06-13-2015, 06:23 PM
This past week I was able to have a new experience. I met up with one of my brothers and a friend of his on this past monday and hit the big blue. He lives in Napa Valley in CA and I don't see him much. Since I had to go out to the Bay Area for work I was able to get a little extra time and make a bisit.
We started out early around 4 am for a drive through dense fog for a launch at Bo'dega Bay. Nothing like launching and cruising at full speed in the fog. The waves weren't that bad but when going against the current and wind we caught air a couple of times while traveling to the fishing grounds. We stopped at the Fort Ross area at Sunken reef north of the Russian River. We fished in anywhere from 80 feet to 16 as we drifted over the reef. We were mainly bouncing jigs off the bottom chasing the bottome dwellers. It wasn't long before I had the first hook up. I have only fished the ocean twice before and was skunked both times. This time became another story. I hooked into a black rockfish. I had several more including soon after. My brothers goal was Ling Cod. My brothers friend was pretty much dragging bottom and couldn't leace the sea cucumbers alone. He also snagged a small china, canary and a starfish.
My brother soon caught a vermillion and then hooked into a couple of Ling. His last fish of the day was a scorpion fish. I ended up with three ling cod (two being the largest of the boat) and as well as many other species.
My catch of the day:
Ling Cod (both blue and gray forms)
Cabezon
Canary Rockfish
Blue Rockfish
Black Rockfish
Olive Rockfish
Yellowtail rockfish
Gopher fish
The ocean was quite calm in the morning and both my brother and his friend mentioned that several times. By the time we got off the wind was picking up and the swells were getting huge. All in all it was a great day on the pacific, even with the day after pain. Will I do it again? Most likely... My family wants to go out next time as well.
I did attempt a little pier fishing this past week but with no luck but not knowing how certain conditions effect the fish made it more of a hit and miss for me. Next year I will be more prepared with the necessary tools to catch the fish (leopord sharks etc...) in the area of the hotel I was at.
[signature]
We started out early around 4 am for a drive through dense fog for a launch at Bo'dega Bay. Nothing like launching and cruising at full speed in the fog. The waves weren't that bad but when going against the current and wind we caught air a couple of times while traveling to the fishing grounds. We stopped at the Fort Ross area at Sunken reef north of the Russian River. We fished in anywhere from 80 feet to 16 as we drifted over the reef. We were mainly bouncing jigs off the bottom chasing the bottome dwellers. It wasn't long before I had the first hook up. I have only fished the ocean twice before and was skunked both times. This time became another story. I hooked into a black rockfish. I had several more including soon after. My brothers goal was Ling Cod. My brothers friend was pretty much dragging bottom and couldn't leace the sea cucumbers alone. He also snagged a small china, canary and a starfish.
My brother soon caught a vermillion and then hooked into a couple of Ling. His last fish of the day was a scorpion fish. I ended up with three ling cod (two being the largest of the boat) and as well as many other species.
My catch of the day:
Ling Cod (both blue and gray forms)
Cabezon
Canary Rockfish
Blue Rockfish
Black Rockfish
Olive Rockfish
Yellowtail rockfish
Gopher fish
The ocean was quite calm in the morning and both my brother and his friend mentioned that several times. By the time we got off the wind was picking up and the swells were getting huge. All in all it was a great day on the pacific, even with the day after pain. Will I do it again? Most likely... My family wants to go out next time as well.
I did attempt a little pier fishing this past week but with no luck but not knowing how certain conditions effect the fish made it more of a hit and miss for me. Next year I will be more prepared with the necessary tools to catch the fish (leopord sharks etc...) in the area of the hotel I was at.
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