Protecting Rockfish...

[the rockfish ninja]

... one Lingcod at a time.
One of my tried & true Rockfish spots had been devoid of action on my last trip and was on this day until I might have stumbled on the possible culprits.
After working the rocks with my jerk bait with not even a small tiddler to catch&release, I started getting hard hits, like getting snagged on a rock, turned out to be a 21" Ling (released). A few casts later I nailed a 23" keeper size. They might have been patrolling the reef & rocks for a while as this jetty is kind of a Rockfish nursery, why I do mainly C&R there. Won't know if it'll make a difference till my next time I fish there. 

[Swami805]

Nice ling, patrolling the shallows on the wrong day

[steelfish]

way to go amigo Ninja, keep those Lincods under control 

[Crab Pot]

Bodega Jetty?

I've always wanted to try my hand at Pole Poking but then I realize I'm old and don't want to walk on slippery rocks, let alone wind and surf and surf soaked rocks! 

Pretty cool catching a keeper Ling for the beach though! I've caught small hardheads from the shore but never a Ling.

Steve

[the rockfish ninja]

Bodega Jetty?

I've always wanted to try my hand at Pole Poking but then I realize I'm old and don't want to walk on slippery rocks, let alone wind and surf and surf soaked rocks! 

Pretty cool catching a keeper Ling for the beach though! I've caught small hardheads from the shore but never a Ling.

Steve

I've never fished up there, I'm down in the Bay Area, nor do I poke pole. I just toss artificials by the rocks around the mouth of the Bay and see what hits. Lotsa dinkers to catch & release, and every once in a while something decent.

As for slippery rocks, that's the #2 cardinal rule of rockfishing from shore. Never fish from wet rocks.

[thorhammer]

Nice work, Tony!