posted 09-08-2005 02:55 PM ET (US)        

I would love to observe these amazing animals from the relative safety of a boat. I'd bring my fishing gear to
fish for rockfish/lings while I was out there. Will leave the dive gear home. It would have to be one of those perfect weather days we can get in October. I launch out of Bodega Bay and it's around 40 miles.

posted 09-08-2005 06:59 PM ET (US)            

It's only about 29 nm to SE Farallon from Half Moon Bay.
Kawika and I have have made four spring time runs out there
to dive, and we've talked about going in October, with a
pseudoseal, weather permitting. We didn't get weather window
last October. We've only had four weather windows in the
first halves of '04 and '05.

BTW, the "scientists" in that book are:

A. Really good at PR.
B. Kicked off the island. They were selling shark trips in
Europe and got caught.

posted 09-09-2005 10:08 AM ET (US)            

A buddy of mine divemasters for Great White Expeditions:
http://www.greatwhiteadventures.com/farallons.html .
I'm also gettting mixed messages as to whether towing a
surfboard still works. My buddy says yes, another friend
with contacts in the science community says they say no, the
sharks have figured out that there's no calories in fibreglass.
Still worth a try as it's an interesting place to visit.

posted 09-09-2005 12:28 PM ET (US)            

I would be into a run out there if the weather window allows.

posted 09-10-2005 10:53 PM ET (US)            

Here's our definition of a weather window:

The go/nogo decision is based on the Pt. Arena to Pigeon
Pt. out 20 nm forecast, with a minority opinion from the
out 60 nm forecast. Decision to meet based on the 3 p.m.
forecast the day before. We don't meet or go unless all of
the following are true: Winds 15 knots max, wind waves 3' max,
swell 5' max (MAYBE 6' if it's long), no rain, no fog.

(Yes, we actually have written procedures for our dive trips
out there.

We've had a few weather windows slip away the day before. And
we've a few just appear, to late to organize anything.

posted 09-11-2005 09:28 PM ET (US)            

And it's a half hour less drive from my place.

On the other hand, we've never had a parking problem in
Sausalito, and almost didn't get parking in HMB once (hot
bite).

posted 09-19-2005 07:23 PM ET (US)            

This weekend looks kid of rough.

SAT
NW WINDS 25 TO 35 KT WITH OCCASIONAL GALE FORCE GUSTS TO 45
KT. COMBINED SEAS 8 TO 12 FT. PATCHY FOG.

posted 09-19-2005 07:26 PM ET (US)            

Turn away storm! Go! Blow somewhere else!

posted 10-18-2005 12:33 AM ET (US)            

Keep us posted.

posted 10-18-2005 08:00 PM ET (US)            

But I have to escort the lovely Admiral to a co-worker's
wedding, and Kawika lost a wheel off his trailer this past
Sunday and he's hoping the parts will come and he'll be
putting the traler back together Saturday.

Sunday is big swells again. ;-(

posted 10-19-2005 05:45 PM ET (US)            

They will circle you a few times too if he is curious.

Last time, I was there with the wife and friend. The shark was longer than a 17 foot montauk and as wide as a f350 super duty truck.

posted 10-19-2005 08:51 PM ET (US)            

if you fish the farallon islands, you suppose to fish from 60' to 120' of water. Thats the regs.

Also, shark attack at bodega bay.
here is the article for you:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/10/19/MNGLFFATD59.DTL

posted 10-21-2005 07:42 PM ET (US)            

No fishing shallower than 60'. It goes from zero to 60 to
a lot deeper in a hurry.

Chuck

posted 10-23-2005 04:48 PM ET (US)            

It was really foggy so after we launched we were going slow between the channel makers making our way out to the bay. In the mean time I was checking all my stuff such as radar, chart plotter etc. making sure all systems were go. After that I let my wife and buddy steer the boat while I went into the console to get some warmer clothes. Apparently my wife and buddy got a little disoriented in the fog and in less than half a minute proceeded to steer us to the right of the channel marker and promptly ran us aground. Fortunately we were practically at idle speed and sustained no damage. All I had to do was lift the engines a bit and back out. We were back in business in no time but the humiliation lasted a while longer.

