Debra and I loaded the bikes and downriggers and headed over the Bay Bridge Friday after work. We were grateful for the fog, cold and wind as we stocked up the boat with movies and adult beverages for the weekend. We ate at Commonwealth in the Mission that night. A Trendy Beeyotch restaurant full of pretentious people and preposterous food in the small plates vein. Typical dish description:

king trumpets, slow cooked egg, pickled redwood shoots, buckwheat crumble, brown butter froth

We sat at the counter and it was fun watching the kitchen ballet up close. We splurged on a Mourvedre Granache blend and finished up with a glass of port. We had a great time.

Saturday we rode south from South Beach on bikes and rapidly succumbed to thirst about the time we got to Mission Rock so we pulled into the Ramp for brunch. Bloody Marys and breakfast by the bay amongst rotting piers and busy shipyards just like I remember the waterfront. The Ramp is a curious place by the SF Boatworks yard with a lot of non-tourist locals mixed with the twitterati types who can’t be bothered to look away from their cellphone umbilicals. Decent omelettes, burgers etc.

Thus sated we continued our bike ride south towards Candlestick along the decrepit waterfront through ever more dubious neighborhoods. I was on a mission to photograph whatever was left of Candlestick. There are some fascinating waterfront parks between Mission Rock and the Stick. Herons head, Warmwater and a couple of others. Unfortunately they are usually trashed and you damn sure would not park a car there.

As we got closer to Candlestick we ended up in the projects and decided that discretion being the better part of valor we would veer west. Up Ceasar Chavez blvd to Valencia  we rode into the heart of hipster central. I love Valencia street now. It was a shithole when I lived in SF. We continued down Valencia to all the way to Market. Market street is always a stimulating ride dodging clueless hipsters eyes down on thier phones, tourists, taxis, buses, streetcars, demetented homeless etc.  But we knew that at the foot of Market lies the Ferry Terminal and libations. Mojitos on the patio at Market bar was a great finish to another epic bike ride in SF.

Saturday night we went into North Beach and picked up a Gyros platter for 4 at Estia for hot lunch on the boat Sunday. We hit Tommys Joynt and were back on board for the night.

Sunday our son Pat and his bud Mike met us and we pushed of at 8:00 AM. After a stop at the bait man we sailed out the gate. We met Captain Jack and 150 of our closest friends between 4 fathom bank and the North Bar. I got some nice shots of SJ’s sweet Shamrock.

We put 2 lines in on the wire and quickly got a smashing hit on both port and starboard rods. In a split second a very pissed off Thresher jumps 10 feet off the stern and was gone. The next few hours alternated between boredom and stupor as we bounced between the bar, Rocky Pt and Duxbury Buoy. Saw a huge Mola Mola and lots of dolphins, no whales.  AT 1 we ran into Bonita Cove so Debra could cook and we drifted for rockies while gobbling down hot Gyros. Nothing there of any size on the cove so we headed into the south tower for more small rockfish.

More unproductive Crissy fields drifts were enlivened with a kite surfer race.

Fun day on the water despite the complete lack of pink meat prizes.

Debra and I pulled into SF Friday after work relishing the blessed cool air compared to the Tri-Valley cookery. We had dinner that night at Bar Crudo on Divisadero, 2 thumbs up. Small plates goodness.

Saturday morning we set off from South Beach Harbor on a walking tour. We walked up the Embarcadero enjoying the sights.

We veered off towards Chinatown/North Beach and ran into the Falun Gong who certainly  have a flair for the dramatic. Liver anyone?

Dim Sum lunch at City View on Commercial street. 4 thumbs up. Off to North Beach.

Dogs were tired so we rode Muni back to the harbor. Dinner that night at Calzones in North Beach and then a stop at my favorite Greek place for Gyros platter fixings for the fishing trip Sunday.

Mike S met us at the harbor 7:30 AM and we were off to see the baitman and out the gate.

