3 days in the Monterey Bay

[mrjonez]

Just got back to LA from a great vacation. 3 days straight of fishing with my uncle Dan and lots of visiting with family. Oh, and a s- load of seafood.

Spent Thursday preparing my gear for Friday morning. My buddies Tom and Michael came up from LA for the first trip, so i met up with them and took em directly to Phil's Fish Market. Got down on some Cioppino and turned in early.

Day 01 - friday
The sea was looking mean out of the harbor. we had to gun it over the breakers and into the slop. The GPS wasn't working right, so Dan navigated by memory to the Soquel hole. After tying up gear and setting up the down riggers in the slop we all felt a little ill. some more than others. we drop a down rigger and SNAP, the cable breaks! the second down rigger wasn't getting power so that was a wash. we hook up the old school trolling balls and troll around for a few hours during a small craft advisory with no luck. after getting beat up a bit we head inshore to try for halibut. around noon we finally got blown off the water.

broken down rigger. Micheal's sad.



Day 02 - saturday
Dan fixed the down riggers and we were on our way. Dan's girlfriend Kelly came along this trip to balance out the testosterone levels. With the GPS and down riggers fully functional we headed straight out to the hole. the seas were still pretty high, but no small craft warning, so we made very descent time. we trolled for a a few hours and finally BZZZZZZZ. Dan brought the fish in while i ran around and grabbed the net out the cabin. He gets it to the boat and i go for the scoop up behind him and the net spins (didnt lock it) and wacks the fish. fish makes another run and Dan positions it again. I'm not really sure what happens next, but the line ends up in the prop which is still in drive and we loose it. We slump down heart broken and chalk it up to spazzing out. we head inshore for some rockfish and i squeak out 1 china cod. lesson learned - we make a game plan for tomorrow.

Day 03 - sunday
Dan and i get to the dock and on the boat with purpose. We have fresh bait and a game plan, we pre-rig everything and get the net locked and ready. The seas finally laid down a bit. swell was still high, but no wind and by now we have our sea legs on. we troll a few hours and no bites, so Dan decides we go old school and busts out the rotary salmon killers and within a half an hour we get bit. Now the plan goes into action without a word spoken between us. I start pulling the fish in while Dan runs from one side of the boat to the other, bringing up the down riggers and getting them out of the way. he throws us and neutral and grabs the net. the fish takes a few runs when i get it close to the boat, but i just let the drag do it's job and try to relax. 3 days in the making makes you F-in crazy when you get bit. i get the fish to the boat and lean back while Dan dips the net. at this point i cant see the fish, so when i hear Dan yell i almost threw my pole in. I look back and he's grinning, and then he hoists it in over the rail. I think our yelling and laughs drew in the fleet from a mile around.

great morning in the harbor



trolling with purpose!



3 days in the making - salmon success!!!! 32" quality Monterey Bay King Salmon



delicious


I've been fishing my entire life, and I have caught some big fish with great people and family. But with all this build up, the F-ups, the equipment failing, and weather - this fish ranks easily in the top 3 all time epic moments.

[Kevman]

Nice post, bro! That fish will taste extra good!

-Kev

[FISHINGBEE]

I am happy in a way they opened the season. On the other hand maybe thet should have left it closed. Besides Monterey and Bodega Bay the season has been NADA nothing. I lived in N Cal many years i am definatlly worried about the salmon. Half Moon Bay has reported one Salmon in April. The boats going out the gate has less than a fish per angler. Being that the season has been horrible i would like to say Great Job man. I have heard people fishing the hole are as deep as 300 ft. With lots of squid in the area huge white sea bass have been showing closer to shore. All the capt are complaining about the commercial squid boats are taking the food from all the fish inc. salmon in the area.


FISHINGBEE

[Troutman65]

Thanks for the report. Congrats on the Salmon

[primo55]

Nice catch!! Heat up the grill!

[Native Gal]

One SWEET Salmon, Congrats!

NG

[Fishbones]

Great report, and story of trial and error and finally victory...congrats bro you earned it!

[Sparky70]

Give that Salmon to me I will smoke it.

[fullstringer]

thinking of going to half moon bay this weekend, bite is supposed to be hot right now,Anyone hearing anything different.


Joe