After that experience, my wife was a little too shaken up to consider the Farallons, as I suspected, so we went north. Even though the seas were about 3 or 4 feet the ride was bumpier than expected. The swells seemed steeper than usual. That coupled with the fog seemed to scare my wife buddy so we didn’t get as far north as I wanted but we did make it a little past Fisk Mill cove. The fishing was ok but it wasn’t the carnage our boat inflicted the last time we went out. It seems like the Fort Ross/Salt Pt. area gets hit pretty hard all summer by the party boats and are fished out now. The party boats must know this as well and are now going up as high as Stewarts Pt.

The downhill ride home was nice though but my wife was still really nervous about cruising in the fog. I have to admit that I hate the fog too but radar and GPS sure make it a lot easier.

Anyway, we get back to port, put the boat on the trailer and head to the flushing area. All the sudden I notice that one of the trailer tires is flat. Fortunately we have Vessel Assist along with Trailer Assist. I just called them and within an hour someone came out and changed the tire.

While we were waiting to have our tire changed I noticed that there were a lot of Whalers there. I’m still a bit shy to go up to tired fisherman and ask them if the know about CW, next time I will.

posted 10-24-2005 02:05 PM ET (US)            

Pick good day and seas. You can get there fairly quick if everything is timed perfectly.

posted 10-24-2005 03:35 PM ET (US)            

Too bad you guys didn't stop at the Russian River for salmon. I got a 32-pounder and my pal picked up one weighing 28 lbs, plus we each got a little 6/7 lb jack salmon.

I'm going again tomorrow (Tuesday)...wanna come along (no politics at sea, I promise, Tim)?

posted 10-24-2005 07:47 PM ET (US)            

Maybe again this coming weekend, Tim, depending on the weather. We don't have much salmon time left 'til next April, and I'm trying to get out as often as I can. Email me later in the week if that works for you (and very seriously, I leave the work stuff and political sh*t on shore and know you'll do the same...that's why I love to head out so often). The salmon flesh is still just fine; I don't think it gets gnarly until they run some in fresh water. I posted a photo of the 32-pounder all chopped up in the GAM section under my recent topic about Whaling with the Landlord; check it out.

posted 10-26-2005 05:52 PM ET (US)            

They called for some wind and seas yesterday, but it was almost flat calm all day. I fished the River for salmon, then up at Sunken Reef just north and inshore of the Ft Ross buoy for rockfish, and stayed out 'til past four...flat calm (maybe 5 kts from the south), sunny weather, slow, very long interval swells (so far apart and so harmless I can't even guess at their height...maybe 5-7 ft, but sloping so gradually up their faces that it was like being in a Lazi-Buoy recliner ;-). I've heard that it may rain toward the end of the week (we had a brief nasty storm last night which knocked out the power in our neighborhood north of Santa Rosa), but ya know, we'll really know nothing until Friday. Let's stay in touch. I'm going for sure if the weather lets me, and you're welcome to come along.

Matt,

I did opening day of crab season last year in dense fog (so did CW member Steve/17 Bodega, who I think will agree that...) it was madness! Never again; idiots blasting around to hurriedly drop their pots in their 'secret' locations, caring nothing about other boats, rules of the road, lack of visibility, or any other damn thing. I'm going to wait several days this time. It wouldn't have been too bad (except for the huge number of boats at both ramps all trying to launch and later retrieve at the same time) if it weren't so foggy, so have a great time but be very careful, my friend.

posted 10-28-2005 11:02 AM ET (US)            

SAT
NW WINDS 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. NW SWELL 10 TO
13 FT AT 8 SECONDS.

SAT NIGHT
NW WINDS 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT.
NW SWELL 9 TO 11 FT.

