South Cove at Cape Arago today

A few of us were gonna try get out at Sunset Today but as NOAA predicted the swell got bigger and it was like a washing machine. I ran across Danny when i was driving to the overlook at Norton's gulch. He said that he and Paul were gonna cart there Yaks down the trail to fish the south cove.

This is a place I've dreamed about fishing ever since i got my Kayak. So many times I've looked down from above at the flat water just picturing where the big old Lings would hang out... Then i look at the long, switchback, bumpy, 45 degree trail and the twenty or so steps and the logs,rocks and finally beach and i think I'll never get out of there alive pulling, dragging and lifting my yak back up that trail..

Well, with a little prodding(didn't take much) i decided to make the journey. The Way down was not bad at all, just seeing that beautiful water made me forget about the trug to come later. We pedaddled out and Danny assumed his usual position in the middle of the cove equidistant from any rocks and Paul and I went to there would be fish... Boy was there fish with my name on 'em today, It was awesome!! I had some big fish get off, and some big ones not get off!! Nailed the Ling and the Cabbie within 5-10 minutes of each other.

I caught all my fish on this one spot i found with the FF. Had at least five big blacks slam the jig and as soon as they got to the surface they would just let it go. I hate it when they do that.

Paul did good. Just couldn't ring up a big ling. He had five fish in the bag and helped me land my Ling by letting me use his lip gripper tool cause my gaff got stuck in my burlap sack. Very cool device, think ill have to get one.

The slog up the trail was the expected hell for me, save for the first 1/3 of the trail, some stranger walking up the hill passed me, saw me struggling and came back to help me push until i had to stop or die....The rest of the way was twenty feet, two minute break, twenty feet, two minute break, until i finally reached the top, totally spent and still grinning from ear to ear.....

That little forgetting to take pics thing still keeps happening. should have taken some scenery shots, it awesome down there. I'll put a marker on the Google map at the spot.

Paul took some pics also, when he gets back to Eugene I'm sure he'll post them.

That place is beautiful isn't it?  I've camped there a couple of times before I got my yaks.  I'll have to bring them along next time.

The sunsets there are awesome too!

 Good fish Roy,  Never been dooooown there.  Proably need a heilo to get out!! 
    That ling was in good shape to..  Your tuff !!!   Bet you sleep good tonite if you  can stop hurting long enough !!!

That place is beautiful isn't it?  I've camped there a couple of times before I got my yaks.  I'll have to bring them along next time.

The sunsets there are awesome too!

Incredible sunsets. I take my dogs there sometimes and do a couple loops. This week was some really glowing red/orange sunsets

How far south is Cape Arago?

How far south is Cape Arago?

  Coos Bay,, ; plus 9 miles

You guys are troopers!!!  I can imagine that is one heck of a hike with a kayak.  About 4-5 yrs ago I saw a guy free diving on the south cove in the kelp beds.  He had fins about 3-4 feet long and a heavy wet suit.  He had a big stringer of fish and he was so tired he could hardly make it out of the water.  He told me the south cove was one of his favorite places to spearfish.  I thought he told me he lived in the Loon Lake area.

Anyone up for going out to Sunset on Tuesday for some fish'n?  The marine forecast looks doable.  Have not checked the weather yet.

 I might be able to make it out on Tuesday.

 So Roy, was it worth the trouble of the climb back out? If so you need to let me know next time you are going to do it and I will go with you.......I just need to get some wheels for my yak. And speaking of working for the fish, the next real good day at Sunset I would like to paddle over to Simsons Reef. Is any one else up for try'n?

Nice fish Roy! I would like to try that spot sometime. It sounds like a great spot to fish on days that Sunset is too rough. Had ling for dinner last night, and a ling sandwich for lunch today. Can't wait to catch another one!

Dave

So Roy, was it worth the trouble of the climb back out? If so you need to let me know next time you are going to do it and I will go with you.......I just need to get some wheels for my yak. And speaking of working for the fish, the next real good day at Sunset I would like to paddle over to Simsons Reef. Is any one else up for try'n?

Well, I can sorta walk today and i caught good fish, so yea it was worth it. You'd have no problem.It would be a good spot to launch to go to Simpson, It's right around the corner. I don't know when i'm gonna brave that journey again for now, but i have some ideas brewing in my head..... I need a sherpa.

drove down there today and took a couple pics. First one is directly around the corner from the south cove, second one is the cove and the third is the top of the trail, the flat, smooth part...

If it's decent on Tuesday, i"ll go out at Sunset with ya guys.

You guys are troopers!!!  I can imagine that is one heck of a hike with a kayak.  About 4-5 yrs ago I saw a guy free diving on the south cove in the kelp beds.  He had fins about 3-4 feet long and a heavy wet suit.  He had a big stringer of fish and he was so tired he could hardly make it out of the water.  He told me the south cove was one of his favorite places to spearfish.  I thought he told me he lived in the Loon Lake area.

That sounds like me. I lived near Charleston & worked at the Loon Lake BLM campground for about 2 yrs. I'd often hiked down to south Cove after work in the summer. 2 or 3 hours of free diving, then walking out with gear & fish certainly did help keep me in shape (what doesn't kill you makes you stronger?) Anyway, here's some pics from the weekend (CBY Roy), a sunset, & a good day of diving in the kelp off my yak at South Cove.

 Roy were the Whoppers your secret weapon for the Ling?


I wont be able to make it on Tuesday. Just found out that I have to stay for a meeting after shift Tuesday morning, so I will not even get home until after noon. 

 Hopefully things will flatten out again by the end of the week. If not I am just going to try out one of the lakes. Looking at these pictures is killing me though. I have got to get some Wheels and get down there.

 You know if we got a really good day this summer we could probably meet at Sunset then shuttle the kayaks to the south cove and fish our way back to Sunset. That would save us a climb back up the hill, and there are some great looking fishing spots between the cove and Sunset. How far is that? Maybe two miles?

WOW, What a small world!  After looking at your suit PNW and your picture, I'm pretty confident it was you I saw down at the South Cove free diving.  I remember the person telling me he would shoot one fish and then wait until other fish would come around smelling blood. 

I also remember this person telling me the sharks don't like coming in the kelp beds.  Also I remember being told the seals are a nuisance in the water.  I always thought about how crazy you were free diving in the ocean by yourself.  I thought that was pretty cool.  I have told allot of people about that day over the years.

To be honest, I think I would probably do the same if I was not married.