PC Report, 8-7-10

Pelagic Paddler and I hit Pacific City to take advantage of halibut being open and had a great day on the water.  We got to the beach at about 6 am and were shocked at how many trailers were already parked on the beach!  They were parked from the parking deadline on the north end of the beach almost to the road down to the beach!   

We launched into pea soup...





... and headed west... way west.  At our farthest point west, we were more than twice the distance from land than I have been before out of PC.  At this point, the rock wasn't the most prominent landmark on the horizon, it simply blended in.



Where we were was not a secret either...   



At one point, I counted at least 12 dory boats dotting the horizon all around us.  We pretty much felt like mutated tigers on display at the zoo.    Sadly, neither of us ended up getting what we came for and I think we saw maybe one or two boats hook up for the time we were out there so it was pretty slow.

The fog hung around for most of the morning and was pretty much gone by noon.  As far as conditions go, it was one of those days I dream about all year.  Small and gentle swell, no wind until the mid afternoon, the current forgot to show up, and the sun didn't come out long enough to make it hot.  Perfect!

We headed back closer to shore and poked around for some rockfish or lings on our way back in, but the bite just wasn't there.  Pelagic headed in some time after noon.  I stayed out a little longer, but only had one hook up that let go half way up.  I paddled over to the rock and threw a krocodile a few times for nothing.  Then put on my ol' reliable swimbait pattern for a couple of casts.  I had to try to get SOMETHING to the boat.  I felt a hard bump on a straight drop to the bottom, set the hook and felt a dead weight slowly give way.  I figured that with my luck would be a piggy cab, but after a short fight, I had it up and it was a nice ling! Ended up being a 31.5" AOTY upgrade.





Called it a day and headed back to the surf.  Apparently, there was a longboard competition going on that day so in addition to all the dory's going after salmon, tuna, halibut and groundfish, the other side of the beach was even more packed.



While cleaning my one fish at Webb Park, a dory pulled up and a couple of guys started unloading their catch.  This is what they ended up with...



Great day on the water!  Get out there while the weather is still awesome!!

Great report Jeff. Looks like a perfect day on the salt, and congrats on the beauty ling!

Good job on the Ling, Same luck as us with the flatties, damnit!

The Rockfish bite is some kind of screwy for sure! Actually got skunked at Sunset last Wednesday....

It was an awesome day to be on the water!  Had one promising halibut bite but it quit on me before I got it out of the rod holder.  One thing is for sure, buying a Hobie with the mirage drive is the best move I have made. Covered the 2 plus miles out to the halibut spot like it was a cake walk.

Covered the 2 plus miles out to the halibut spot like it was a cake walk.

That's for dayng sure!  I spent a lot of time that day looking at the back of yer yak! 

I'm pretty sure Roy and Dana were holding back a little off their normal pace on our D.B. hali trip as well.  

Thanks to them for not making me feel like a pokey paddler or leaving me in the fog. 

As an adult you come to realize slow and steady really never won any damn race. They just made that story up so the slow kids don't feel bad about themselves.

Nice report!  Way to stick with it for the payoff.

I'm going to hold out hope for both the weather and the season.  Come on Sunday!!!!  Lucky 7!  Lucky 7!   

I'm pretty sure Roy and Dana were holding back a little off their normal pace on our D.B. hali trip as well.  

It was kind of nice though, didn't burn myself out on the way out. I was cranking pretty good on the way in, especially after i realized i was heading for the wrong can...