Sacramento Reef

We woke to high fog and flat seas with a decent breeze. The skiffs launched and headed to the reef. Nico and I were on the big boat. The crew set up and chummed the kelp for calico, vermillion rockfish, ling cod, whitefish, and a variety of critters. The bass were quality with everything in the 3lb plus range. Best bass on the big boat was probably in the sixes - everything was on Big Hammers. The 'Hot Karl' color was popular with this reefs' inhabitants. Nico caught a nice ling and we killed a few vermillions for boat lunch the next day. It was a fun morning with consistent action.

The skiffs reported low numbers of bass but outstanding quality up in the canopy. I believe big bass that day was an 8.6lber. It sounded like everyone who was out got fish in the 5-7 range. Unfortunately some commercial panga guys ran us off claiming that the reef was private property (obviously false). Captain Joe did the right thing though by avoiding any confrontation and leaving the area.

With a half-day to kill we headed out to some 40 fathom rockfish stuff to get a few more reds and starries for boat lunch. Pete brought a giant squid to the boat on an iron and several people had holes cut through their baits by the tentacled beasties. Since we had no use for squid, the crew knocked them off the hooks. No water cannon fights on this trip.

Next stop was a spot called Canoas around sunset where we fished from the big boat for sand bass and bottom critters. The sand bass fishing was pretty damn easy although the wind made the drifts very fast. I caught them good on the Rob's Bluegill color 5" Hammer. We're thinking of renaming that one 'sand bass spectacular'. Ha. The sand bass were nice quality, 2 and a half to 5 pounds.

That night we ran to the lee of Cedros.

Giant squid

Reds and Starries