Thursday 18th Pacific City

Nice! Thanks for sharing! Makes me want to make the trip from The Gorge! No softball this summer for my oldest means I'll have a bit more time for them... and a little more time there...

Fred "True" Trujillo

Had a blast today.  Thanks everyone who went along!

Nice job guys. It was right after 7 I was checking the webcam. Must've just missed you guys. Good to see you got on some fish!

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Had a great time yesterday.  Had some ups and downs but I think over all everyone had a great day.  The day started with much higher waves than expected.  I waited in the water for a good 10 min before I found a good window.  I was worried about the launch because I had two crab traps bungeed on the back of the kayak.  Once I found my window I do what I always do, give it a good push and hop onto the kayak and paddle like hell.  For some reason, each time I paddle into the surf I do so from my knees.  I made it out with barely any water over the bow (Score ZD-1 PC-0).  However, once I got past the breakers and was waiting for others, I tried to transition from my knees to my butt.  In the transition I fell out of the kayak  (Score ZD-1 PC-1).  With practice at Hagg lake, I was easily able to get into the kayak and had no water in my drysuit wader combo.  As we were paddling towards the rock I spotted a grey whale blowing spouts.  It continued to be there for the remainder of the day.  I dropped my line and started trolling and quickly picked up my largest black of the day (Score ZD-2 PC-1).  I then paddled to the south of the rock to drop the traps with Mojo.   I headed to the north of the rock to try for lings.  The bite was much slower than it has been in the past.  After a while, I got one of the biggest takedowns and fights I have ever had.  I often troll with the rod between my legs, bouncing off the bottom and focus on the horizon.  This keeps me from getting seasick and keeps me fishing.  When I got the takedown it was soft at first and then it nearly pulled me into the water.  I loosened my drag and continued the fight.  I would get it close to the surface and it would just scream to the bottom.  This went on for what seemed like forever.  Mojo and the other noticed the fight and headed my way.  Once I get it to the top of the water, I notice there are two lings (Score ZD-3 PC1).  At first I thought it was a hitchhiker and yelled for a net.  Then I realized I had gotten a double on my jigs.  The top ling was caught on a 6 inch white/pink gulp grub and the bottom one was on the 10” generic large white grub.  The top ling if I were to guess was about 24-26 inches.  The bottom one I noticed was much larger.  I kept the line tight trying to keep their heads from breaking the surface, because I did not have my Lipgrips ready.  The top one went wild and shook off.  However, the bottom monster remained.  I grabbed the large swim bait and hoisted him in my lap.  Mojo came over and took some pictures.  I had one hand on its gills with large gloves and another feeding a rope through its gill.  I had the rope sticking out of its mouth.  As I go to grab it, it takes a wild shake.  I then see one of the largest lings I have caught slip right into the ocean (Score ZD-3 PC-3 <two lost fish, both keepers>).   My guess was he was near 36 inches but I am not sure.  Bummed out I continue fishing and pick up some blacks for future crab bait and the largest Cabbie i have ever landed.  Unfortunately, cannot keep them until July 1st so back in the ocean he went (on purpose).  I go to pick up the crab traps and got seasick a few times.  After chumming Craig offered me a Scopamine which worked much better than the Dramamine I was using.  I ended up with 7 crab, one was given to me by Mojo (Score ZD-4 PC-3).  Me and Craig headed in together and had to land far south on the beach to avoid the larger surf.  We came in backwards, a new method for me but I really liked it and it will be my go to method on landings =.  However, I still managed to get taken out by a wave and flipped the kayak (Score ZD-4 PC-4).  I quickly stood up grabbed the kayaks and the buoys and dragged it to shore.  During my wreck I found out that I had my drytop zipper unzipped and destroyed my phone.  Hence why I have no pictures.  I am hoping I got footage of the fish but when I got back my memory was full so I am not sure if it made it.  I am going to check tonight and will post it if it is there.  Craig and his friend were kind enough to help me get the kayak north to the car.  We than met with everyone and swapped stories.  Over all a great day.  I think we will settle the score with a tie (ZD-4 PC-4).  I am hoping to get the better of PC next time I am out.

Mojo has pictures of the lost fish. Mojo, can you post them for me?

Maybe......

Had a blast today.  Thanks everyone who went along!

It was fun meeting you both!  Looking forward to the next time we fish.  Hopefully with calmer seas

Man I am wiped out from yesterday. 

The launch was weird as the set of waves were really close together and frequent.  Then there would be a 30 second window.  My first attempt, I botched my seating position and took too long getting it right and had to jump back out and wait for the next window. 

That launch went much smoother and out to meet Zach while waiting on others to make it out.

