Category Archives: General Fishing

Rock Cod Fishing off Monterey Bay

Not A Snakehead Story but a Fishing Post from the Pacific!

Rock Cod Catch

On a little west coast vacation this last week taking gorgeous drive down the Pacific Coast Highway which was amazing, someting you all should try to do.

Some of the most scenic views I have ever seen in all my world travels.
Some of the most scenic views I have ever seen in all my world travels.

Scenic Pacific Hwy just south of Monterey Bay

Los Angeles to San Francisco and with a stop for some charter boat fishing off Monterey Bay.  The Rock Cod are good fighters.

A nice 2-3lb Blue Rock Cod caught off Caramel, California on live squid.
A nice 2-3lb Blue Rock Cod caught off Caramel, California on live squid.

After stopping just outside the bay to catch squid on sabiki rigs for about an hour we then headed south towards Carmel and the many rock pilings off the coast in 150 feet of water where the fish congregate.   Fairly calm that day on seas but a fast drift so Captain Chris kept having to reset us over the submerged rock piles where the fish where thick!  All species of “rock cod”, Copper, Vermillion(brilliant red color and  big -I had a 8-10 pounder!), Olives, Blues, Blacks and Starry Cod were what most of us caught.   vermillion cod

I caught a few of these nice size fun fight.
I caught a few of these nice size fun fight.

The prize was the Ling Cod which can get over 50lbs. and have a mouth full of teeth…kind of like a ocean snakehead.  Long and eel-like with long sharp conicle teeth just like a snakehead.

I did not get lucky enough to hook one of these but a few on our boat did.
I did not get lucky enough to hook one of these but a few on our boat did.

So in closing I highly recommend a drive up the scenic California coast and stop in Monterey Bay and to fish with Capt. Chris, you will find him right on Fisherman’s Warf  on the right.  His son Troy is an amazing ball of positive energy and good fish stories.

 

See you on the water,

Dr. D

PS You should make sure you see your chiropractor before and after the trip as the long drive and ocean boat ride will bounce your back out a bit.