Ice On The Beach 12-11

So PNW and I headed out to PC today and the first thing I have to say about today was that it was cold, but I guess that goes without saying assuming you have walked out your front door in the last couple of days. Holy CRAP it was cold. Here's a shot of some icicles I drove past on the drive out this morning...



I know there isn't anything that can give you a reference of size but these things ranged from a couple of feet two around six or seven feet long!
Also on the drive out while listening to OPB, they were talking about how humboldt squid were washing up on the beach around Seaside. I guess it's unheard of for them to be around this time of year.
"I wonder if I'll see any on the beach today?", I wondered.
So what do we see when we drive down there?



Crazy!!
So we met up at around 8. Driving on the beach was no problem at all since the sand was FROZEN!! Did I mention that it was cold out there today? We were on the water just before 9. It took us a little longer to get on the water than normal due to all the layers we had to put on.  The launch was as good as one could ask for this time of year. Consistent period with about 4 to 6 ft swells. We made it out just fine. There was a steady wind coming from the southeast at about 10 mph that made things even more chilly. It wasn't until just past noon that the wind started to die down. Other than the wind, it was actually a gorgeous day out! With the exception of my toes, I was nice and warm. I believe PNW was wearing a 7mm wetsuit so he said also that with the exception of his extremities he was comfortable.

We pretty much spent most of the day in the lee of the rock which was on the northwest side today. That made me happy since that's a spot I'm always trying to work but can't since it's always a washing machine in the summer. I was picking up blacks pretty consistently and had a couple of legal sized lings. I was catching a good amount of underlings too. We ventured out further once, only to be blown pretty quickly out to sea. During the brief time we were further out from the rock, I was hooking up with lots of big blacks on the bottom. They seemed to be really biting well out there, but we headed back to the rock since the wind was blowing too hard. I couldn't keep my line straight down for the life of me and I had 4 oz. of lead on.

The bite was pretty good after we got back to the rock, but soon died off. We started heading in around 1:30. Didn't time the swells well enough so we both hulied. Since the surf was on the bigger side today, I figured it'd be cool to take some video footage again. 
So yeah, you'll just have to wait 'till I get the video up! 








Those were a few shots of my first two blacks of the day, the first ended up being the biggest at 18 1/2" and 4 lbs.
Swimbait courtesy of andy1976!












Me and my friend cabby!

Excellent report my friend.

You guys are truely hard core!!!

I wonder how strips of the squid would have worked suspended just off the bottom?  Did you grab any for sturgeon fishing?

Fark yeah! You guys rock.

Z

I wonder how strips of the squid would have worked suspended just off the bottom?  Did you grab any for sturgeon fishing?

I can't believe I didn't think of that! 

I saw a "LING BOMB"  

Nice trip out, Water looked clear?  Here's hoping we get a few more days like this!

I may be INSAYN, but you're CRAZY!!! 

Looks like another day at the beach, but much much colder. 

Yeah, you should have cut up some Calamari for monsters on the bottom out there.   

Thanks Yaknitup.  You guys have some serious passion fishing in those conditions.  What was the octopus looking bait?  Looks interesting.  I can't wait to get you guys some more baits.  Here is a black caught by obkook from norcal on the same bait color and size with one of my bright green heads.   

i'm so jealous. Looks like a good time. I've grown kinda use to my feet falling off while i'm fishing, but managed to keep the rest of me warm most of the time. Some good looking fish out there this time of year!

A  arm off that squid is the number one best bait for monster lingzillas !!!!

Thanks Yaknitup.  You guys have some serious passion fishing in those conditions.  What was the octopus looking bait?  Looks interesting.  I can't wait to get you guys some more baits.

Hah!  I thought that octo looking bait was one of yours Andy!!!  Can you make skirts like that for putting over worms and swimbaits?  Think big pectoral fins, like on a greenling.

-Allen

Nicely done fellas.

Yaknitup,  Nice write up.  Thanks for the cool pics!   

I wonder was it the last storm that washed them Humboldt squids on shore or was it something else. 

Yeah, not sure what it was that caused it. I was thinking it had something to do with El Niño, but I guess not. PNW mentioned warming ocean temps. Anyone else have any ideas?

http://www.katu.com/outdoors/featured/79083817.html

http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Squid-start-washing-ashore-near-Seaside-79021792.html

Wow! That was a great day at the beach! Way to get out while the gettin's good (or at least semi-sanely possible). Doesn't look like the gettin's gonna be anywhere close to that in the forecast for next Saturday.

But what good is a 10-day forecast anyway.

Great pics... I'm soooooo looking forward to do some salt water fishing this summer!!
Can't wait to see the video!!

SD