillion and a couple of nice blacks.  Decided to keep some of the "bigger" RF and filleted them hours later.

Santa Cruz is starting to feel kind of "salmon-eee".  .   I will be back... 

Nice bag of fish!  Thanks for the report!

All in a good days work

Nice haul!  Thanks for the info, I'll be there tomorrow targeting salmon but ready for plan B!

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Nice score! That's a big lingcod for SC.

Nice score! That's a big lingcod for SC.

Those lings just love live bait… I’m a believer now 

Well, my salmon dreams were dashed, but were fun while they lasted.  I hooked a bunch of "live bait"sized rock fish as I trolled, especially on the way in, to the east of the Mile Buoy, where there was a big patch of light red tide.  Tons of bait fish, and some squid, inside Lighthouse Pt to Pleasure Pt., and closer to the harbor the water was clearer. I trolled  deep on the west side of town, DoubleDeep Six diver, mostly with a white glow hootchie, for a while with a small dodger, also a anchovy rotator, and a WM Apex.   I think I need a downrigger on my old-school Prowler 15 paddle kayak, though just where to attach it is the biggest question. I guess I'll try using the search feature. With divers, I'm just guessing at the depth. At least 4 passerbys at the ramp when I landed mentioned the big salmon kayakers were getting, I suppose they were trying to be helpful, but I resisted replying that it ain't that easy (except for NWM - gaffing a salmon just to increase the degree of difficulty!).

... (except for NWM - gaffing a salmon just to increase the degree of difficulty!).

You haven't seen my net...

Nice haul!

thats a nice bag'o'fish

Thanks for the reports and pictures guys.

Thanks Aaron for letting me tag along in a new to me fishing ground. 
It was so much fun Rich and I decided to come back tomorrow for another swing.
Also I ended up giving my catches away to a nice gentleman at the dock who patiently waited for Rich and I on his paddleboard to rinse our kayaks and gears. Love this new spot now that OP has gotten super dead.

UPDATE: 29, 32, 26"

Wow!  Now that’s how it gets done!  Nice work gentlemen 👍

Wow!  Now that’s how it gets done!  Nice work gentlemen 👍

Thanks Aaron! Lets do it again next Thurs

I'm addicted with the launch and hose to rise off my gear 

I'm addicted with the launch and hose to rise off my gear 

Yes, it's convenient, easy launch, and fishing can be great. Just don't tell anybody. or it might get crowded...