SF Peninsula Halibut Tutor?

Hi y'all,

I signed up here years ago and am finally posting after being encouraged by Bushy, who I met on a Santa Cruz party boat last year.

I have a fishing kayak for duck hunting in the Bay and she complains bitterly that I neglect her outside of waterfowl season. To get some peace around here, I am looking for someone willing to introduce her and me to halibut in the Bay, or anything else out of HMB.  All I know about fishing is that it rarely involves shotguns but rivals hunting as an excuse to buy expensive gear.  The learning curve will be steep.

Fair warning: I am an old fart. I often hunt the south end of Corkscrew Slough, which is a 4.5 mile round trip, and I would not want to attempt further than that at this point.

I am in San Mateo, so close to Oyster Pt. and HMB. Anyone willing to let me tag along?  Thanks!

Please , I encourage NCKA to step up and take Laurence (LGF) under a wing.  Get him out there!  I would, but I am so far away.

Warning, he IS an old fart.  But then, so am I.  He looks to be in better shape than I, at least he's skinnier.

We fished together on a local party boat and he proves to be an easy companion.  chime in, step up, this is a rare Bushy direct request.

thanks NCKA rocks!   (Cue Queen, "We are the Champions")

Bushy

Hey LGF, I am in San Mateo too. I'm going to be out of town a lot this month, but I often post hook ups at HMB or Linda Mar. Oyster point is an easy launch but watch out for the wind on the return.

Hey LGF, I am in San Mateo too. I'm going to be out of town a lot this month, but I often post hook ups at HMB or Linda Mar. Oyster point is an easy launch but watch out for the wind on the return.

Hahah bushy asked to help him not kill him. No Linda mar!! But hmb would be good for some rf and chance at a salmon.

There are plenty of halibut outside the harbor at oyster point. It is an early halibut hole for me. Not sure if it is still happening tho.

I'll take you crabbing when the season opens up in November out of hmb.

Welcome

LGF= "Let's Go Fishing!"

Welcome back to NCKA     I'm on the Peninsula as well.  I haven't been on the water much this year with an infant at home, but if I can sneak away, I'll post up in the Hook Ups/shoot you a PM.  Would be happy to go out with you.  HMB looks to be waking up for salmon so that's definitely on the horizon.  As KPD noted, Oyster Point is a nice spot (morning fishing) until the wind turns on... then, not so fun.

**Full disclosure:  I have YET to catch a keeper 'butt!  I specialize in catching/releasing the undersized ones.... 

Thanks KPD, EK and LA!!



LGF all these guys are top-notch anglers and boon companions!

Let's go Fishing!

Have safe and Be fun!

Bushy

I may tend to be overly cautious and over informative but,

The wind around Oyster Pt is often likely to be blowing directly in your face when trying to get back to the launch.

No I've never experienced it but have  seen some hairy reports of such days.

As an example this afternoon the wind will be directly out of the west, blowing 23 with gusts to 30.

Many thanks to all for the friendly welcome, and to Bushy for the thumbs up - I'm glad it wasn't a middle finger!

I checked out the Oyster Point launch last week and was impressed by the NW wind.  About how far out do you start finding halibut?

I will available most of the time starting next week.  I'll keep an eye on hookups and may get in touch with some of you by PM.

LGF

Outside the harbor there are two markers. There is are a ton of baby halibut all around it. To the right and left of the markers is a good spot to fish. The is always bait around there. It Is iterally a 5 min paddle from the harbor enterence. Just look for bait on the fish finder and wait for the tide to change, then get ready when they go on the chew. Make sure to bring a big net or gaff. You can visit my blog for tutorials and "how to guides". Good luck!

Here is how ignorant I am:  how critical is a fish finder?  I know it helps a lot but can one get away without one?  At least initially?  I am the worst kind of old fart Luddite - I hate pressing buttons and staring at screens (I use a ten dollar flip phone and can barely figure that out).  And I will be confused enough with fishing rod, all those little hooky things, paddle, net, radio, pfd, etc. without screaming in rage at bewildering electronics while watching the wind, other boats, cool pelicans and so forth.

Don't get old - this dementia stuff is harder than it looks.

It's not critical, but it's a good tool.  Some tools I know do just fine without a fishfinder    You can read the water instead of using a fish finder many times, depends on where and what.  Other times a FF is really just a depth gauge, and if it's not deep it might not even help you locate fish.  And then some people just get lucky anyway.  You can always hook up with others with a fish finder as well

Plus when you gowith an NCKA bruddah, they'll have the FF.  Youjust have to folow them and catch all the fish!

Bushy

You can kayak fish just fine without one.