Charleston tomorrow, 5/23

Planning on heading out of Charleston harbor (Marina) tomorrow and fishing the cribs if anyone wants to join. I’ll be heading out between 6:45-7am. Leaving when I get a limit or around noon...whichever comes first.

Never fished the cribs from a kayak, but always had luck when I had a power boat.

Weather looks like a chance of drizzle, but not too bad. High tide @ 10:30.

Water clarity is extremely low right now.  Tough fishing, but good luck!

This morning I hit the water at 5:35AM and had the first fish in the boat by 6:15. Lots of little black bass today, took until 11am to finally put the 4th keeper in the cooler though.  Tons of anchovies on the depth finder today. I hooked a couple on the sabiki to try live bait fishing. Hooked up with something HUGE around the #7 marker. It ran for about 50 yards and wrapped around the tower and severed the braided line. Not sure what it was, but I couldn’t even begin to slow it down.

Several small boats looked like they did well around high tide. Lots of action, but I didn’t see a lot of big fish.

Broke off 4 large jigs today...not happy about that. Learned a lot about boat control with this new boat. Can’t take your eyes off the rocks for a second.

all in all, good morning with great weather and added some filets to the freezer.

excellent, I love fishing around that submerged jetty, it can put your kayak control skills to the test and get your heart racing, in addition to eating gear.  it also grabs crab pots that get away from people and there can be ropes laying under the water.   

the big deep holes just below and above the #7 marker have interested me, Dec-Jan is when I have had several very large fish cut my leader in that area.

did you launch at the kayak/canoe launch or the big marina ramp?

Roger, I launched at the main marina boat ramps. With my little trailer, I was able to rig up the kayak completely in the parking area and just slide the kayak into the water ready to fish.

I wasn’t aware there was a canoe/kayak launch?

It was great to be able to rinse off all the salt at the wash station before I drove home. Saved a ton of time when I got home.

We used to launch near the marina and the end of Alaska Packer Rod, but they've closed it to vehicles and now it's a long walk across the causeway.

Tinker,

I think you’ve mentioned you are a fly fisherman.... Sunday the black bass where busting out of the water for hours chasing anchovies. I’d imagine a large “anchovie like” wet fly would be a killer. Never flyfished for anything salty, but I bet it would be wild.

Roger, I launched at the main marina boat ramps. With my little trailer, I was able to rig up the kayak completely in the parking area and just slide the kayak into the water ready to fish.

I wasn’t aware there was a canoe/kayak launch?

It was great to be able to rinse off all the salt at the wash station before I drove home. Saved a ton of time when I got home.

as you drop down to the bridge at Charleston there is a sign for it, just before the bridge.  I think you can back a trailer down, it's a nice spot to launch if you are trying to avoid a heavily crowded marina launch but up the south slough a bit so I would want the tide behind me both ways.  I think the spot by the DQ is the quickest way to get to the submerged jetty if you aren't trying to just back a trailer down to the water.

Tinker,

I think you’ve mentioned you are a fly fisherman.... Sunday the black bass where busting out of the water for hours chasing anchovies. I’d imagine a large “anchovie like” wet fly would be a killer. Never flyfished for anything salty, but I bet it would be wild.

Gee, I missed this note until today.  I simply cannot understand why you didn't phone me when it was happening  .  And yes, on a bendy fly pole, catching any marine fish is quite an experience.  I've had rockfish too small to keep (they didn't pass the two-taco test) bend my rod tip into the water.

I've never run into rockfish feeding on top.  It must be a sight to see.  Thanks!

I had rockfish, albeit tiny ones, along Tillamook jetty, on Mon.
Still fun.