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Just got back from the Oregon Coast on Saturday evening. We had a great trip.
Six of us went on a charter boat for bottom fish and crab. We put out 4 crab pots that yielded 28 legal crabs and we limited on Rock Bass in a little over an hour once we started fishing (that's 42 Rock Bass). I caught 1 ling cod, but it was just a bit under the minimum size. My nephew had a keeper right up to the boat but it got off.
We also saw gray whales while on the boat and also a few days later from shore. We went clamming, flew a kit, etc, etc, not to mention the weather was a FANTASTIC high in the mid 60's pretty much every day. :-) Good times... Wish I was still there.
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Nice! Howd you like those back fin/quills on the black bass?! Caught one in the knuckle up in AK last summer and it had some bite to it!
Did you find them in big schools or just bounce jigs on the bottom?
We would mark schools of them trolling for Silvers and after we limited out on them go back and get over the school and drop hoochies 10 feet down and limit out in 10-15 minutes.
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Hmmm, well, the quills were wicked, no doubt. I'm not sure they were any sharper than a bass or perch, but they were a lot bigger in diameter and length. I'd hate to get one in the knuckle like that. Not fun.
There were lots of fish when we started fishing. The captain didn't have us put our lines out until he found a big school. I'd say we caught doubles at least 1/2 the time. They were pretty close to the bottom at first, but moved up as we started catching. I think the regurgitation started a feeding frenzy. It was fast and furious. Towards the end I had a fish jump clear out of the water trying to bite my hook.
I'd like to go back sometime in a boat of my own and fish with a bit lighter tackle. I think I am a few years out from that, though.
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Sounds fun! Thanks for the report. I love bottom fishing over there because you never know what you're going to pull up. Usually mostly black rockfish, but every once in a while a funny colored one pops up!
I'm hoping to head over there to do some tuna fishing in a couple weeks. If I can find a spot on a boat... and the weather cooperates... We'll see. Crossing my fingers!
It probably doesn't matter either way if you get spined clear into the knuckle, but some species of rockfish (e.g. quilbacks) actually have venom in their spines. I've heard they hurt...
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I hear ya on wanting to use lighter tackle. We were hauling them in on our salmon rods so we were pretty over gunned for them. Next summer I am hauling up my fly rod and a full sink line to strip streamers through the schools and try to catch them that way. Hopefully it works out!
You made fish tacos with them yet? I actually like the rock bass we brought home better than the Halibut we brought back.
[quote hooknhunter]Hmmm, well, the quills were wicked, no doubt. I'm not sure they were any sharper than a bass or perch, but they were a lot bigger in diameter and length. I'd hate to get one in the knuckle like that. Not fun.
There were lots of fish when we started fishing. The captain didn't have us put our lines out until he found a big school. I'd say we caught doubles at least 1/2 the time. They were pretty close to the bottom at first, but moved up as we started catching. I think the regurgitation started a feeding frenzy. It was fast and furious. Towards the end I had a fish jump clear out of the water trying to bite my hook.
I'd like to go back sometime in a boat of my own and fish with a bit lighter tackle. I think I am a few years out from that, though.[/quote]
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No fish taco's yet, but we did eat a few. They were good, but not better than Halibut. Did you leave the skin on your But? That can ruin it really quickly, IMHO. I ALWAYS remove the skin.
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Sounds like a nice trip Hook. Grill them bass whole with just a few diagonal slices through the skin and a little salt. Yum Yum I love me some sea bass.
We caught these last year on the WA coast with the UL poles. Good times.
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Nice. Those would be a kick on UL gear.
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