new year's crab on the hulicat - 12/26/2017

[alantani]

new year's crab on the hulicat - 12/26/2017

ok, my last trip for the year.  been spending too much time goofing off this month.  gotta knuckle down this final week and get some actual work (and reels) done before heading to back to puerto vallarta on 2nd.  headed out early this morning with my buddy rick and boarded the hulicat for the final rockcod/crab combo of the year.  tom mattusch has been running the hulicat out of half moon bay for as long as i can remember.  great skipper, true gentleman, all around great guy.  we had a really light load today, but tom didn't cut any corners.  it was a great way to end the year.  

let me introduce you to the boat and the skipper!



the winds were predicted to be 15 knots all morning, but it was flat calm mid morning, didn't pick up until the afternoon.  i fished my standard whole squid rig with a single 50 pound double hook leader, with a j-hook on top and a treble on bottom.  got a 6 pound vermillion on the very first drop, followed by two lings, another smaller vermillion and a 3 pound canary.  ok, done!  that pretty much filled my cooler bag, so i started fishing for fun.  i stuck a final ling and handed it off.  turned out to the jackpot winner!  

check out the vermillion.  mike weighed the big one out at 6 pounds!



and after this pair of lingcod, the cooler bag was full!



ok, that's it for me for the year.  got a million things to do before i leave for PV again.  if you have time, the local weather looks good through friday, then it's going to pick up on saturday but it should be fishable, then it's going to blow on sunday.  you've got until sunday for the rockfish/crab combos, then it's going to be crabs and dabs.  the hulicat may also take a shot at petrale sole in january, but that is apparently still under discussion, so december 31st is not totally the end of local fishing.  just don't miss the chance to get your new year's crab and rockfish if you can!  go get 'em!  alan

[alantani]

almost forgot the best part.  got 8 dungeness crab for dinner tonight!

[Alto Mare]

Back in action in full force , are your taste buds back as well? I hope so.
Glad to see you out there.

Sal

[Bryan Young]

Alan, thank you for sacrificing your Tuesday to bring home delicious, fresh crab dinner.  And your sister-in-law's split pea soup was heavenly, and I don't even like split pea soup. 

[alantani]

taste buds are still off, but better.  mouth is still dry, also.  both a leftover effect of the radiation.  these will likely never return to 100%, but i can manage.   

[mikeysm]

Alan I make a Jamaican jerk sausage or my Nduja that will wake up your taste buds. It will also open up your blood vessels. I watch people eat their first bite almost cry. Then keep right on eating. They get pulled in and their endorphins take over. Sure to moisten up your mouth.

Mike