Abalone and Ft. Bragg fish haul

Jimmy Carl Black · 08-20-2005, 09:30 AM

Our annual freedive trip for sea slugs had a welcome addition this year.

We managed these 12 keeper nooks after sleeping in and finally leaving the harbor at 9:30. We were pulling the boat out at 11:25. Thanks for the report MarkMc.

final score for 4 days on the salmon was 28 keepers and some 15 or so we shook. We didn't see a silver. That's the best salmon fishing I'm likely to experience for a while.

The grateful fisherman:

Here we are paddling out of the Big River to the abalone grounds with picturesque Mendocino in the background.

First ab of the trip is a nice 8 1/2"

Tides and seas were dictating it was time to paddle in so I pulled a couple of smaller 'eaters' for the campfire.

Ab posession limits meant a focus on spearfishing for the last dive. Found a real nice reefy spot in close with plenty of fish. Mostly yellow/black rockfish, pile and striped perchies, blues, a few blacks, 20-22" lings and some nice greenling in the 15-20" range.

deepsix · 08-20-2005, 01:34 PM

Very nice! Like the ABs and what a haul on the chinook. It looks like your plan came together. How did you do down at whale cove a couple of weeks ago spearfishing?...deepsix

Zodiac-Fisherman · 08-20-2005, 03:04 PM

Brett,

Looks like a awesome get away.. Humboldt county has some great things going on down there..

Dylan

tt3886 · 08-20-2005, 03:17 PM

I spent most of my first 18yrs of life in that area. I just experienced a flood of great memories...thanks.
Good job btw. :smile:

Metal Manipulator · 08-20-2005, 03:30 PM

Good haul on the Nooks.

Threemuch · 08-20-2005, 04:01 PM

Nice job JCB. You up for another run for Crabalone in November?

Jimmy Carl Black · 08-20-2005, 06:37 PM

Kurt,

You must have read my mind. I can't wait to get back down. Crabalone sounds real nice.

DeepSix, I wussed out on my dive that day. Had to get home to study for a couple of exams and that kind of thing.

Fishmstr · 08-20-2005, 06:52 PM

That last pic looks like Van Dam State Beach. Great spot when it is snotty on the outside. Spend 6 years in Arcata and used to make many trip down there for slugs.
Nice work.

Onokai · 08-20-2005, 08:47 PM

Ah Mendocino Campground. Nice conditions and lots of abs. salmon look good to. Mark

jigmaster · 08-21-2005, 01:50 AM

Cha-Ching..Way to go

...Great pics

.On the water and in the water..That's the style....Did you get the Salmon on the kayaks? TB

retaliate · 08-21-2005, 09:12 AM

Way cool!