Fished with Nick on Saturday. He's a neighbor transplanted from Newport Beach and England originally. When we first met he said he had made thousands of parachute jumps and several hundred base dives (with only one arrest). He's proven to be a worthy fishing buddy. We met Jack, Joe, Lyle and Michael who were camped out for the abalone re-opener. Ocean Cove campground is the bomb and worthy of vacation plans even if you don't dive. Day use or camping (there are hundreds of B&Bs in West Sonoma County and Michelle's got 6 rooms at the Valley Ford Hotel (linked at
www.Rockeroysterfellers.com) with a special rate for us). If you dive, or want to, you'll add 3 abs per day to the bag. Nick and I took off to fish about 9 am into flat calm seas. The sweatshirts came off quick. Gophers, blue bass and 1-3# China rockfish (we released all the China's since I had never seen one before and found yellow in its eye) a few canaries released and a solid 15# ling I FARMED at the side of the boat. Nick whacked a 3# red for his big fish, I scored a not-so-big and absolutely delicious black rockfish we ate whole last night. Between nick and I, we released our limits in Chinas and only kept 14 rockfish and bass 14" and bigger. Spent about 4.5 hours OTW.
Ocean Cove is a private campground on the beach threatened by MLPA and everyone who wants to outlaw fishing. It is a fine example of the lifeblood of California sportfishing. Make that sportfishing for Californians and everyone else. Hundreds of open sites, porta potties and (I think) showers. A switchback road leads down to the "ramp", a spot on the beach for small trailer boats. Launching is $8 bucks and camping is $20 per day. If you walk your kayaks down, it's a free launch and the Day use fee is only $7 per car and $2 per dog.
www.Oceancove.orgWe cut fish at the cleaning station overlooking the Pacific then headed back to the campsite known for its cooks and kitchen. Joe dished up the biggest portion of fresh uni I have ever seen, a week's supply for a busy sushi bar. A bowl of rice covered with urchin eggs, a little seasoning and a big dose of full strength soy sauce...it was an awesome starter (and a portion you'd only see fishermen consume) for thinly sliced, pounded abalone-rolled in eggwash-panko'd and fried crisp for 45 seconds or so. Beverages, great company, fish on ice, as good as it gets anywhere.
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