Good effort as always, Charles!

Out of concern for this fishery, I submitted a petition last fall to reduce the daily bag limit on California halibut between Pt Reyes and Bodega Head to one fish per day. But the CA Fish and Game Commission, in all their distant wisdom, rejected the proposal.

The slower than normal fishing in Tomales Bay, especially around Hog Island this year, should not be considered strong evidence of a damaged fishery.  Lots of pressure, unusually clear water in the spring allowing higher than normal moss growth out to 25 feet, changes in bait volume, etc., all contribute.  Also, this area gets a ton of pressure, compared to decades past, but that's not an indication that the whole fishery in the area is in trouble.  Anecdotally, lots of fish to be found if you start looking where everyone else isn't already fishing. 

That's an amazing fish, man!  Well done.

Norm

Holy smokes, Dave!  That's nuts man.  So glad you came away relatively unscathed.  Can't wait to hear the tale in person next time we get together to fish.

Be well,

Norm

It was an amazing day (weekend) with great people.  I remarked to Eric that we had "known" each other for almost 15 years now, primarily through this board, but this was the first time we had the opportunity to fish together!  Thanks for the great crash course in how and where to fish the Cove, my friend!!

Eric is a knowledgeable angler, knows the Cove well, takes the safety of his guests seriously, and is an ethical steward of the resources there (as evidenced by the fact he let that beautiful 25+ King go because it was not legally caught ).  Thanks for teaching us your "trooching" technique! 

And thanks to Pat (RiverwatcherLT) for arranging the whole thing for my 50th!  It's always a good time fishing with Pat and my buddy Frank (fbastoni), although we did miss Ms. Dana who normally rounds out our crew. 

I'll be back for sure, so much to explore and learn about that place.  Certainly a unique spot with a variety of options, and i love the laid back and chill, almost "island vibe" of Shelter Cove itself.  The people were awesome, the Tides Inn run by Eric (The Inn Keeper) and his lovely wife was perfect, the food and beer at the Gyppo Ale Mill was inspired for such an out of the way location.  I could have been happy just sitting on our balcony at the Tides, watching the waves lap the shore for a week!!  My wife loves the place as well, and we are already planning another trip. 

Norm

Thanks for the report and fish porn, Eric, as always! 

Norm

Way to get the pictures!  Such encounters have happened to me so many times over the years and i'm always fumbling to get the camera going.  It always puts life in perspective for me when i see an animal twice or three times (or more) as long as my kayak and an eyeball full of intellegence the size of a dinner plate.  They could so easily crush us while we are out there floating around on a large bobber in a sea of monster soup.  Strange that such encounters make me feel both insignificant in the bigger picture, and fully alive and present at the same time. 

Thanks for sharing the pics!!

Norm

I find that the halibut wont move at all while the gaff is in the fish. I like to get the fish on the hoop stringer while the gaff is still in, slide the fish overboard when on the stringer then remove the gaff and cut the gills. If you can accomplish this the fish will rarely ever go wild and flop all over the place.

I agree, except for a very large fish, well over 20 lbs., that i lost last year when it was hanging on the gaff and i made the mistake of letting the tail bend on the deck of my PA-14 because i couldn't hold it high enough to keep it completely off the deck while i dispatched it.
 The fish then used the deck as a leverage point to push itself up quickly, freeing itself from the gaff, and going back into the drink.  I was very sad that i had stuck the fish before it got away, and probably later died, but i'm sure something ate it...just wish it had been me doing the eating.  Now i leave the tail in the water while the fish is hanging on the gaff, bonk them a few times, clip them, then bring them into the boat.  Lesson learned... 

I think this is a crappy thread!

No pictures of fish...... really nothing good here.

Ha!  Right!?  It's like trying to get news by watching TMZ...entertaining perhaps, but nothing good.

Sonoma Coast is open for business!  Let the brotherhood wash over us all again...