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04-06-2021, 08:45 AM | #1 |
Instagram:@nomad.waterman
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Newport Coast
Posts: 60
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Cambria- first time success!
Before I start, it would be really helpful if you gave me a follow on Instagram at @nomad.waterman . I post regularly with some neat stuff on my page and I'd like to reach more people like you! On Wednesday, March 31st, I drove from Orange County to meet with a friend and grab some ice. I found a spot to camp in my car and get some rest for an epic few days ahead. That morning, I went over to the launch and met with some cool people who were just as excited as I was. Here's a night shot at Leffingwell Landing (love this mode on the Google Pixel 5, it was pitch black and I could still take these pictures). I loaded up the Stealth and paddled 2.8 miles straight out to 230' as I found some interesting rocks on Google Earth. The first drop with the Mustad Inkvader 120g yielded my biggest rockfish of the trip, a 6.5lb Vermillion! After a snag and a snap, I switched over to a 7" big hammer paddletail on a 3oz jig head and it was wide open Copper fishing from there. Yes, it took a little while to get down but the nice freespool on the Cavalla 5nii and some paddling skill got it down without much line scope. Two pitches and pauses with the swimbait was all it took to get a bite. After a few hours and no Lingcod, I paddled back in to see if I could fish the kelp. There wasn't much of it unlike what Google Earth shows. My friend was diving that day and said purple urchin was everywhere. Man, we need some more sheephead! Catching and releasing those are really helpful to our environment, so think about that. The landing was nice and easy. Had a quick picnic on the hill with some friends and made some ceviche with a starry rockfish and some home grown Rocoto peppers. The next day, Anthony (OCOutdoorsman on youtube) came to join on his Old Town Bigwater PDL. That thing is so fast and efficient. We were doing between 4.5-6mph without much effort. We went to the spot and it was the same story. Coppers everywhere! The third day, there were probably 70 kayaks on the beach when we launched. We got some intel the day before, so we headed South this time about 2.7 miles to some rocky bottom about 80-130' deep. I used the same 7" swimbait and quickly limited on Vermillions and had no bites that felt like Lingcod. So I switched from the big hammer over to a Kalin Mogambo 6" grub and the Lingcod loved it. A couple drops with the lure put me on a 21" Lingcod. I let that guy go and soon after... I snagged. I pulled hard to release the snag, but the snag fought back with some nasty headshakes. I realized I had a bigger Lingcod on and I played it out with the 25lb leader because I knew this was the fish I came for. A short fight later, I got a 31" Lingcod that weighed 9lb 4oz on the beach after bleeding out. Maybe it was 10lbs wet? So stoked I didn't even feel the 15-20mph wind on the way back. I love the Stealth, I averaged 3.5mph going directly into the wind. All in all, this was such a fantastic trip. Made me really think about what I want to do with my life as I don't want these to be "once in a while" experiences. I mean, come on, look at how beautiful the night sky was there. We don't see much of that in SoCal (or any populated areas really). Thanks for reading, and please give me a follow on Instagram! Soon I'll start focusing more on YouTube, but I lost my last GoPro so I need a new one and some mounts. One last shot of the Stealth: Last edited by StrikerMC; 04-06-2021 at 08:54 AM. |
04-06-2021, 10:46 AM | #2 |
www.TheKayakLaunch
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Orange County
Posts: 234
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Awesome trip man. Thanks for sharing the pics. I love the Cambria area. Fishing is so much better than around here for the most part. Check out this video of my trip about a year ago. Reds, lings and lots of whales! https://youtu.be/YM-5anvdIR0
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David P YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thekayaklaunch https://www.instagram.com/thekayaklaunch |
04-06-2021, 04:49 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Posts: 1,932
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Nice photodocumentary! Congratulations on the Lingcod! What were the winning catches/awards of the opener?
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04-07-2021, 07:44 AM | #4 |
Instagram:@nomad.waterman
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Newport Coast
Posts: 60
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Thank you! There was some kind of club there that had a big fish award but I don't know what the prizes were. From what I could overhear the biggest Lingcod was 32" and vermillion was 20-21" or something like that.
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04-07-2021, 07:46 AM | #5 | |
Instagram:@nomad.waterman
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Newport Coast
Posts: 60
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Quote:
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04-07-2021, 02:17 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SANTUCKET
Posts: 629
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Fresh n Salty Kayaking Fishing
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04-07-2021, 05:42 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 715
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That's the way to do it!! Nice lingcod, I'm so jealous!!
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04-08-2021, 03:38 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Santa Ana/Westminster
Posts: 1,256
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I think biggest red was $900 and biggest long was a new rod. My 21” red that day was 1/2” shy of the prize.
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Kevin Yellow PA12 |
04-08-2021, 09:37 AM | #9 |
Instagram:@nomad.waterman
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Newport Coast
Posts: 60
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DANG! Such good prizes and you got so close!! I got a 21" red as my first fish on Thursday fishing 230' but no reds that big after that. The fish out there are huge, down here in OC I had to grind hard for a 20"er last year.
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04-08-2021, 11:26 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Santa Ana/Westminster
Posts: 1,256
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You know I never even submitted my fish because someone said oner the radio they had a 24” on the boat. Bastard fooed me lol.
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Kevin Yellow PA12 |
04-08-2021, 11:40 AM | #11 |
Junior
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Arizona, relocated from N. CA
Posts: 16
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What a really good post. Well done. Glad you had this success. Following you now on Instagram.
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04-08-2021, 11:42 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Posts: 1,932
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I have lost out on tournament awards over hearsay also.... always submit your catches -- you never know. Once won the 4th place kayak and a $1700 Calcutta with a 6lb fish.
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04-08-2021, 01:58 PM | #13 |
Instagram:@nomad.waterman
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Newport Coast
Posts: 60
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04-08-2021, 02:02 PM | #14 |
Instagram:@nomad.waterman
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Newport Coast
Posts: 60
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I was in a spearfishing tournament back in 2017 and shot two yellowtail. One was right up against the coastline and I forgot to bring food so I cut it up and ate it on the boat. A couple hours later I shoot one around 5lbs under a paddy (I have this video on my Instagram waaaaay back in there) and we heard on the radio people were shooting yellows and dorados so we thought it wasn't worth weighing it in. My buddies even thought about eating it on board too. But on our way back in to DP harbor I was like, screw it, I just want to weigh it anyways. Boom, 3rd place fish and $200 for my team. A 5lb yellow. Lol.
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04-08-2021, 07:51 PM | #15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Santa Ana/Westminster
Posts: 1,256
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Quote:
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Kevin Yellow PA12 |
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04-09-2021, 01:54 PM | #16 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 47
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Nice bag...thanks for sharing.
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04-11-2021, 07:13 AM | #17 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 63
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Fresh and Salty
The fishing group on Facebook is Fresh and Salty.
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