Alameda Rockwall Report 4/30/05

Insane Duane, Chuck and I launched around 6am and where soon joined by Chris and Eric. The wind was blowing pretty hard when we launched but seemed to start to die down after a few minutes. I started out trolling for halibut but quickly decided that was not going to work when the tide started to flow out. I bummed some bait off of Chuck (thanks again for getting bait Duane and Chuck!)

After rigging up some bait and drifting for a while I got a bump, bump on my line. I let it run a bit then set the hook. The fish did not like this and took off on a long run, peeling line as it went. About 2 minutes into the fight the line went limp. I reeled it up and found the line cut right above the hook. From the run and the line cut I am thinking it was probably a shark of some kind.

I re-baited and started drifting again. The tide was ripping at this point and I decided to take a little water break and set my rod in the holder. I take a swig of water then my rod goes bendo and line starts ripping off. I grab my rod and set the hook. He didn't like that and started screaming line off.   I fight the fish for about 10-20 minutes before I get it close enough to see it is a lepeord shark. After another 5-10 minutes of letting it get tired I net it and hual it aboard. It starts doing "death rolls" in my net so I had a hard time measuring it but it was at least 48 inches. Here is the best pic I managed to take.



Not a halibut but it was fun to catch.

I started heading back towards the launch and drifted some more with nothing else hitting my bait. Chatted with a few boaters who did not have any better luck. I heard one report of a halibut landed near the bay bridge.

The halibut were just not there Saturday
If they were, we would have hooked-up.  We had the perfect bait, perfect weather, good water clarity... just no fish.  Several party boats (Captain Hook, Primetime, Rapid Transit) all moved into our area and they all got skunked too.  It may still be a bit early.  In another week or two, things should get much better.

Thanks again to Duane and Chuck for rounding us up some top-notch bait.  Those jack smelt are very hardy...

This was my first visit to the Rockwall and I must say I like it.  Lots of interesting current and bottom structure and good water clarity considering the large tidal swing.

My only action was when Duane, Chris, and I were all drifting along the wall and chatting I felt a tap tap... I fed some line and set the hook on something solid.  It came busting up to the surface right toward Duanes boat as he paddled away.   We got a short glimpse of it as it turned over at the surface and took off... it was big... Duane and I differ on what we saw.  Duane swears he saw sturgeon... I saw smooth darker brown skin of a large shark... maybe a soupfin.  It peeled line off my reel for about 10 seconds and then broke my 25# leader clean off above the hook.  

Was fun while it lasted... wish we could have had a better look at it.  Didn't act like any sturgeon I've ever caught... so I'm sticking with the good sized shark story.  

At any rate... I'll definitely be back there again...

Erik

Sounds like a fun time.  Chuck let me know when the bite heats up. I've never been to the rockwall but have heard the halibut bite can be good.

JD

JD, I'll let you know when I plan to try the Rockwall for butts again.  The tides later this week look good.

After reading this weekend's reports on Coastside, it looks like we should have been at Oyster Point instead.

Erik... are you and Duane sure that big fish you lost wasn't a WSB?

Take a look at this Alameda Rockwall report for Monday on Coastside...

Fished the wall today started about 8:30, caught two strippers, one halibut, and a 38 inch white Sea Bass. Eighteen feet of water. Had two of my friends fishing with me today, water was choppy most of the day. Used live shinners,

The world will never know... all I know is it was big, strong, and it didn't much like being hooked.  

I don't think either of us had a good enough look at it to know for sure what it was.  In my mind, it looked brownish in color... but Duane had a different impression.  

WSB from a kayak in the SF Bay would be one of those epic moments...

What I really want to know is where did they catch the STRIPPERS...and what the heck is a SHINNER?  If SHINNERS is what it takes to get us some STRIPPERS, then maybe we have a challenge for Duane the bait man.

Erik

A SHINER is a little perch that you can catch with your crappie pole near the pilings around the bay.(The bridge to Balena Bay Harbor is a good spot).
As for White sea bass, I didn't believe the reports 3 years ago that there were some in the bay until... We were right out at the end of the rockwall catching stripers when, lo and behold, I caught  2 white sea bass in less than a half hour. 30 and 34 inches. It blew my mind!
The stripers are usually cruising, at Alameda, between the end of the wall and along the little channel along the Airport side of the wall, and then along the beach to the ferry channel at bay farm. It depends on the tide.

I bet cash makes good bait for "strippers"
I've been skunked at the Alameda Rockwall way more times than I care to admit, but it's these incidental WSB and monster halibut stories that keep me  trying again and again.  Last year, another guy caught two WSB to 33 lbs at the Rockwall.

I don't think Ken caught my tongue-in-cheek humor about the mis-spellings in the coastside email...

ShiNNers and StriPPers... get it....  

Ahh... forget it.

I guess a joke you have to explain is not much of a joke...  it's been a long day at the office.

Erik

SHINNERS... STRIPPERS...You guys are too much!

I always thought a shinner was something you were apt to receive in a socker game.

I can't imagine too many strippers appreciating a good shinner! But what do I know?

There is that whole S&M thing......  

Caught my biggest striper in Capitola kelp fly-lining a live shiner - great bait.