Has anyone tried using an A-rig for trolling for halis? I would imagine it would work well. Lots of movement in the water like a small school of bait ripe for the pickings.

I like 5" and 6.5" Big hammers in pearl or any of the baitfish-looking colors. Chartreuse also is a good color. As for how much weight, that depends on your depth.

Cast, let it sink, then use a crank crank crank pause, crank crank crank pause, retrieve. Let the bait touch bottom with each pause to make sure you're in the zone.


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Appreciate all the help guys! I'll be giving it a try once my order comes in on Monday!

Search for member "DC" and check his posts - he's the master, though he's gone to semi-stealth mode on the site.

+1

(This post is for beginners like me and folks that haven't been to ARW.)

From the looks of the fishermen on the wall at ARW earlier this week (and their 5 gallon pails full of Jacksmelt) a Jacksmelt imitation (or the real thing) might be the thing? Plus I've attached some Halibut science I found cruising the Web that I thought was interesting:

http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=kt2q2n98z7&&doc.view=entire_text

I was having trouble figuring out exactly where ARW was - it's the Encinal Boat Ramp in Alameda and google maps gets you there. The street you turn right on looks like an alley more than a street.

I'm in learning mode still and I did see something new at ARW.  Everyone was fishing for the smelt with multiple hooks under a float with maybe a two-ounce sinker on the bottom (I guess for casting the rig from the wall)  It was about 5' from the float to sinker.  At tomales bay I have just used a sinker at the bottom of the Sabiki and always got bait.  I struggled with this at ARW while the float guys were killing it. Also they were all using shrimp for the bait, I was using some squid and herring. When I get back there at the end of May I'm taking a float and some shrimp.

If you don't get there early and beat the wall brigade stay at least 60 or 70 feet away or you will be a target.  I was there on a Tuesday and the wall was pretty well occupied by about 8:30AM.

Also if you're going for the first time watch yourself at low tide launching a kayak. The right side of the ramp has more traction than the left.  The ramp at low tide is pretty snotty. A heavy yak and a snotty ramp may be hazardous to your dignity...

The porta potties don't stink but are full of shit! If you are taking family to hang out there is a Starbucks that opens at 4:30AM 5 minutes away... and a great bagel, pastry/sandwich spot right next store to the Starbucks for lunch on the way back.

You're welcome!

PS.. Maybe some of the PRO's on the site can answer this: What about going through the opening and kayaking on the inside of the ARW? Are there fish in there and is it legal to be in there?

From this morning, at the bottom of the outgoing.

Awesome!!