SUN
N WINDS 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING NW 10 TO 20 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. NW SWELL 7 FT.

posted 10-28-2005 11:36 AM ET (US)            

Be sure and take your seasick pills... I don't like the combonation of the 13 foot swell at 8 seconds... that sounds a bit steep. Might be ok to stay inside Bodega Bay or SF Bay. My friends have been visiting the beach in the last week and the reports are very large waves but not much wind.

posted 10-28-2005 01:49 PM ET (US)            

The weather always seems to get crappy on the weekend when I can go!!! (Crying and stomping my feet) Oh well there is always next April.

In the meantime I think I will take up Sand Dab fishing. You can do it in the winter. I like them too. I wish I could do crab but I am really allergic to them.

posted 10-29-2005 09:05 PM ET (US)            

I've hooked up some halibut, rock sole, and rock cod from the golf course all the way down to the second estero by drifting anchovies off the bottom. Got a couple of salmon that way too back in the summer.

Ken,

I've been waiting for that scenario for two months! Especially on a weekend. Sigh. I heard the Salty Lady captain talk about great humpback whale watching off the marin coast.

posted 10-29-2005 11:22 PM ET (US)            

There will be other days and I think it would be fun to have a Bodega rendezvous with a bunch of the CA Cwers.

posted 10-30-2005 12:03 AM ET (US)            

email me or call me anytime... ask Tony.. I can go on forever about fishing and whalers!

I like the idea of a Bodega bash of some sort. How about starting a big bon fire at one of the camps at Doran, soak the crab pots, come back and warm up by the fire, coffe, and then when we return with a few dungies, drop them in boiling water, butter, garlic and share the greatest tales of large fish and wild oceans. I'll bring the guitar if someone brings the mandolin.

posted 10-30-2005 12:23 AM ET (US)            

Count me in. I hope to be out next weekend for the crab season opener. I'm praying for swells less than 6 feet. Weather permitting; I plan on being out every weekend until New Years Day.

I've ordered some new safety gear. Remember there have been a couple of capsized Boston Whalers in our waters. Stan's 18 Outrage and Backbrace, the Montauk 17.

posted 10-30-2005 01:40 AM ET (US)            

Don't forget we get to rockfish for the next month too! It sure would be nice if mother nature would cut us some slack.. this year has been unkind to us! I didn't get any of those flat calm 80 degree tee shirt days reeling up constant rock cod at Bodega.

posted 10-31-2005 11:41 AM ET (US)            

When I got back to the dock, I met his buddy John and Lucy. He said he was waiting for backbrace to come back in so he can get his load of crabs too.

When I heard he flipped her, I called him up and said "You ok"? then I said were was your emergency radio ? He said on top of the dash and when it flipped, it went to the bottom of the ocean.

In my boats, I always carry a ditch bag !

posted 11-13-2005 03:43 PM ET (US)            

I may run out of hmb (half moon bay) just for the hell of it.

posted 11-13-2005 06:32 PM ET (US)            

Maybe we could get some Bodega folk to go in tandem and say hi at the buoy... There would be some great whale watching during the winter.

posted 11-14-2005 04:04 PM ET (US)            

Mmm, maybe my memory is faulty. I can't find the one east
of SE Farallon on the charts.

posted 11-14-2005 05:21 PM ET (US)            

Southern California saltwater boating has a much more relaxed atmosphere due to better weather, smaller swells, and a larger supply of offshore islands with nice lee anchorages to kick back and do the Jimmy Buffet thing...not to say there are not many of the same dangers. I even recall Monterey Bay seeming very docile compared with the rugged conditions of Bodega Bay, and I went whale watching on the "Magnum Force" during some very snotty weather. Rain and big seas had most of the passengers doubled over or hunkering in the small pilothouse.

posted 11-14-2005 11:46 PM ET (US)            

SE Farallon isn't that big, we can find each other. Though
if it's after Jan 1, before July 4, and the weather is that
flat, I'll be at Noonday Rock, or thereabouts, diving.

