-REPORT-

Water was slightly brown and loaded with small 3-4 inch anchovies. I only ended up with one 26in halibut and a 32in wsb.

I arrived early and was surprised that there were already multiple boats in the parking lot and launching. I guess they read the weather report too!

I launched in the dark and headed south. I spent the first hour monkeying with my new FF and making bait.

I set up for a long drift toward the channel marker / yellow can. As I’m approaching hog island my first rod goes off and I’m hooked into a decent halibut. As I’m dealing with her and getting her into the clip my second rod goes off and I totally miss it.

The wind is gone and there is basically no drift so I’m just sitting there and Charles comes over and we are chatting. Ive rebaited one rod and send an anchovy down. Now I’m monkeying with gear and chatting when my rod goes off. Line is peeling off the clicker at a pretty good clip. I look at it for a few seconds and make a stupid comment to Charles who tells me I should probably do something about the fish on the other end. With how the line is peeling away I know it’s not a halibut and we guess that it’s probably a bat ray.

I click the reel into gear and and the rod loads up as the hook finds a home. Now the fish that was just swimming away lazily is mad and pulling drag. It’s strong, but it’s definitely not a halibut, doesn’t really feel like a striper either. I’m still thinking bat ray as I’m chasing it around. I finally muscle it closer to the surface and I see a flash of purple and yellow fins. Holy cow it’s a WSB!! It sees me and makes another run as I’m Yelling over to Charles that I have a WSB on. After quite a fight I’m able to slide her into the net and onto the game clip! So excited as it’s the first one ever for me!

Back to fishing and I miss a few other bites and don’t connect on any other fish.

It was good to see Charles and Chris(it is Chris right? I’m so bad with names!) out there. I tried to help him with his small anchovy presentation but no luck for him. I also ran into another NCKA guy out there who I forgot their name in a light blue revo with outriggers. I also saw Joe out there who is usually in a blue paddle kayak but was in a real boat. He’s the only other person who I’ve seen catch a wsb in person so it was pretty cool that he watched me catch mine.

So what did I catch them on? The halibut was a MH trevala 30lb braid 2oz weight 20lb mono leader #2 hook and small anchovy. WSB was L trevala 20lb braid large barrel swivel for weight 20lb mono leader #2 hook and small anchovy. Just flylining the bait in no wind or current.

Tips for the day. Light weights and small hooks. The anchovies stayed alive the longest on the light wire hook up through the lower jaw and out the nose to keep their mouths shut.

Among the decent sized fleet out I didn’t see many halibut landed except for one boat who was silently knocking them dead while jigging. Hook up, keep calm, make sure nobody is looking and quietly get the fish in the boat so the fleet doesn’t follow you around  . I love it.

I wish I had taken more pictures, but oh well.


Anyone up for tomales halibut tomorrow? Nicks cove / miller park launch. Fish the area from south of the yellow can to north-ish of hog island.

Weather and tides look good. Hope to launch around 545am (pre dawn light) and fish the early high slack tide, then just fish more after that.

Radio Ch 69. Camo 2019 outback. I’ll bring spare gear for live bait drifting if you don’t know how to do it or don’t have the gear. Hopefully I can cast net up a bunch of bait. Otherwise I’ll be throwing swimbaits.

John

I've had my eye on tomorrow for a Tomales run as well. I still haven't scored a halibut from Tomales so it'd be great to tag along and learn something. I have a meeting this afternoon that will determine whether I have the opening tomorrow or not, but I'm in if I get the go. Planned to drift live bait, if I can sabiki any up.

Quote from: masterandahound on August 22, 2019, 11:19:17 AM

I've had my eye on tomorrow for a Tomales run as well. I still haven't scored a halibut from Tomales so it'd be great to tag along and learn something. I have a meeting this afternoon that will determine whether I have the opening tomorrow or not, but I'm in if I get the go. Planned to drift live bait, if I can sabiki any up.

Hopefully I will have extra live bait! The hobie livewell is nice for keeping a large amount alive!

Geetum brah!

Quote from: masterandahound on August 22, 2019, 11:19:17 AM

I've had my eye on tomorrow for a Tomales run as well. I still haven't scored a halibut from Tomales so it'd be great to tag along and learn something. I have a meeting this afternoon that will determine whether I have the opening tomorrow or not, but I'm in if I get the go. Planned to drift live bait, if I can sabiki any up.

Hopefully I will have extra live bait! The hobie livewell is nice for keeping a large amount alive!

Sounds great. I have the go for tomorrow so I'll be there in the morning. If I'm not there by the time you launch, I'll be in a green OK Big Game so I'll catch up with you on the water.

Congrats on the WSB!

I wish but have to work...
Good luck!!! Maybe the WSB will show up like SF Bay!?

I love this comment...and now John has one! 

John!  It is your day!...

Wow! congrats!