User-Friendly Lingcod - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Hunter (The 80's Man) · 09-29-2013, 07:08 PM

I wish I could say this is a deliberate training video made to show what NOT to do. But, it’s not. Instead, it shows me caught off-guard and totally unprepared. But, goes to show when God is planning on giving you a gift there’s not much you can do to mess it up, and in the end you get it anyway.

Planning for the Cambria tournament began weeks prior with me pouring through the regs, trying to familiarize myself with the local rockfish, which isn’t an easy task for a color-blind guy. I made-up a cheat-sheet taped it to my kayak with legal sizes, limits, and some details that would help on the water… All in vain. No telling how long it lasted on the freeway, I just know it wasn’t there when we reached the campground.

Camping with Team Sewer was a blast. Although I think apologies are necessary for the family with the little girl camping next to us. I’m sure she heard things she won’t understand until high school (most-likely college).. And to the Dungeons and Dragons guys that shoo away the drunk girls, you go with your cloaks and bad selves! Thou thinkest unreal that grown men were stilleth playing that game!

Morning came with a hundred kayaks on the beach at gray light and I was pumped (but, without my cheat sheet). I paddled out and it didn’t take long for the frustration to set in. Started catching a few fish here and there, but having never seen most of the species before, was having trouble identifying them. I decided just to release the fish, in fear of keeping something protected (there was nothing of real size anyway). From then on, I was going to make the most of the day and just have fun, forget about the competition and just fish/enjoy the beautiful coast.

I hooked-up with the rest of guys to find out they were getting hit pretty good on a different bait. So, I chose to make the change. While setting my rods up, I drifted into a small patch of kelp where my rudder got stuck. Perfect! Then, I really gave up. So, in my frustration I decided just to drop my lines there. That’s when I found my user-friendly lingcod... I’m so thankful that stupid fish was so hungry for the greenling on my line. I caught him, and all the other fish I weighed-in in a matter of 20 minutes in the same spot with my rudder stuck in the kelp. That gave me a 2^nd place finish. Thank You, Lord.

Rob

p.s. On behalf of Team Sewer, I also wanted to take this opportunity to publicly apologize to the bathroom attendants at Denny’s, the Shell Station, and Wendy’s.

09-29-2013, 07:08 PM	#1
Hunter (The 80's Man) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Riverside Posts: 243	User-Friendly Lingcod I wish I could say this is a deliberate training video made to show what NOT to do. But, it’s not. Instead, it shows me caught off-guard and totally unprepared. But, goes to show when God is planning on giving you a gift there’s not much you can do to mess it up, and in the end you get it anyway. Planning for the Cambria tournament began weeks prior with me pouring through the regs, trying to familiarize myself with the local rockfish, which isn’t an easy task for a color-blind guy. I made-up a cheat-sheet taped it to my kayak with legal sizes, limits, and some details that would help on the water… All in vain. No telling how long it lasted on the freeway, I just know it wasn’t there when we reached the campground. Camping with Team Sewer was a blast. Although I think apologies are necessary for the family with the little girl camping next to us. I’m sure she heard things she won’t understand until high school (most-likely college).. And to the Dungeons and Dragons guys that shoo away the drunk girls, you go with your cloaks and bad selves! Thou thinkest unreal that grown men were stilleth playing that game! Morning came with a hundred kayaks on the beach at gray light and I was pumped (but, without my cheat sheet). I paddled out and it didn’t take long for the frustration to set in. Started catching a few fish here and there, but having never seen most of the species before, was having trouble identifying them. I decided just to release the fish, in fear of keeping something protected (there was nothing of real size anyway). From then on, I was going to make the most of the day and just have fun, forget about the competition and just fish/enjoy the beautiful coast. I hooked-up with the rest of guys to find out they were getting hit pretty good on a different bait. So, I chose to make the change. While setting my rods up, I drifted into a small patch of kelp where my rudder got stuck. Perfect! Then, I really gave up. So, in my frustration I decided just to drop my lines there. That’s when I found my user-friendly lingcod... I’m so thankful that stupid fish was so hungry for the greenling on my line. I caught him, and all the other fish I weighed-in in a matter of 20 minutes in the same spot with my rudder stuck in the kelp. That gave me a 2^nd place finish. Thank You, Lord. Rob p.s. On behalf of Team Sewer, I also wanted to take this opportunity to publicly apologize to the bathroom attendants at Denny’s, the Shell Station, and Wendy’s. __________________ What's in YOUR hatch?