Tomales report this week

Went out twice this week, targeting butts on Tomales. I got one the first day 24"es and one the second day 32"es. Put in at Nick's cove and made my way over to Hog. The first day was difficult making bait. I spent two hours just trying to get some bait!!  and the couple I got were on the large side. So I decided to go with what I had and see what happens. Drifted the incoming till near the end of the top. I also kept jigging for bait while I drifted, and finally got one the right size. Put that sucker on before the drift was gone. Accually at that point the drifted had slowed to a crawl, but the wind started kicking up and refreshed the drift. I didn't have that bait down for a half minute when the rod goes bendo. Nice little dinner fish, 24". That was the only take down I had that day. Since the weather gods were soooo nice, I had to hit it again the next morning. Right from the start it was a muuuuch better day! First morning was cold with an early morning stiff breeze, but this morning was FAC. Nice. Paddle out drop down the sabiki and right off the bat start hookin bait. Started out with shinners and started swaping em out for the primo smelt that came later. So with a full bait tube I set off with more confidence than the day before. Drifted for a couple hours before any action came. Then I hooked something big and strong right by pelican point. Turned out to be a 5' leapord shark. Gave a great fight. I lipped him with the gripper, and then he started this twist that torqued it so bad it accually twisted the jaws, puleed it out and locked em up. I had my reel on free spool and so when he took a dive I still had him and my rod. Fought him back up and gripped him again. This time I got the hooks out and set him free. By now the winds were starting to blow again, so I paddled way up for a long drift. Dropped it down, started drifting and put the rod in the holder while I opened the front hatch to grab some grub. Took a glance back at the rod and it's bent over. Scramble back for the rod and set the hook again. This time it feels right... Get the gaff ready before she surfaces and get the gripper ready. Then that great oval brown silhouette appears, Yeah!! Always love that part. Ready the gaff and take a swipe at her. Get her half way in and the gaff pulls out and she makes a beline for the bottom. Again having the reel in free spool pays off. (hint hint, tip  ) I saw there was only one hook in the jaw, so I'm thinking crap this is where the heartache comes, but I managed to get her back up to the yak and this time no messing around. I slammed that gaff in and yanked her aboard, and secured the jaw with the gripper. String her up and applyed the shampoo. Nice 32"er... Settle down wash off all the blood on my legs and deck, and then head back up for another drift. Second drift down ai had another good pull down, set the hook, and had some weight for a few seconds then nothing... bring up the bait, and there are classic tell tale rips and slices all over it. Don't know how it missed the hooks. Made several other fruitless drifts and decided to pack it in. Got home and it was so nice I thought about running to the coast and giving rockfishing one last try. Ran it by the wife and she says, "Yeah, let's go"  got to love her  , so I do the marathon cleanup, repack and race out to the coast and spent the night. Hit Salt Point the next morning for a fairly slow day on the water. Ended up with some nice olives, but no reds, or lings. Caught several smaller typical rockies, but only kept the olives. Went home thoroughly wiped out and exausted...and satiated...for a little while anyways...

Great end of the season report, your wife and Anita would get along fine, she has the same 'tude about fish on the table! Go get 'em!

determination pays off! well done!

I'll tell you what abking says to me: where's the pics?  .

(like fishing isn't hard enough you also have to take pictures! yikes!)

J

Awesome.  PICS!!

great report jonesz!! you had me on the edge of my couch dude. sounded like a pretty damn exciting day. you have inspired me to get my halibut-fishing act together and get back on the water. just as soon as i get my WAF act together.

You know, I've never gone after the hali's this late in the season, and a lot of folks give up on it, (me included) but I think they are around longer than folks think they are. If the weather cooperates this week, I may hit it again. It was great to finally get a leagal one. I have caught more undersized ones this year than I can remember As for pics... I did take a couple of annonimous ones of the hali's in my yak. When I get home tomorrow, I'll look into getting em up. Hey!.. at least this time I took a couple pics. Now you want me to post em too....sheez!! such a demanding group. On another note, that bay is full of sand, there has to be some nice dungies in there. Anyone try there? I'm thinking of trying it this season. As far as I know you can fish for em right? I know you can fish for the rock crab. It isn't closed to dungies like SF bay is it? Future planning...

I'm off Wed. if you want to give it a try.
Dave

Dave I doubt I can make it Wed. got some stuff going on in the afternoon, but if it changes ,or I go I'll post it up.

  Quote from jonesz  "On another note, that bay is full of sand, there has to be some nice dungies in there. Anyone try there? I'm thinking of trying it this season. As far as I know you can fish for em right? I know you can fish for the rock crab. It isn't closed to dungies like SF bay is it?"
         
       I have seen pots in the water close to Dillons. I was told by a commercial guy they like like the muddy type sand.

Nice work Jonesz Still waiting for my turn 

Ok, how do I add a couple pics to this post???

Jonesz look on the home page. Bill put up a couple tutorials on posting pictures. One is the down and dirty simple way,and the other is how to post with comments between pictures.

All right, here goes with a couple pics attempt via Bill's EXCELENT tutorial. Opting for the "simple method"  Keep in mind I am stepping outside my comfort zone on the puter here...
first pic is the smaller butt from day one, and the second pic is from day two.
The third one is a pic from last year when I sailed a boat from Seattle to Seward Alaska. Now if we could only get them like that around here...

Nice flatties Jonesz.  Keep em wet!