Cape Mendocino - 8/29

The window opened ever so briefly today - they flip-flopped on the forecast, MahiMahi!  I put out some feelers this morning for a yak partner for the afternoon and got a callback from Greg around 3:15 - he was heading out to the Cape.  I bailed work around 3:30 and got on the road for the Cape from my place around 4:15.  Greg had told me on the phone that it was looking nice, but, oddly, looking rough and windy above the Cape at Bear River/Capetown.  When I passed Bear River I saw nasty bumps on the water and a rough river mouth - I thought it would be blown at the Cape for sure.  But just as Greg had said it was nice south of the Cape.  This was a rare day when the usual dynamics did not occur regarding winds around Cape Mendocino.  The fishing grounds were looking glassy!  I saw Greg paddling around just outside the nearshore reef waiting for me as I pulled up.  I quickly got geared up and headed out - he saw me coming and we met out at the reef.  The fishing was a bit slow at first, with a few blacks and a greenling.  Greg did pick up a nice red early.  I was using a lavender 4.5 oz. Megabait with a chovie teaser above on the one hook of a rock cod rig I'd left on the leader.  We hit a few scouting holes before pulling in and heading right to proven coordinates over known reefs (no fishfinders on board...).  Once over the good reef we both starting hooking up consistently.  The action and water conditions were awesome.  I boated 18 blacks, 4 lings, 3 reds, 2 greenlings, and an olive.  Kept a couple blacks and two big reds.  Greg had a good day but couldn't button up a ling.  I donated a 15 pounder and another ~10 to him.  The bigger ling was barely hooked on the bare hook above my Megabait - I was outa chovies, but blacks and this ling hit or got hit by the bare hook...  Then I had a ling of about 8-10 pounds follow a black all the way to the yak and just sit there, so I dipped the black in its face and it bit on and messed with itwhile I photo'd the insanity!  The two big reds were awesome fighters.  I spaced it and didn't have my net today - good thing I didn't catch that huge ling I'm out there after!  I also left my good camera at home, but had the work unit on me - in VGA mode, so the pics are kinda weak.  Got off the water just after sunset.  Totally beautiful day - still 70 degrees on the ridge on the drive home.

That's frickin sweet eric. That ling comin up after your china, great timing with the camera. Megabait is a star of that area.

Got the 23.5 inch red.     And forgot to mention the detail of landing a 15# ling w/o a net or gaff.  Lifted it up to my hand several times trying to get my hand under its gill plate.  It was chomping!  I finally got that ridge in my fingers and had it.  I've pulled them up by the lead-head alot - don't do it any more do to death-spin straightening hooks...  but this was a first.  Pulled in the later one that way too. 

I would rather have had my net, and I think I'll start running with my gaff again too.   

Cool greenling.

Nice report Eric. It's two days without fishing for me. I'm headed for Tomalas today.

CHEERS!

sweet report ,great photos,you just made my day. thank you.

 Good show Eric! Are the Salmon still biting up north?

I heard a report that yesterday they bit in 50 FOW right off the stacks just north of the Humboldt Bay entrance, Mark!  I'm sitting here thinking of taking the day off and getting out there...

LINGZILLA fo'sho!  Excellent outing, report and pics!  You Hook'd em GOOD!..and nice work on the GILL-GRAB, them things got barbs on their gills to keep things from slippin out, like your fingers when it's time to let it go..... infectious and painful later.

Thanks for the thursday mornin ENVY!     keep it up and keep portin'!

Abking do you live in some kind of parallel universe where there's no limit on awesome fish and time...??    Congrats as always for not only catching good fish but making it an adventure too!

Z

some kind of parallel universe where there's no limit on awesome fish and time...

...Humboldt, Z, Humboldt!   

Way to hit the window!
I think that time flexibility and local weather knowledge are the keys here.
Way to get those gorgeous fat verms!

I think that time flexibility and local weather knowledge are the keys here.

You hit the nail on the head, Piscean.  There are only a handful of days each year that you can fish out there.  I've driven out there maybe two dozen times only to scrap the mission and putter home with a tear in my eye - the wind blows so hard it shakes the truck...   

It's like going back in time to fish.....

Great report and pics!!