Herring have arrived in the Bay

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.

Thanks for the processing technique reminder...geeturdun and dream o' da biggun'

Paradise…zero activity…

Elephant Rock…zero activity…

Spinnaker…zero activity…

My theory…I'm liking da rain as a cold fun miserable tradition, low tide serves up nothing burgers…top of high and hour or so thereafter is ideal yet, if it’s on, nothing matters, bananas, half moons, dip nets, aquarium nets, 2ft cast nets…you cannot lose…hope you find em’…

I went herring hunting in the most miserable conditions only to find the most incredible scene that i haver witness in over a decade chasing this fish. This fish drives people absolutely  bat crazy haha.  I hope you enjoy this video in your warm bed! - CHOVY

P.S. Eddie follow the CHOVY. I will take you to the promise land I promise. Don't flip a swim bait i the middle of nowhere. haha 

Video link
https://youtube.com/shorts/VsxmgX8S3CQ

I went herring hunting in the most miserable conditions only to find the most incredible scene that i haver witness in over a decade chasing this fish. This fish drives people absolutely  bat crazy haha.  I hope you enjoy this video in your warm bed! - CHOVY

P.S. Eddie follow the CHOVY. I will take you to the promise land I promise. Don't flip a swim bait i the middle of nowhere. haha 

Video link
https://youtube.com/shorts/VsxmgX8S3CQ

That's right!  Gonna flip a swimbait for herring...brah!  Gonna be miserable and fishy this weekend...I'm watchin' you with those 7 gallon buckets...

I went herring hunting in the most miserable conditions only to find the most incredible scene that i haver witness in over a decade chasing this fish. This fish drives people absolutely  bat crazy haha.  I hope you enjoy this video in your warm bed! - CHOVY

P.S. Eddie follow the CHOVY. I will take you to the promise land I promise. Don't flip a swim bait i the middle of nowhere. haha 

Video link
https://youtube.com/shorts/VsxmgX8S3CQ

It’s a little windy and hardly raining.  I have definitely thrown a castnet in worse conditions than the video.  The crowd would keep me away before the weather.  Too many people.

Thanks for the Herring reports guys.   Love the madness scene 

Yeah those people are crazy you don't want to go there! 

In years past you would see a lot of folks getting the fish from the rocky shore as well but this time we were all clumped together on the pier as if to keep warm....taking turns at the rail.

Yum brahhdah Michael!  Were da pin bones chewable?

I ran down to spinnaker this morning and 6 guyz were working the area.  No full on activity as reference to last year at this time.  I did see half a bucket though and they said it happened around 6 am right before the top…

 

Yum brahhdah Michael!  Were da pin bones chewable?

I ran down to spinnaker this morning and 6 guyz were working the area.  No full on activity as reference to last year at this time.  I did see half a bucket though and they said it happened around 6 am right before the top…

 

Heck yeah, head to tail was edible only thing tossed out was the spine and when I over heated it last year you could eat that as well. Two parts brown sugar to one part salt brined overnight....yum salty, sweet and crunchy! Stay tuned kazunoko are in process as well.

Good to have the latest repot, I've run from spot to spot in the past with little success but thanks to everyone's reports on here only had to go for herring twice to be herring full the last two years. I didn't even destroy a net this time! I think the trick is knowing when to stop and go home.

Dang, I like the way the herring look. I've smoked many things, but not herring. Looks like it's time for me to try smoking herring. Hopefully, they're going to show up in Crescent City shortly.
Do you use a wet brine or dry brine?

Dang, I like the way the herring look. I've smoked many things, but not herring. Looks like it's time for me to try smoking herring. Hopefully, they're going to show up in Crescent City shortly.
Do you use a wet brine or dry brine?

Wet brine, wishing you good herring up North.

heard sausalito was going off today

rock wall was quiet.

heard sausalito was going off today

rock wall was quiet.

Any particular time?

Zero spinnaker
Zero paradise

 

Thanks for checking, Eddie!