Blacks, Blacks, and more Blacks?

I've been reading this forum over the last few weeks, and I never see mention of anything other than people catching Blacks, Lings, Cabs, and Greenling. I've been out on charter boats, and other power boats along the coast here (over the years), and usually caught some variety mixed in. China Rock, Tiger Rock, Copper Rock, Vermillion Rock, Blue Rock, Quillback, etc...

I've never fished from a kayak (yet!), so I was wondering... Is it because you guys aren't able to fish out far enough, in deeper water? Is that why it always seems to be nothing but Blacks and Lings? With a few Cabbies and Greenies mixed in? I haven't fished out on Simpson Reef in a number of years, but I do remember the last few times I was on a charter boat out there, we had some pretty decent variety mixed in. Sure, the Blacks are the most common by far, but we were also hooking all the other Rockfish too.

I'm going to be buying a yak very soon, and I was kind of hoping that there is at least SOME potential for hooking the tastier Rock Fish, and not ONLY Blacks, Blacks, and more Blacks.

So, what's the skinny?

You're right, Blacks are everywhere but if you look at the results from last year's PC Tournament, you'll see that there were several China's caught and that the contest was won with a Vermillion.
This year there have been a few Vermillions and Yellow Eye caught in the same area.

I catch a couple china and quillback rockfish every trip.  Depending on where you fish (structure/depth) you can catch lots of the "orange" fish (not legal to retain except vermills).  Blacks are abundant and hang out in big schools so they are easy to catch and are just about everywhere.  There have also been some decent cabs caught this year.

What's wrong with blacks? I like it better than halibut!

Of the other rockfish you can keep I think china rockfish or a vermillion are the tastiest.  Firm, flakey, sweet meat.  Wish we got to keep a yellow eye or two, now they are TASTY

 Yak  Attack..
   At Sunset Bay the hard bottom/rock stops at 30 to 50 ft avg  depth so is shallow for some fish,, that said if it wasn't in the lee of Argo and had more ocean/current besides ebb water from Coos river would be more different fish. Outside of Simpson's reef , just to the south, is hard bottom and rock with good current and a good spread of fish all the way down to Bandon  and out to the edge of the world..
  Royg
             Bring your bass rod and throw a 1/2 oz rattle-trap to the rocks,,   

What's wrong with blacks? I like it better than halibut!

Nothing wrong with them. I catch them off the rocks, and eat 'em all the time.

I will admit that I do not like them as much as other varieties, but hey, they are good. Not excellent, but good. I guess I've usually been kinda spoiled when I've gone out bottomfishing, with a mixed bag. Nice compensation for the puking I did on the last trip!

I have to agree with the other guy, who mentioned the China's and Vermillion being the best eating. I had a couple of China's from my last trip out to Orford Reef, and they are Goooood!

Yak  Attack..
   At Sunset Bay the hard bottom/rock stops at 30 to 50 ft avg  depth so is shallow for some fish,, that said if it wasn't in the lee of Argo and had more ocean/current besides ebb water from Coos river would be more different fish. Outside of Simpson's reef , just to the south, is hard bottom and rock with good current and a good spread of fish all the way down to Bandon  and out to the edge of the world..
  Royg
             Bring your bass rod and throw a 1/2 oz rattle-trap to the rocks,,   

Yeah, I realized that about Sunset. But I've gone bottomfishing out off of Simpson Reef, maybe 5 or 6 times, and almost everyone on the boat would be hooking other varieties. I realize that there are a lot of factors at play. One thing being, tending to hook other species by playing around with different lures, and trying to keep your lure down right off the bottom, at a good depth. I remember (many times) trying to get my jig down to the bottom FAST, before it got nailed by a black on the way down.

And another factor being that there has been a pretty sharp decline in numbers (of certain species) over the years, at least according to what I've seen and heard. They can only take being hammered continuously, for so long, obviously.



Hey, I realize that Sunset is the easy launch, but is there ANY other good places to launch, to get out to Simpson Reef? How arduous is the paddle/peddle from Sunset?

You mentioned: "Outside of Simpson's reef , just to the south, is hard bottom and rock with good current and a good spread of fish all the way down to Bandon  and out to the edge of the world.."

Are there any good places to launch down south, with access to good habitat? I realize that not much could possibly be compared with the ease of launch from Sunset, but is there anything doable?

Simpson reef isn't that far,, sea conditions usually decide where we fish,,
  Some go down the trail at South Cove, young mans spot, Bandon has excllent fishing close in but also has the worst bar on the oregon coast,, surf launch south of s jetty on steep beach,, dress for  immersion !!

  PS ,, there is another reason  i don't get to Simpsons very much in the kayak,, same reason i don't fish the Faralons or Pigeon Point .. In my smoker i fish it a  lot ,

Simpson reef isn't that far,, sea conditions usually decide where we fish,,
  Some go down the trail at South Cove, young mans spot, Bandon has excllent fishing close in but also has the worst bar on the oregon coast,, surf launch south of s jetty on steep beach,, dress for  immersion !!

  PS ,, there is another reason  i don't get to Simpsons very much in the kayak,, same reason i don't fish the Faralons or Pigeon Point .. In my smoker i fish it a  lot ,

Quote:

"In my smoker i fish it a  lot , "


I read that several times, but I still am ot quite sure what you are saying here.

Rephrase? 

he means either;
a) his small outboard powered boat that happens to be a 2 stroke

or

b) his SMOKERCRAFT, which is also a outboard powered boat, just a personal shorthand for a brand name.

we've seen his reference to this before, i think you're actually the 1st t oask... but, hey, no harm in asking.. hopefully he'll clear that up for all of us shortly

 

Rephrase
   OK,  it is a 18 ft ALUM. center console SMOKERCRAFT (BRAND) WITH A 50 HP 4 STROKE YAMAHA... 
    It really does not smoke..
       royg

Rephrase
   OK,  it is a 18 ft ALUM. center console SMOKERCRAFT (BRAND) WITH A 50 HP 4 STROKE YAMAHA... 
    It really does not smoke..
       royg

Thanks Roy, i suspected as much.. hear those are nice boats to fish from..

Rephrase
   OK,  it is a 18 ft ALUM. center console SMOKERCRAFT (BRAND) WITH A 50 HP 4 STROKE YAMAHA... 
    It really does not smoke..
       royg

What the hell am I doing, thinking about peddling out there? I'll just hitch a ride with you!

Heh heh heh....

Port Orford, which is an hour south of us here in Coos is also a good place to launch, normally a fairly calm beach launch. Nice structure

I've done the south cove at  Cape Arago one time and it was hell! Awesome fishing though, if i was a little younger and not gimpy i would be hitting it hard!! Need a super light paddler and i might think about it again but not with the Outback. Usually this would be an alternate to Sunset if it's too rough, but on a calm day it would be minutes to Simpsons reef from there.

Blacks taste real good, especially bleed out properly. Of course not as good as Ling or Cabbie.