Weekend Report from Oceanside

Just got back from a few days at the coast.  Thought I would post a report.  Fished 3 days out of Oceanside Oregon, fishing the reef west of Three arch Rock. 
Friday was as flat and calm as it gets.  Paddled out around 6am and fished till about 12:30.  Managed one really nice ling and a few black rockfish. Spent most of the morning with bigger gear prospecting for a large lings after I got my ling I went picked up a few blacks and headed in for lunch.
As you can see from the pic it was dead calm and no swell to speak of.  Saturday NWKA member "Gatorbait" and a friend of his met me at the launch site about 7am.  The swell had shifted and picked up from the day before and as it is an unprotected beach launch fun was had by all powering out through the waves. We dropped 2 pots in about 30 ft of water loaded with fresh crab bait from the day before. We fished only a short time before I played the "better safe than sorry card "  and suggested we head in.  The swells were building and I didn't want to get to beat up coming though the surf.  Pulled the pots and had seven crabs, several of which were huge. The surf at the beach was 3-5ft (my guess) with a couple that looked, or at least felt, bigger as they rolled under you. I got dumped on the landing but thats why I wear the wet suit and learned to swim .

 Sunday I went out about 6am, dropped the pots and realized I should have stayed in bed.  Wind picked up and made it less then fun.  Found some blacks boiling on the surface and managed 2 before I said to hell with it and headed for shore.  About 9 am pulled the pots, managed 4 legals.  Found a break in the swells and slid ashore with my pride attached.  all in all a good 3 days of fishing 

Sounds like fun and nice scenery but it's like soft core porn without fish pics...

I need to come up with a way to take pics on the water by myself.  I always get the camera out when nothing is going on, for the required pics of birds etc.  I always have trouble pulling a couple hundred bucks worth of tech out when there is "action on the deck".  To tide you over heres a little "fish porn",  a ling and a black rock I picked up off the jetty at Tillamook monday.

Nice Ling, the fishing has been terrible here. went out at Sunset yesterday and besides being pretty bumpy, the fish were a no show, again.

I guess the launch would classify as fun, or funny for anybody on shore watching a weighted down tandem try to make it out past the breakers. 

I had stated in another post I wanted to practice getting back into the boat with the Northwest water temperatures and I got my chance, however I was kind of hoping I could unload the boat first but we got rolled a few times on the first attempt to get out.  But like a champ I would not be denied and made it out once the load was lightened up.  (One passenger decided this wasn't much fun anymore).  I did scratch a little bit of pride back by making it back to shore in the upright position but it will not be fully restored until the next trip is completed with some fish.   A big thanks to Pelagic Paddler for taking me out and donating some crab. 

I did learn that those paddle leashes you buy at REI don't hold up in the breakers, Those broke right away so unless you're only planning on using them at the lake, I'd look for something stronger. 

I did learn that those paddle leashes you buy at REI don't hold up in the breakers, Those broke right away so unless you're only planning on using them at the lake, I'd look for something stronger. 

I've found that as long as I let go of the paddle, my leashes don't break.   
I've broken 2 because I didn't have the presence of mind to let go.  Without me holding on, I haven't had any issue.

-Mark-