Herring have arrived in the Bay

I made it out to Ferry Point today, was a great day on the water. Before the high tide around noon, boats and kayaks were doing pretty well around the rockwall.  After the high, they moved over by the pier, and it was game on.

Lots of limits had from the pier, rocks, and of course boats and kayaks. I finished with about a bucket full - I suck at throwing a cast net, haha. Plenty of herring for me, will last me through the summer for sure.

Lots of sea creatures out today - sea lions, seals, pelicans, cormorants, etc. I even caught a small cabezon with a herring in its maw, haha.

Some pictures. I saw a seal that was so covered in herring eggs it looked like they were laid directly onto it.

Great haul  . Thanks for the report and pictures SS.

Fantastic, Ferry Point did not disappoint and the herring where still at the pier just as I was hoping they would be!

Left the house at 11 and was home by 12:30 with enough smaller herring for bait for the year as well as some larger models destined for the smoker and a few for friends. Was a large crowd of good natured netters and casters sharing the space. Boater even came in and rescued someone's net off a piling, was a fun time in the rain and wind!

Nice! fun stuff   

Nice! fun stuff

Yeah buddie!

 

Stoked fur ya' to da max!

Was at spinnaker last night for a work event, and was pretty clear herring were moving back and forth between margaritaville and spinnaker.
Craptons of Comoronts, seals, pelicans, etc

I’m at ferry point this morning and nothing so far.

I’m at ferry point this morning and nothing so far.

Thanks for that report.  I hope they show for you.  I have tomorrow to find some and don’t want to miss.  Tempted to check paradise…

I'm hoping they pop at Ferry Point again, I want to go get some for smoking.

I just packaged the ones I got on Friday - finished with 100 exactly, packaged in 8s in gallon ziplock bags and frozen flat. I soaked them for about 36 hours in icy salty water, and they looked pretty good and felt fairly firm when I bagged them up.

Looking at old posts for a brine recipe for bait. Was thinking about bringing then freezing, but decided against it because I want them nice and clean when thawed for bait.  Seems like water, salt, bluing, and powdered milk is the way to go, so I will try that.

All in all - herring hunting was pretty fun! Humbled myself with the cast net, still caught plenty of bait for halibuts and other toothy pursuits, and really had a nice chill day on the water.

Good luck to everyone still in the hunt!

I’m at ferry point this morning and nothing so far.

Thanks for that report.  I hope they show for you.  I have tomorrow to find some and don’t want to miss.  Tempted to check paradise…

Shoot hope you guys get into them, seems like they like bad weather.....

I'm hoping they pop at Ferry Point again, I want to go get some for smoking.

I just packaged the ones I got on Friday - finished with 100 exactly, packaged in 8s in gallon ziplock bags and frozen flat. I soaked them for about 36 hours in icy salty water, and they looked pretty good and felt fairly firm when I bagged them up.

Looking at old posts for a brine recipe for bait. Was thinking about bringing then freezing, but decided against it because I want them nice and clean when thawed for bait.  Seems like water, salt, bluing, and powdered milk is the way to go, so I will try that.

All in all - herring hunting was pretty fun! Humbled myself with the cast net, still caught plenty of bait for halibuts and other toothy pursuits, and really had a nice chill day on the water.

Good luck to everyone still in the hunt!

Good stuff!  Love the catch, hate the processing...

I'm hoping they pop at Ferry Point again, I want to go get some for smoking.

I just packaged the ones I got on Friday - finished with 100 exactly, packaged in 8s in gallon ziplock bags and frozen flat. I soaked them for about 36 hours in icy salty water, and they looked pretty good and felt fairly firm when I bagged them up.

Looking at old posts for a brine recipe for bait. Was thinking about bringing then freezing, but decided against it because I want them nice and clean when thawed for bait.  Seems like water, salt, bluing, and powdered milk is the way to go, so I will try that.

All in all - herring hunting was pretty fun! Humbled myself with the cast net, still caught plenty of bait for halibuts and other toothy pursuits, and really had a nice chill day on the water.

Good luck to everyone still in the hunt!

Good stuff!  Love the catch, hate the processing...

I didn't mind that part too much - kinda therapeutic actually, haha. They were on ice for a day and half, but didn't smell bad, and it went pretty quick. I set up a little work station and got busy, had em all packaged in about 20 minutes while day dreaming about the fish those were catch, haha. A little dawn dish soap and white vinegar and the cooler is all good to go again too. I wore rubber gloves to keep the fish smell from stocking to my hands.