Water was flat and weather was sub tropical. We trolled for salmon for an hour but it was clear no one was fishing for pink so we ran up to the towers for rockfish. Real steady bite but had to wade through the little guys. Got my first hitch hiker ling thanks to a Dangerous net job.

Hot Gyros plates for lunch thanks to Chef Debra

Mid-afternoon we got to see/hear a cool thunder lightning/thunder show off of Ocean Beach

We had busting bait, jumping threshers/porpoises/whales and lots of diving birds late afternoon. Back at the dock at 4:30 where Mike made quick work of the fish.

Will post pics of the fish fry tonight!

Debra and I met Ann, Coral, Dalton and Kai at South Lake Tahoe for a few days of r&r. We survived an awesome Kyburz hailstorm and the dreaded quagga inspection on the way up, to check in at a very comfy Keys VRBO with it’s own dock.

First time for me boating on Tahoe. I had lots of help driving the boat.

We spent a fun but relaxing several days boppin around the lake.

Highlights:

Hailstorm

Emerald bay by boat

Debra’s dinners and Anns breakfasts

Tahoe

Being Uncle Pat

I could not  get the kids on fish, thank goodness they have Uncle Henry to cover that.

Short story, 1 salmon for 5 fishers

Longer story: Baja Bev, Mike and his Pop Larry met us at Pier 40 7:30 and we shoved off. Debra stayed in the main cabin recuperating from San Francisco Saturday night. We did not see her until close to 11 LOL.

I really wanted to get Larry on a salmon as hit batting record on the Peridot is ZIP.  Not due to not trying though. We motored out the gate and up the line to find the fleet stretched from inside at Stinson to the green can. Mike rehabbed my Stellmanized downrigger enroute and I had  bought 2 15 lb weights so we were good to go. We had 3-5 rods out all freeking day some on cannonballs, some on pink ladys and some on the wire.. The crew ran the gear frequently with all manner of enticements. Bait was EVERYWHERE top to bottom with frequent breezing. Bev rigged a spoon up on the bow rod holder just case the blacks started busting. We had a few drivebys with one keeper to show for our trouble.  Threw a ling, blue and trout back along with a trash bag. Shirtsleeve weather all day.

I had to refuse all offers of monetary contribution as atonement.

Happy Birfday to me. Too bad the Giants lost. We all spent the night aboard the mighty Peridot.

Sunday morning Mike met Debra, Randy, Thelma and I at the Java House at the appointed time. We picked up a half scoop of decent bait and headed out the gate.

We motored up to Rocky Point and found the fleet and a whale convention.

Randy and Mike ran the deck today for three small freshies.

Slow overall but I was really happy to be out on the blue. We fished between Rocky Point and Muir from 60-70 feet of water. Lots of bait on the meter and cleaning the fish revealed full bellies of 4-6 inch anchovies. Weather was very nice.

Never used the half scoop of bait as Mike brought tray bait. Can’t wait to get out again!

2 excellent fillets marinating here at post time.

Debra and I spent the weekend on board catching up on deferred maintenance.

View from the stern:

View from the bow of Giants yard. Nice to park right below the glove on game day.

Damn cold this weekend kinda like mid-July. We hit the Public House right on Willie Mays Plaza Friday night for the  Warrior Game. Rowdy crowd and decent nachos from Mijita coupled with a few rounds  made for a fun time, Dubs win was the capper.

Saturday was boat fixing day. We made a well timed trip to West Marine for the 20% off spring sale. Fenders, docklines and snubbers: check. Autoinflate Mustang lifejackets X2: Check.  Mildew remover X2: Check. Lunch at Perrys  and then back to work. Saturday night we went to see Mad Max in 3D at Westfield Center. I liked it, Debra was not entirely impressed.

Sunday we were boarded by Mike and his Pops Larry. I was really focused on getting Larry into some fish. We got a great half scoop of anchovies but intel was not that great from the baitman. Mumbled something about Treasure Island and wind. We started there for an hour plus with a crowd but few nets. As the incoming picked up we joined the fleet on the various rockpiles. We fished them all several times. The tight drift in front of Alcatraz was fun for the captain. If you have never done this drift click on the next 2 pics. I stayed on the bridge for this part LOL.