As for the fishing, I would say it was less fishy than I am used to out there, but I blame Mojo for that. 
I am seeing a pattern forming when I fish around this Leprechaun.  I don't seem to catch much, and get very few bites for a day fishing.  I only landed 4 fish all day, two of which were cabbies and two average blacks. 

I also lost what I will swear is the biggest black rock fish I've ever seen.  It's the only fish that screwed with me and won.  It tugged on my swim bait and then spit it, back to back at least 5 times!  Finally I had it hooked and started yarding it up to the surface.  It peeled line off the reel in defiance more so than any ling or cabby I have ever had the pleasure of fighting.  It was acting more like a salmon.  Finally got it to the surface and was shocked to see a black rock rather than a big mean ling or cabby.  As I got excited for this nearly 24-26" black to be bagged, it acted so much like a salmon and did some acrobatic tricks above the water, tail slapped the water and spit the damn hook.  I almost caught the jig in the arm as it it came flying at me.  Damn fish! 

Coming back in, the north part of the beach at a tiny window along the cliff edge to sneak through.  But knowing there are submerged rocks below, and I have been dumped out there before, I was not interested in doing that again, so I chose to move way further south.  There was only one good sized breaker on the beach way past Pelican Pub compared to a spread of breakers from the beach all the way out to the tip of the cape.  So, I coached Zach in the method of going in backwards where we could see what was coming at us allowing us to use the surf to push us in, but then paddle up and over rollers as they came in.  When we got to the last one which was a breaker, Zach must have missed his timing and got caught in the down hill side a bit too long and it just took him for a tumble.  I was about 5 feet ahead of him, and maybe 30 feet to the south were I was able to paddle just hard enough to get up on top of the same breaker and sit on it as it brought me to shore quickly.  I hopped out, strapped my paddle in the holder, and stuffed my wheels under in about 3' of water before the next wave would arrive.  By then, I was safely away from any harm and pulled my Revo up and out of the water and go help Zach get his gear situated.

Unfortunately we were so far south we had to drag Zachs heavy yak at least a foot ball field before we could reach DTS (Dave) where he brought his truck down to the furthest point anyone is allowed to drive south.  Loaded Zachs kayak into the back, and I just sat on the tailgate and we towed my Revo down the beach while I held onto my bow. 

Coast guard auxiliary came through and checked all our rigs and setups and gave the annual stamp of approval sticker. 

The fish checker girl did her rounds and kept the questions coming until she was satisfied.

Then I had a State Park Ranger drive by the front of my truck, then lock up and hit reverse.  She backed up and then hopped out and walked right over to me.  I thought I was going to get railed for something by her brisk walk towards me.  But she through up a big smile, handed me a friendly handshake and thanked me for posting my 8.5" x 11" laminated card in my window that stated:

Kayak Launch Recovery Vehicle
Contact "INSAYN" on VHF 69 or 503-939-XXXX

This really helps them decide on giving parking tickets or not if they don't see a trailer behind the truck. 

A pretty good day in the end, but totally wiped out.

I blame Mojo for that. 
I am seeing a pattern forming when I fish around this Leprechaun.   

Hey I resemble that remark?!?!?   It's not my fault you refuse to use store bought rigging.... maybe that's why that fish spit your silverware at you and flipped you the fin on his way back home.

24-26 inches??

I blame Mojo for that. 
I am seeing a pattern forming when I fish around this Leprechaun.   

Hey I resemble that remark?!?!?   It's not my fault you refuse to use store bought rigging.... maybe that's why that fish spit your silverware at you and flipped you the fin on his way back home.

24-26 inches??

No, the problem was with the store bought crap. The fish I caught and kept were all on my butter knife jigs.  Once a fish gets that hook, he can't spit it. Nothing came of bites the entire time I had Fish Field swimbait or my Hogy flatfish running.  Later I switched over to a new green speckle Big Hammer and that was the fun I had with the 52" black rockfish. 

I need you to show me how to make those butterknife jigs.  I had my first 8 fish on a p-line 3oz minnow jig just to see how it would do and never got around to my butterfly style stuff.  Home made is my go to when possible.  Thanks for all the tips and for letting Emgee use that neck band.  I need to make her one.  Great idea.

Zach, that fish was a beast!  Just saw the pics again.  Well done, sir!

 It was nice to meet some new people and see some familiar faces after a long winter!  It was a good day on the water despite the dicey launch and landing.

I got to take my annual May swim in the salt, but at least I got a couple decent lings to take home.  With the slow springer season I t has been a while since I had fresh fish- my wife tok the first fillet I cut and made dinner.  And I was so tired I forgot to take pics!

Moved to the other thread.

Those are awesome.  Just add some lure tape of some sort after cutting/shaping?  I'll save my commentary and such for the knife jig thread.

I'll start a separate butter knife thread right now.