The Fishing Report: It’s a secret

Shhh… don’t tell anybody. Shelter Cove is a really cool place to go fishing. I know I have shared this secret place with you before and before too long I probably will have to fight the hordes of anglers to get out to the fishing grounds, but fishermen are notoriously bad secret keepers so I am not going to even try.
Located on the Lost Coast of Northern California and 30 miles west of Garberville, this quaint little fishing village is an idyllic setting for a long weekend getaway for Sonoma county fisher-folks. It is not for the faint of heart, however, and your patience will be tested on more than one occasion. But if you can take a deep breath (well, maybe not that deep) and go with the flow, you will have a great and memorable time.
Fishing is done by boat. There really are almost no fishing options if you do not have some sort of watercraft. That said, almost anything from a kayak to a 25-foot Osprey will work. I wouldn’t want to bring anything larger than 26 feet into the cove because of the extreme difficulty of the decent in to the Cove and, also, the launch is very shallow. The launching can be done by yourself if you are not averse to putting your transmission in the salty water but most people opt to pay for the high wheel tractor service that is available at the top of the ramp. I must say that a welcome change occurred in the management of the service this year and that while it is not perfect, it has at least a semblance of being run well, and that this year’s service providers are courteous and responsible.
Once on the water your fishing options are numerous. Salmon fishing during the summer months, especially later June and July, can be of the “epic” variety. Trolling is the main stay here and while some try their hand at mooching, it doesn’t seem to have caught on. My personal favorite presentation is the Purple Haze hootchie inserted with a plug cut anchovy lead by a 10-inch Les Davis dodger. This rig accounted for all of our fish in record numbers and sizes when I was at the Cove two weeks ago.
After you have landed your limit of salmon, you don’t have to go very far to look for large lingcod and rockfish on the neighboring pinnacles and reefs. A 4-ounce lead head and a 6-inch swim bait is really all you will need to fill your 10-fish limit in short order.
If the weather is calm, you have a couple extra days and you are done with salmon and rockfish, you can contemplate two additional choices. Some of the best Pacific halibut grounds are located just outside Punta Gorda, a mere 20-mile run up a gorgeous coastline. And often in late July, the albacore tuna can make a showing as close as 15 miles from the beach. Sand dabs by the hundreds, along with enough crab to fill most people’s pots, are also available until the end of July.
There are several 6-pack-style party boats to choose from. I would recommend Trent Slate’s Outer Limits, the Outcast and the Sea Hawk. The cost for a full day’s fishing is around $225; and for that it is not unreasonable to come home with two salmon to 30 pounds; 10 rockfish, including two lingcod to 25 pounds, and six crab. All of the skippers and deck hands aboard these three boats will clean, fillet and package your catch for transportation. If you are lucky enough to come home with a haul of this magnitude, the price per pound of fish will be in the single digits, which makes this a bargain.
Lodging varies from “girlfriend/wife”-worthy at the Lost Coast Inn to “just your buddies” camping at the shelter cove campground. Services are very limited. Fill up with gas before you come down the hill, and if you are planning long-range trips you will want to add full Gerry cans to your list.
This is truly a remarkable venue for a fishing excursion but shhh….don’t tell anybody. It isn’t a secret!
For more information and or reports, please contact Hunt Conrad at Prospect Mortgage, 431-9715.