Richmond Beach 9/18

Forecast was for 10kt winds starting about 8am.  When they did not materialize I managed to launch at 9:30am.  For the next 6 hours the winds were calm except for about 20 minutes when enough breeze came up to ripple the surface.  Saw two jumpers in those 20 minutes, chased down the location, but no luck.  Other than that nothing going on.  Nearly all the time was spent trolling with an 8 oz. banana sinker, dodgers/flashers and hootchies/coho killers/coyotes.  See the attached FF screen captures.  (I had the display range on the FF pegged at 200').  This was typical of where the fish were, between 50-150' in water over 500'.

I know my gear was down between 50-100' based on experiment allowing the gear to sink until directly under the boat and visible on the FF.  With the depth from the FF and approximate trolling line angle one can estimate a maximum depth.

My SOP is to launch, drop a trolling rig, and paddle out from the beach into the prevailing wind.  Basically, the course (west) cuts across the fish line of travel (south).  I'll watch the surface, birds, seals, sea lions, dolphins, the FF, and tidal seams to try and determine where the fish are.  If I don't find "accessible" fish by the time I'm in 700+' it's time for some thinking.

It was a beautiful day on the water.  Not so much for fishing, but for the weather, the water, the air, and the serenity.  I should have come back in after a couple of hours, but .... well, you know.

Thanks for the report DN. Yeah those look like coho. Still pretty loosely packed and spread out but that will change soon. When it's like that it's best to troll. Did you try any scent on your gear? It's pretty much standard set up for most of PS trollers using lures.

Z

Damn I hate it when they're that deep.

-Allen

Damn I hate it when they're that deep.

Says the guy who wrote the downrigger article in KA mag.. Actually 110' is pretty decent for that part of PS. Late winter when the blackmouth are really hunkered deep 160+ isn't rare.

Z

Damn I hate it when they're that deep.

Says the guy who wrote the downrigger article in KA mag.. Actually 110' is pretty decent for that part of PS. Late winter when the blackmouth are really hunkered deep 160+ isn't rare.

Z

I know.  I still hate it.

-Allen

Thanks for the report DN. Yeah those look like coho. Still pretty loosely packed and spread out but that will change soon. When it's like that it's best to troll. Did you try any scent on your gear? It's pretty much standard set up for most of PS trollers using lures.

Z

Yes.  Salmon Feast and Shrimp Xtra Thick.  Lots.  Even on the sinker.

Any suggestions for tomorrow at dawn?  Trolling speed?   Leader lengths, sinker to flasher, and flasher to lure?

Any suggestions for tomorrow at dawn?  Trolling speed?   Leader lengths, sinker to flasher, and flasher to lure?

I might see you  out there.

Z