Monterey can be dead calm. Or it can be breaking over the
top of the cars parked at the breakwater (bet it was on
Saturday and maybe Sunday). Read the forecast, and have no
regrets about staying home if it's over your personal
maximums. Mine is 8' NW swells, but that's more about
the diving than the boating.

Yep, when it gets big in Monterey there's no shelter except
the garage.

Hey, this weekend is looking at least decent. Probably not
Farallons decent, but decent.

posted 11-16-2005 02:34 PM ET (US)            

SAT AND SUN
N WINDS 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT.
W SWELL 3 TO 5 FT.

posted 11-16-2005 06:00 PM ET (US)            

Tony

posted 11-16-2005 08:39 PM ET (US)            

THU THROUGH FRI
E TO NE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
W SWELL 3 TO 5 FT AT 9 SECONDS. [Plus, warm and sunny]

Ahhhhhh. Now let's hope they're right for once. Sure hope that the nasty cold I caught today ain't spreading, or I might bump into some of you others convalescing out there tomorrow, chasing them rockfish and crabs around.

posted 11-17-2005 09:21 AM ET (US)            

Wind Direction (WDIR): ENE ( 60 deg true )
Wind Speed (WSPD): 5.8 kts
Wind Gust (GST): 5.8 kts
Wave Height (WVHT): 3.6 ft
Dominant Wave Period (DPD): 11 sec
Average Period (APD): 7.3 sec
Atmospheric Pressure (PRES): 30.14 in
Pressure Tendency (PTDY): +0.00 in ( Steady )
Air Temperature (ATMP): 53.4 °F
Water Temperature (WTMP): 52.2 °F
Wind Chill (CHILL): 51.4 °F

MORE than okay, eh, for these lumpy environs. Tight lines,

posted 11-17-2005 07:29 PM ET (US)            

Tony

What a ride back...fuel costs be damned for once--4500 rpm which meant about 28-9 mph downhill; just over one hour from Salt Point to Bodega Head. This is the fastest I've ever sustained a run in either of my Whalers at sea, which will tell you how mellow it was out there.

posted 11-18-2005 08:40 PM ET (US)            

Sea forecast:
SAT AND SAT NIGHT
N TO NE WINDS 5 TO 10 KT.
WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 3 TO 5 FT AT 15 SECONDS.

Will be in my 170 montauk.

posted 11-19-2005 07:13 AM ET (US)            

Right now, according to the weather bouy it look great.

Will leave about 7 am. Still trying to decide if I should pick up crab first or fish first ???

posted 11-21-2005 05:49 PM ET (US)            

Did you make it back from the islands? If not, no need to reply... :)

posted 11-21-2005 10:41 PM ET (US)            

:=)

If there was a lost vessel or incident, we would have heard a news report by now. Besides, Ken had the Montauk and I'm pretty sure he's a type A when it comes to having his safety stuff together. All the reports I read said the ride to the farallones was bumpy but it got better as the day wore on. Sunday afternoon would not have been a fun ride back I suspect, as Bodega Bay was beginning to get very windy and ugly about 2:00 PM, right about the time when the people were swept off the beach.

posted 11-22-2005 02:12 AM ET (US)            

Last year we got several blues, but:

This year it was later.
The water was warmer (57F at the buoy vs. 55F last year (though
it had been 62F about a week earler).
We didn't go out as far.
Different chum (mackeral last year, something else this year).

But we had a nice 2 1/2 hours drifting and laughing at the
seagulls. "Bird brain" is a very apt description.

posted 11-24-2005 08:26 AM ET (US)            

I just yanked out my hydrasport and will now stop using my whaler today (pulling out all my crab pots). I am done for the season (got enough crab).
Time to concentrate on my other personal things...Till next spring (for salmon).

posted 11-27-2005 10:17 PM ET (US)            

There were lots of small craft on the water, and despite forcast for high seas, there was virtually no surf in the afternoon today. There are clear great white shark warnings at Stinson Beach in english and spanish.