Another trip to Hobuck ... Who is in for next weekend?

WOW Saturday was freaking fantastic! Didn't get into any big lings but was on my "A" game for fun Cabezon.

The weather was fantastic as I paddled out to the near rock right off Hobuck Beach. The swells were nice and long and the critters were killing the 6" white power grub. Hook ups were pretty consistent every other cast. Though several liked biting the tail more than the hook. (need to bring 4" next trip). In the first hour or two I caught 3 or 4 undersized ling two greenling and four meaty cabezon. One of the greenlings and one of the cabs went on the stringer.

I sat there loving the day and getting more adventurous as the day progressed. The far rocks were looking pretty inviting the longer I looked at them. I haven't gone off shore much in the yak but it was a wonderful day. My guestimates is the rocks are about 2 miles from shore. The paddle was calm and enjoyable as a couple of porpoises decided to come check out the large yellow thing bobbing along.

As I got about 3/4 of the way out I could tell the the swells were picking up as well as the wind. By the time I had reach the rocks the swells were much larger coming out of the NW with a crossing wind. I nick named the rock "Sour Patch" b/c the ocean side was generating some serious pucker factor as the swells hit the rock and were blown back. Felt like I had 2 foot crossing tight chop on top of the swells.

After a very brief attempt at fishing the weather side I swung back around and fished the leeward side for a bid. Caught a couple of nice cabs and put one on the stringer. Didn't stay long b/c I could barely keep bottom with a 4 oz jig and still had a healthy paddle back in.

For the trip home I figured I might as well be fishing if I had to cover all this water so I threw on what I had close by. A 8oz banana with a humpy spoon from last summer. Flipped it over and let out "a good bit" of line. I had a few false alarms from kelp and weeds but it kept me entertained on the paddle home

As I got closer back to the near rocks I actually go a strike that was much more fishy sounding than before. Expecting maybe a small jack or a little coho. As I got my gear in it turned out to be a small black rockfish. I'm stoked! I have been searching for these little buggers for two trips and finally found some. I repeated the process two more times in the same area. 3 rocks on the stringer. Headed back in to fillet some fish and enjoy a night of fish tacos!

Sunday was all together different. Much larger swells heavier wind. Still had to go wet the lines. The launch was a grind and I wore several sets of white water but got out fine. The rocks were unfishable due to breaking waves and my wish not to go swimming. Set out a few more passes trolling a spoon and nailed 5 more blacks and kept the largest.

The swell and wind continued to kick my butt so I scooted back in to try and attempt my first surf landing in decent sized waves. The duration had gotten very compressed and big swells seemed very evenly mixed. The landing was the most memorable part of the weekend. I let a big one go past and then paddled like hell to beat the next one in. All this did was set me up to be picked up and shot across the face of a big swell. I managed to ride that wave for a fair bit. Popped up over the back of it and paddled like hell again and another set of foam and white water completely engulfed me. I popped out of the yak and hauled ass for shore.

GREAT WEEKEND!!


You can see both fishing rocks in the back ground of this shot

Nice catch man.

Don't go to 4" grubs.  Stick with 6", and tie a second hook to the jig head so it hooks 1/2 way through the curly tail and keep it a little loose so it doesn't mess with the tail action.  We do this out at Chambers when beating up the Sole, and an 8 inch Sole will go after a 6" grub, and get hooked that way   

Oh man - so cool!  Coincidentally I was fishing (from a small boat) just north of you near Tattoosh Island and the "green bank". Saturday was an amazing weather day, and we frickin slayed 'em.  I'll post some pics shortly.  I drove by Hobuck beach to check if it was a do-able launch and it appeared that it was (depending on conditions).  yeah it was alot windier on Sunday so I imagine staying up on the landing would've been a huge challenge for anyone.  But, looks like you had a great weekend.  I'd love to get back out there and fish from my kayak.  Did you stay at the hobuck beach resort?

Great report. Glad to see Hobuck getting some good action. Looks like a good rockfish/coho combo spot.

Z

Yes we stayed at "Hobuck Beach Resort" ... aka the campgrounds.
I'll have to try out the second stinger hook. The greenling I kept bit the tail off the jig I hooked him on. When I cleaned him ... her ... out the tail was completely in her stomach. I believe she hit the jig first biting the tail off then came back for body with no action other than short jigging strokes and the sent! GULP grubs are great but very fragile.

Yes we stayed at "Hobuck Beach Resort" ... aka the campgrounds.
I'll have to try out the second stinger hook. The greenling I kept bit the tail off the jig I hooked him on. When I cleaned him ... her ... out the tail was completely in her stomach. I believe she hit the jig first biting the tail off then came back for body with no action other than short jigging strokes and the sent! GULP grubs are great but very fragile.

yeah, "resort" is right.  We stayed there too.  I liked the place OK, but *one* shower for all the people staying there?? nuts.

Shower first thing in the AM or not at all.... It is a great campsite. Love that I can bring my dog and people are ok with her being off the leash.

Shower first thing in the AM or not at all.... It is a great campsite. Love that I can bring my dog and people are ok with her being off the leash.

Did you have a shore support crew or bring your dog with you on the water?

Friends on shore or leash her to drift wood while I'm out fishing. She would try and follow me through the surf and there is no way I want her on the yak in anything other than play on the lake.

Awesome effort!  Success! Great report. You are stoking the fires, dude!

Nice report/pics/fish/action! I'll have to get out there next time I'm in Port Townsend. Looks like fun.

Jason

Nice report and pics. nice fish, but the dog is priceless!!

She loves the beach! Lots of critters to chase. That picture was in the evening and she had finally slowed down. This was her first thing the next morning

Thinking of heading out to Hobuck this Sat. Weather/ocean looks decent so far. Combo coho/chinook and rockfish is just too good to pass up. If anyones interested lemme know.

Z

Say another night. We will be there to fish Sunday!