September 16, 2017
Open Shelter Kayak event
You don't want to miss it!
;0)

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The Cove - right now.

I'm hanging with my uncles at The Tides Inn. We try to have an annual fishing rendezvous at our favorite west coast port. Our current visit is part of a long history of family gatherings here dating back to the 70's, and we're stoked to be perpetuating the tradition.

Today Robin and Gene stayed on shore since the launch was closed - Gene brought his Whaler, so they'll be on it tomorrow.

I launched the X-Factor early and while I was deploying my buddy Eric Kaai's crab trap I got word of some Cali-hali bites happening in close. I trolled the nearshore past the moorings and looked for bait congregating, but I quickly lost interest and moved on to try for some lingcod.

Soon though Eric was on the water and he was focusing on the shallow hali bite. Working the outside, I managed to get one lingcod, but the rockfish bite was slow, so it was a no-brainer to head for the nearshore when Eric kept coming back on the radio talking about another halibut hookup in close.

I headed in, checked Eric's crab trap to find half a limit of nice males, and then moved in to halibut troll with him. Eric kept getting hookups, but most were shorts - he did bag one legal at around 24". I couldn't seem to get a bite, and I was chalking it up to my bigger, clunkier setup...

I was due to join the uncles for brunch - Robin's special pancakes with homemade apricot jam - so I headed for Eric's trap to pickup the crab. There were a couple more nice ones in the pot since I'd re-deployed it, and I was heading to work with Eric on hauling and stowing the catch and the trap, when I unexpectedly got picked up on my trailing chove. Soon I had a nice halibut in the net, and the day was really turning good!

After celebrating our catches and enjoying a bit of time on the sunny late morning ramp, brunch with the uncles was glorious, and an afternoon of hanging out fileting fish, cleaning gear and drinking beer was a prescription for relaxation. By just before dinner time I was eyeing my tide book and scheming how to get down to the ramp for the evening high and another try at a halibut!

I ended up getting out on the SUP with a big surf rod and a fat Crocodile spoon. I paddled out, tossed my lure back toward the ramp from the wash rock area, and within 45 minutes I had caught and released two short 'buts. So fun from the SUP! 4 guys trying from the beach had caught and released two shorts over the same time period, so the SUP was producing! And the halibut bite is on at the Cove!

Ended the day watching the Shelter Cove sunset and enjoying BBQ and more brews with the uncles. Very grateful for this time, these people, this place and the wildlife that we so long to interact with. Find your wild side - do it with family if you can - be thorough and bring it from your heart. Happy Summer!

Great advice! I wish I could follow it today, but it'll have to be the weekend - if conditions allow.

Nice score man!

-Eliot

man, i wanna go back to that magical place 

nice score on the sup hali 

Heck yeah! What are ya getting the butts on?

Nice fish Eric!  You are killing me here at work.  I need to get back over there soon.