Sunday 8/12 report “Launched like a Dory”

 I pedaled around Haystack rock out of Pacific City yesterday and it was Big Rockfish city!  I brought 3 good lings (one BIG one) to the boat and 5 big black bass (kept 1 bass and the 2 smaller lings). 5" rootbeer/sparkel twist tail on a 2oz jig.
This is the smallest Ling. The biggest one could have swallowed this one whole.


The dory Salmon fleet was maybe another mile or so offshore and I was alone and didn’t have my vhf (not very bright) so I did not pursue them (much, much less stupid).  If I was better prepared and with company we’d be eating kings tonight!
 
 The weather was perfect! Overcast, with a light sprinkling of rain and light winds that had the water almost flat.

Haystack Rock in Lake Pacific


There were some small, confused waves between the rock and the headland that made for good chumming, but I kept my head up and my brunch down. 

If you see this and haystack is behind you, fish here.

 
 Launching and landing like a dory was a piece of cake although this was not a typical day.



Generally the surfs bigger, but there are no stairs! Drive down the beach to the water's edge to launch and park in the lot or on the beach if you have fat tires. This place could easily be yakfishing nirvana. But I gotta try it when it’s rougher. I met a new member “Yakyak” from Corvallis who’s been looking for some yakfishing company and he’s been out here when its bigger. He said my day was consistent with his experience.  I’ve penciled in next Saturday for a return session if anybody wants to join in.

 But then again we may want to be a bit protective of this sight as the fishing here is like California's before everybody "discovered" rockfish are delicious. So disregard everything I said and forget the location. Seriously though, keep the little fish and let the big ones breed.

Dinner   That smaller Ling is (was) 24".


Sorry about the poor pics. My battery quit on the water and I'm gun shy of opening the case in the salt.

Sounds like you found a sweet spot, and  not having to manhandle my yak down and up stairs is a *real* bonus.

I'm in  for a sequel next Saturday if it  happens.

--
Mike

Looking forward to the pictures..  Hopefully soon I'll be able to get in on the chinook action...

Oregon One Step Surf Report predicts a South wind and 5 ft swell for Saturday--a rougher than the conditions you (Tupperware) had but still plenty do-able. I've noticed that early predictions for S wind sometimes change to NW when the day arrives anyway. As I told you, I had a short but furious session with the rock fish on Saturday morning. Then spotted you (binoculars from the pub patio) hammering them Sunday. My current plan is to launch about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. Company would be good. (So I'm replying to Tupperware but others can read this, right? I'm knew to blogging or whatever this is so help me out.)

Good to see you here YakYak!
Yes, this a public forum. But for at least the moment the "public" is manageably small. (Now I've really blown it and there will be 50 kayaks launching at the spot    )
Let's hope not.
 
0630 sounds great! (caution: Wali is notoriously late) If I can get Ken (FTN) in the car with me, we'll be there at 0530.

There is safety in numbers and all are invited*, but I'd rate this at least a second level trip (level one is yakfishing in a swimming pool) It's about 3 miles round trip in open water with a surf landing so make that a level 2.5 with Allen's Alaskan Adventure rated 11 on a scale of 10.

Hmmm, skill level ratings. That's not a bad idea!


*see my upcoming rant in the "Let's Talk Kayak Fishing" section

Sounds great FFTW! I'll have to make a trip down there someday. BTW an NCKA OG will be moving to Portland soon. He's a marine biologist so knows all kinds of junk about fish, ocean etc. He also has a way of winning a lot of tourneys so good to hang around him if you wanna catch fish. He should be making an appearance here soon, goes by the name Bsteves.

Z

5:30 it is.

Hey, YY! Did I read right that you hail from Corvallis? I'm in the Heart-o-the-Valley myself, so if true, we've gotta get together to pool rides. I'll email you my phone and we can coordinate.

Wali, don't know which route you take to Pacific City; do you come through Tillamook or McMinville? If you come through Mac, maybe we can hookup in Valley Junction.

Whatever we do, though, we at least have to wait for Wali at the beach. It's worth the wait just to see him squirm into his shrunken dry suit. 

Sounds great, but, after Beverly Beach, I'm going to need help finding a good, long flight of stairs or a heavy appliance I can drag around the parking lot before and after I fish. It just wouldn't feel right otherwise   .

Right on FFTW.  Way to go gettem!!!

Still waiting on pics ... 

-Allen

Sorry, I got my handle's mixed Mike. I go through Salem and then out to the coast. I was talking with Ken this weekend and we talked about carpooling. And your gotta find a ride with somebody else like YY especially after that crack about waiting to watch my secret big fish dance.

And that suit ain't shrunken, I've grown! 

SAT...S WIND 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 30 KT. WIND WAVES 6 FT. W SWELL 5 FT.

Maybe it's only because my boat's a bit of a tub, but this forecast isn't sounding so hot. The morning, before the wind builds, should be OK but the afternoon sounds like a recipie for chum n' swim.
If it doesn't settle down, I might have to sit this one out and leave the field to braver men.

Nice fishies FFTW.  And what a nice placid Pacific you had to fish on.

I too like that small rootbeer split tail on a 1-2 ounce jig.  Or a motor oil version of the same thing.  Or a single tail.  It's probably my best all around bottomfish rig.

FTN, what's up with the weather?  That's the same forecast for down here in the Bay Area and I have a 6 pack chartered to go tuna fishing on Saturday.  I sure hope it comes down a bit and gives us a chance to get out to the bluewater.

_Allen

Won't S winds bring in some warmer water? That warm wet period, in July, brought tuna in close in OR and WA.

Big Schmig! Whats a little wind and waves for manly men in seaworthy boats!?!?!?
NOT!

What I did not mention in my earlier post is that just to the east of those condos on the other side of the trees is the Nestucca river where the late summer, early fall run salmon run and are said to be eating spinners. Just south of that is Nestucca Bay. Both are protected from the weather.