Fishing Report – Capitola Wharf 10/15/2024

Three dedicated SIR fishermen hit the road at BCOD (bright and early, 6:00 AM) for a trip to the newly rebuilt Capitola Wharf, which had been destroyed in last winter's storms. The pier is now brand new and stunning, with its grand reopening just a few weeks ago. We arrived around 7:00 AM, snagging prime parking right at the entrance. While some final touches were still being made by the workers, the wharf was already a great spot, complete with benches for relaxing or fishing and picnic tables for a scenic meal. The cool, foggy weather added to the atmosphere, with the shoreline often hidden from view, only to be revealed now and then when the fog lifted.

Wally, Heber, and Dave all managed to reel in fish, but Wally was the standout angler of the day. Our haul included skates, bullheads, crabs, and kingfish (some of which we kept). There were only about a dozen other fishermen on the pier throughout the day, and we fared just as well, if not better, than most of them.

By 2:00 PM, we decided it was time to call it a day and packed up our gear. Wally took the wheel for the drive home. Heber took all the kingfish, filleted them, and prepared a delicious meal by coating them in egg, cornmeal, and Cajun seasoning before deep-frying them. Despite their small size (about 12 inches), the fish were tasty, though tricky to fillet without leaving some bones behind. The meal fed two, with enough leftovers for lunch the next day.

Capitola Wharf is definitely staying on our list of favorite spots, especially with rock fishing season opening in November—when we plan to take a skiff out into the bay for our next adventure!

  Wally with a king fish                    Dave caught a big one

   
    Wally refusing to touch his skate                     Dinner for two
    (it has venomous barbs on the tail)