SWAT Summer Summary from the North and Far North

[q3fishboy]

First of all, as some of you may already know, I was accepted into the graduate program at UCSC and moved up to Santa Cruz at the beginning of the summer. It has been pretty busy, and at times kind of hectic, but I have been having a lot of fun and really enjoying myself. I have also managed to visit Santa Barbara a few times, and even managed to fish in the surf a couple of times.

The first trip was in late October, and I was surprised to catch 3.5 halibut. How did I get 1/2 a fish you ask? On one of my first casts, had a like 7" fish follow my bait all the way in and settle to the bottom at my feet and proceed to play fetch with my bait for the next half a dozen casts. I never managed to actually hook the fish, so am not positive about its ID, but it was pretty cool to watch. The other 3 fish were all in the 14" to 16" range. All fish were caught on a 3" silver phantom swim bait and 3/16oz green lead head, both by big hammer.

The second trip was in early November, and I managed to catch another 4 short halibut, again all in the 14" to 16" range. This time, all fish were caught on a small crank bait / jerk bait about 3" long and black and orange in coloration. I believe it was a berkeley frenzy minnow, but am not sure. Also caught a couple of small perch during each trip, but nothing too exciting. Here are a couple pictures of the flatties.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture1_zpsf99c3942.jpeg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture1_zpsf99c3942.jpeg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture2_zps55012948.jpeg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture2_zps55012948.jpeg.html)

I have also done a little bit of surf fishing in Santa Cruz, and caught a couple perch and snagged a couple small leopard sharks; fun but nothing too exciting. However, one unusual opportunity in Santa Cruz is the chance to catch chinook salmon from shore in the harbor. Each year fingerlings are released in the harbor, and as such several years later the adults return. It is a crazy scenario with hundreds of people crammed into the small section of shoreline that the harbor patrol allows fishing. However, people are polite and everyone reels in their lines as soon as a fish is hooked; furthermore, the harbor patrol mandates every other day to be kids under 16 years old only, which is pretty cool. I gave it a few tries, and managed to land one 23" fish (an inch short). After measuring it, I quickly went to revive and release the fish and forgot to take a picture of it. :Sad:

However, most of my time has been occupied by work, which was characterized by longish days from 7am to 7pm during the summer. However, it was not as bad as it sounds. My job? After being admitted to grad school, my advisor hired me as a lab tech for the summer with the task of collecting rockfish genetic samples for him. What does this entail? Basically taking a 17' boston whaler out and fishing all day (as well as measuring the fish and taking the sample etc). Here are several pictures of fish we caught in no particular order.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture3_zps0b8060d3.jpeg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture3_zps0b8060d3.jpeg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture4_zps3b5cd901.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture4_zps3b5cd901.jpg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture5_zps7d8a582b.jpeg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture5_zps7d8a582b.jpeg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture6_zps00c4383d.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture6_zps00c4383d.jpg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture7_zps7dcc8c72.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture7_zps7dcc8c72.jpg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture8_zps3fa2bb15.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture8_zps3fa2bb15.jpg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture9_zps21532b8a.jpeg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture9_zps21532b8a.jpeg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture10_zps1ad79b80.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture10_zps1ad79b80.jpg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture11_zpsf79b3a10.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture11_zpsf79b3a10.jpg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture12_zpsa877093c.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture12_zpsa877093c.jpg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture13_zps9c85128f.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture13_zps9c85128f.jpg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture14_zps2acddcc1.jpeg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture14_zps2acddcc1.jpeg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/q3fishboy/summer-fish/picture15_zps0d401b57.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/q3fishboy/media/summer-fish/picture15_zps0d401b57.jpg.html)

[SP Dan]

"Seasons Greetings" q3fishboy,

Not a bad job Roy ....... where can I get an application. :Envious:

It is good to see that you are able to get out in the surf once in a while :Thumbs Up:, even though your busy schedule doesn't allow you much free time!

Thanx Roy for the fish report with great pic's from your research work! :Cool:

Dan

[TUNAVIC]

Nice job,looks like an awesome place to fish,lots of kelp,structure,near shore and great results,very nice! Thanks.

Cya TUNAVIC

[Stumpknocker]

Awesome bunch of beautiful fish! I also have worked as a grad student collecting fish for an ichthyologist, and few things are better than getting paid to fish for scientific research!

[Wingnut]

Hey Roy... how can I get a job like that buddy??? :Envious:
Those are some amazing looking fish. :Thumbs Up:
Thanks for the text, keep your eye out for a package coming your way. :Wink:
Wishing you and Hunter a very Merry Christmas! :Big Grin:

[bachiboy]

Nice to hear from you Roy. SO, when can I start my internship?:LOL: That's definitely a little nicer way to spend 12 hours at work than I've been doing.:Wink: Hope to be hearing more soon.

Happy Holidays!
Don

[Which Way Out]

Good to hear from the northern most SWAT member once in a while.
Getting paid to fish, that would mean you have turned Pro. Heck I could even catch a fish there. Looks like you are fishing in front of the Aquarium:Wink: LOL.

Sorry we missed each other Monday, the football game was good, but the Costco Mac and Cheese was GREAT. You should of come by.
Noriko and I will be in town this year for Christmas, so if you come back down be sure to come by. Maybe we can grab Mikey even try to go fishing for a few hours.

See ya soon I hope and stay warm.
WWO

[fishinone]

Nice catches!

Does that job come with an expense account? You need to have the proper gear for the task at hand.