Cascadia Big Fishing Year Update & PC Report

I spent two days fishing Pacific City. It was great to see so many NWKA members out there. I think the tourist crowds are as impressed by our boats as they are the dory boats. Maybe we don't have the history of the dory fleet but we sure do have the desire to connect with fish on the big blue in less than cushy and individually customized boats.

I was hoping to add some uncommon rockfish and perch species to my year count and find a cabezon which has eluded me all year long. I fished all around the well known reef spots both days and found the bite to be most consistent on the north side of the rock. I wasn't out to retain much but did keep a few fish to add or upgrade on AOTY and to put a little meat in some budding CSA farmers freezers that I know as I think they are sick of eating their veggies.

I started on the north side of the rock with gear aimed at perch, primarily Gulp sandshrimp. I immediately pulled up several female Kelp Greenling. Next I hooked a sluggish but heavy fish. I was very delighted when through the murky water emerged a beautiful China Rockfish! This was my first China Rockfish ever. I was blown away by the beauty of this fish and their gentle demeanor in the hand. China Rockfish is the my 72nd species of fish/shellfish for the Cascadia Big Fishing Year and is my 50th true fish (excludes shellfish) of the year. In other words I would of reached my species goal of 50 without the assistance of shellfish. I also caught a second China Rockfish about 10 minutes later.



I spent the rest of the day catching several more Kelp Greenling as well as several Black Rockfish. On the way back to the beach I had a close encounter with a Gray Whale (I named her "Two Ton Tina") and I know she paid a visit to several other kayak anglers.



The next morning was absolutely perfect to begin with. The seas were calm, the sky was sunny, and the ling/rockfish bite was spectacular. I still couldn't find a cabezon but I didn't let it get me down. I stopped and hung with Tina for a while on the way out to the reefs west of the rock. MonkeyFist was killing fish out there already. I snapped this cool shot of him, Tina's spout, and the rock while out there.



The fog and wind rolled in and it became pretty uncomfortable out there fast. I stuck it out hiding behind the rock and managed to scrounge up this palm sized Blue Rockfish for my 73rd species of the year. I also managed to scrounge up 20"+ Black Rockfish on a tiny crappie jig which is the largest rockfish I've landed from my kayak. I called it quits around 3 PM.





Some other highlights of my big fishing year include:

38 species of fish/shellfish from the kayak!!!

My first halibut ever. Not from a kayak but I got leave something to aspire to next year.



My first Quillback Rockfish caught from a Puget Sound fishing pier.



Buffalo Sculpin are pretty cool too! I like to sing a little Bob Marley after I catch one. "There was a Buffalo Sculpin, on the coast of America...."



Another big development is that I've begun to sketch out an outline and the steps to self publish a book on this year's adventure. Stay tuned for more details.



Thanks all for your support and it was great meeting many of you for the first time and seeing some familiar faces as well.

Really cool,Tyler...congrats on a great year. As always....beautiful pics!

Great update! Good to see you out there, Tyler. I'm still stoked for you getting a china out there, and despite trying in the same spot later I did not have your touch. Next time! I really do think you'll get your cabezon yet.

Thanks for the update - some beautiful pictures of some gorgeous fish!  Love the variety of fish you've caught.

One question...  No attempt to add "Tina" to the Big Fishing Year catch count?   

-Sam

Good to see you out there Tyler. Great pictures. I'm looking forward to checking out the book. Keep us posted.
After you and I talked Monday on the beach, I found these Coho not too far out. Caught the second fish about 15 minutes after the first.

Good luck with the book.

I think it will be especially good reading for those who think our waters are "fished out".

You could always list Tina as a new friend.

I'm looking forward to the book, too. Suggestion: A long but rapid paced video of all of your Big Year adventures throughout the year. Could serve as advertisement for the book.

I'll buy a copy when it comes out. Don't leave out that part where you are underwater in the Columbia with a rope around your neck! That story caused me to go out and get some for-reals survival knives which I had not done yet.

I was wondering how many of those species you actually ate or were edible. I know you probably released a bunch. Also, the year is not over yet. Any more target species in the home stretch?

And he still makes time for HOW. You would have been an ideal candidate had Deming been interested in fun motion studies. Great update.

It was nice to meet you at PC, Tyler. Congrats on all the species so far. Any time you want to hit Drano, let me know! Pleasure fishing with you.

Great update Tyler, can't wait for the book.  It was nice to meet you on Sunday, hope to cross paths with you again one of these days.

Barry