Pacific City & Depoe Bay OR 3-6
 

Howdy all!

How 'bout a report from up north?
Sunday started out at Pacific City where a couple of the guys from Northwest Kayak Anglers and myself were set to punch through the surf and fish our arms off. The only problem was that the surf wasn't all that forgiving.

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We sat on the beach for an hour or two and tried again, but it seemed the surf was still just a bit too much for kayak fishermen.

So after the beat-down, Anthony suggested we head down to Depoe Bay. With one last long gaze at the surf I said, "Let's do it.".

We slipped out through the channel and were greeted by a washing machine of waves. On the drive down I was worried the wind was going to kick up since we were approaching the mid afternoon, but it wasn't too bad. We didn't really bother with trying to head north or south once we were outside the channel. We pretty much got out and dropped lines. I started off by picking up a few black rockfish and then hooked into a nice sized cabezon. Since my sounder was trashed from the wave ride this morning, I was just going off my previous fish spots on my GPS. This actually did pretty well although I really missed knowing how deep I was fishing.

I started picking up a few small lings and then peddled out to where Anthony was. We worked the south corner around some kelp for a little while and I picked up a decent black rockfish and a couple of lings, one of which was a couple of inches past legal and the other looked just barley there so I tossed him back. I hooked a beautiful red irish lord and then decided to head back closer to the channel and fish my earlier spot a little more before heading back in. I hooked a couple more small lings and called it good since it seemed like the wind was picking up a little more and the sun was starting to droop in the sky.

Over all it was a pretty successful day. After less than three hours I had a gallon zip-lock bag full of fish for the freezer. Thanks to Anthony for the idea to head south. It was awesome - a morning of playing(and getting smashed :-) ) in the surf, and an afternoon of great fishing.

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Cheers from NWKA!

Beautiful fish, at least you were well rewarded for your efforts!

Great report, looks like a lot of fun. Did you loose much in the failed surf launch?

that's a great report! it looked so close on that launch... way to get fish! :cheers1:

Nice videos. I love the surf launch. Is that rocky bottom or sand? Looked pretty shallow where you rolled. Any damage, other than the FF?

Nice cab!

Thanks for the love!

The only thing I lost was a hook sharpener. I almost lost: fishing license, water bottle, my mirage drive... and consciousness. :D I don't think I've ever been hit by a wave that hard!

At one point I was facing the shore, watching my kayak as I was making my way back to it and noticed the mirage drive was hanging off the side by the leash. I thought, "I'm sure glad I had that thing leashed on!" And with that thought, almost as if it was waiting for me to think that, the leash snapped as another spiller pushed my kayak again. I practically dove to the spot it had snapped and luckily found the drive.

My sounder screen (cuda 168, rest its soul) was cracked due to poor placement of the screen right up against the front of my GPS mount. So the screen was cracked after punching through only a couple of waves, well before I wiped out. The ensuing washing machine of salt water sealed its fate. Other than the sounder, no damage.

It's a sandy bottom where we launch, but there are some rocks not too far away so we have to be real careful while waiting for a break between sets. Once or twice I've almost been pushed right up into those from the littoral current.

Looks brutal out there. Great video report!

Even though I knew your not going to make it, I'm watching the video trying to tell you to paddle-paddle-paddle :D

nice fish

Great report, and inspiring video.

It had me sitting up straight, like I was right there with you.

Thanks, and congrats on the fish.

Man, it really looked like you were gonna make it. Think I need to bookmark that to get my blood flowing when I get to my cubicle.

that looks hard core...
I too, was yelling PADDLE PADDLE PADDLE!
got my heart racing...
that was some close interval surf you crazy mofo's shoulda hit the
Depoe earlier...I'm the same way...ah...what's a little surf!
and I too have benn humbled, more than once...

do you guys wear dry suits up there?
what's the water temp?
The water here in Malibu is about 56ish or so this time of year...

Man.... pucker factor was starting to kick in....

I'm thankful we (down here in SD) have the LJ shores area for a smooth launch.

Interesting looking catch. Thanks for sharing the video.

That's not a cabazon ,thats a CABASAURUS ,,nice catch and rockin vid

@yakrider
A lot of guys wear drysuits up here. I use a drytop and kokatat tempest pants with fleece underneath and it works really well. Even with that wipeout I didn't get much water leakage at all. The water temp this time of year is usually in the high 40's.

@old_rookie
Yup, there are plenty of days I miss the LJ launch! Heck, I'll even take the launch at Dog Beach!

Man, when i saw that big wave comming, I was like RETREAT!!!!!!!!

then it caved it and i said O MAN!!!

that was a thrill just watching it!!!

That video is awesome. Good try. Any Dory's launch that day??

Nope, no dories. Actually, one of the guys out with me that day has a dory. He said he wouldn't have even considered trying that day in his boat. :rolleyes:

Cool Stuff. That Cabbie is Gross Big! :luxhello:

Cool videos too. I couldn't stop watching the launch vid- I was getting all nervous just watching it. I almost had to stop watching the catching vid, because I was getting seasick :o

Looks lie a cool area, Its on my list...