Picked up a couple of diaper stripers

Spent a lot of time on both ends of Angel, Racoon straits and Paradise. Windy and cold all day.  Saw one hali netted and a few bass.

I am hoping to have Larry back aboard and put him on a better bite. Life is good.

Debra and I scored free camping passes at Laguna Seca for the Tudor Championship. Thank you John V!

Room with a view of Monterey Bay

This was about 3 days of burning calories, candles at both ends, brakes, petrol, tires, campfires etc.   No cooking this time in camp which meant drinks and dinner in Monterey 2 nights in a row which Debra was happy about. Over the weekend we walked all around the track enjoying the different vantage points.  Some shots for your viewing pleasure.

I got this front axle half price….

Love this race track. On a 3 day weekend I will just hang for hours in the paddock people watching while consuming a series of adult beverages.

Track Professional

Insect face

Odd, tripod

A face only a mother could love

This 911 GT did a pretty good job keeping up with the 650 HP Camaros and Mustangs

The corkscrew has some amazing angles

pissyface

Hit the Barge at dawn for solo session

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I decided to give the stripers a rest this time. With largemouth on the menu I quickly found a steady bite on texas rigged senkos.Poked around in Mandeville.

Back to Franks Tract mid-afternoon where I put together a great frog bite. Lost a lot of fish in the slop a couple were toads.

Back in early.

Saturday April 18th.

Henny, Mike, and Zoey met us at Pier 40 at 7:30 and we pushed off for Meatball Bait.

Half scoop of decent size anchovies and we were off. Baitman was pitching TI and we bought it. Lots of party and private boats in the area.

5 rods in the water for four stripers.

Plenty of nets out. Fast drift and getting friskier so we steamed over to Paradise for the usual 10 drifts=zip. Sandwiches courtesy of Henny were the bomb.

We looked up past the San Rafael bridge, metered Red Rock and Richmond harbor entrance. At this point I pointed us west stopping at Racoon and Angel. Circled back to TI where a number of the party boats were still picking awayon stripers in semi jackass waves. Finished up at the Rockwall. I was going to take a peek at the Stick but decided to head back to South Beach.
Damage? 4 stripers, no ifs ands or butts.
Windy
I wanted to poke my nose out the gate but there will be plenty of time for that.

Randy and I left Ptown 6 AM Thursday and we were launching from Bidwell 3 hrs later. We headed up to some walls on the middle fork. It was on.

7 ft spinning rods, 6-8 lb test mono, spring/clip on balsa bobbers above a barrel swivel. 4-6 feet of 6 lb floro leader attached to a crappie jig head.

Bait of choice was 3 inch Zoom flukes in smoky shad. Looks exactly like what many fish barfed up on the deck.

Lots of creeks and springs gushing from recent rains. The middle fork has endless miles of rock walls like this

We drifted the walls  with the wind correcting as needed with the trolling motor. We pitched literally right up to the wall. You cannot get the bait too close.

We KILLED.  2 guys, 3 days, no shit 300 plus fish to hand and many more than that lost due to too much slack when the bobber goes down. We fished 3 days in a row 8-10 hrs a day.

SO much fun. We had a few smallmouth mixed in but no kokes or trout going on the jig this year. Some action on carolina rigged morning dawn robo worms and spinnerbaits but when the bobber bite is on, I can’t resist and become a kid again for a few hours. Wildife was plentiful as usual with deer, otters, quackers, bald eagles, and Osprey competing for our attention.

Lake looked in great shape despite rabid protestations of imminent doom.

Today I am sore head to toe but sitting here wishing I could go back next weekend. Talked to many at the ramp who described a tough bite. Yea, because they bounce a senko off the wall hop it once and then find themselves in 40 feet of water.  I try not to mention back at the ramp  that a 100 fish day is average for us there because no one would believe it.