Poke Pole Fishing: HUGE 5lb Monkeyface Prickleback Eel!

After a four month hiatus, Outdoor School of Thought is back! Jason, Hosanna, and I trekked out to our favorite rocky shore off of the Northern California coast. We spent the morning poke pole fishing and seaweed gathering. I caught three monkeyface prickleback eels with the biggest eel being 24.5 inches and weighing in at 5lbs, while Hosanna caught and released her first cabezon. Don't forget to like and subscribe!
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[@coffeeismygod]

Awesome video! I’m a Colorado fisherman, I’ve only been poke pole fishing twice. Haven’t caught an eel yet, but I can’t wait to try again.

[@Nachogamingnz]

So cool

[@koji_h]

Good stuff dude!

[@tigergray1100]

I caught 7 monkey eels in that area before

[@RipCityReP]

I think both ends need to go through loop not just the hook end, unless I’ve been doing it wrong. Great vid

[@sharonkasper5126]

Now that's what I call, knowing how to fish and where. Wonderfull, simply wonderfull. To bad no close-up shots from the monkey face. Oops, looking at other sites and there its showing the monkey face. Nice going guys and lady. Don't know why it would be smelling like poop? Love to try poke poling myself. First time I ever heard of a monkey faced eel and smelling like poop. Thank you.

[@user-ks4bu7zx7u]

Where are you I go poke pole at Doran and bodega headlands this spot looks cool

[@kito1san]

Its a cabezon and needs to be 15" to keep.

[@michaelgonzales2057]

I always brain the eels right away and bleed them they are so freakin slippery

[@outdoorschoolofthought]

michael gonzales I’ll be doing that moving forward.

[@tainguyen6764]

Hey do you know what’s the size limit for these eel?

[@outdoorschoolofthought]

No size limit but they count against your rockfish bag limit.

[@VCheckItOut]

Where can we buy that hand tool you use to hold/grip the fish?

[@outdoorschoolofthought]

Here’s a link to fish grips amzn.to/44vLbut

[@lic_balls]

Where is this I wanna go fishing for eels but I don’t know where

[@outdoorschoolofthought]

If you're new to poke pole fishing, I recommend trying the Half Moon Bay Jetty (North or South) during low tide (harbor side). Once you've gotten your confidence up, drive down HWY 1 during low tide and keep an eye out for rocky shores with tidepools.

[@lic_balls]

Thanks I’ll try that

[@lic_balls]

Outdoor School of Thought and for the south jetty should I still try poke pole fishing

[@outdoorschoolofthought]

@@lic_balls Rockfish and eels can be caught on both jetties. I usually do the North jetty.

[@lic_balls]

Outdoor School of Thought thanks man

[@laosrefugee5232]

Hey, would like to come out and fish with ya’ll sometime

[@lorenzogonzales7041]

5:30

[@kpnitrl38]

Where is this?

[@lorenzogonzales7041]

That was a decent sized cabezon not a baby lingcod

[@jerryyanez5855]

We’re you buy the bamboo sticks?

[@outdoorschoolofthought]

Jerry Yanez Any hardware store with a gardening section should have them as garden stakes/decorations.

[@edquier40]

The best bamboo can be found at nurseries, I found 15' bamboo poles and make my own Rod Buster Fishing Academy Humboldt Bay Campus tips for proven superb poke pole gear.

[@addamnorberte9818]

Where is this location please

[@outdoorschoolofthought]

South of HMB off HWY 1.

[@SunnyIlha]

5:30gurl!!

[@412N3L]

How long is your pole bro?

[@outdoorschoolofthought]

A typical poke pole is 5 to 8 feet. It depends on what type of structure you’re fishing in. A jetty or deep tide pool might require a longer pole and a longer coat hanger leader.

[@jeridandes8973]

Are you in Southern Oregon?

[@outdoorschoolofthought]

No. SF Bay Area, Northern California.

[@edquier40]

Darn good poke poling in the Brookings area

[@outdoorschoolofthought]

@@edquier40 I might have to check it out someday

[@ChriSFishDish]

That is a fatty.. Nice catch..!!