Tomales Bay Halibut

  The fish are just starting to show up in Tomales Bay. A slow bite but a nice fish was seen caught by a Sea Lion on the west side of Hog Island. Water temp is hovering around 53 degrees at the Island with it being quite cooler toward the mouth (48-50).  Not allot of bait fish around yet either. Thats the update from tomales,

Thanks for the update Jim. i am very much looking foward to fishing tomales this year. Please keep us abreast of the situation.

For those of us  fishing with mid sized sit inside kayaks that could not safely land halibut or other larger fish, what others are a good catch in Tomales Bay?
Thanks.

  I think a small sit-inside kayak is o.k for Halibut, but if you want to target smaller fish the Smelt inside the bay eat well. Gut, scale and fry it like you would a trout, eat it with your hands (boney). Perch are also inside the bay around structure and rocky shoreline during a good high tide. Herring run during the months of Dec.-Feb. you can catch them with the sabiki (sp. ?) rig. Good luck,

Hey Jim,

Are you planning on doing any spearo trips inside the bay for them?  I'd be interested in checking that out.

Dave

Jim,

I just saw Tomales Bay for the first time this past weekend. Unfortunately, I was with a wedding party and couldn't try it out. What a beautiful spot. It was flat calm, too, even though Drake Bay had some big breakers. Where are the best places to launch a kayak where the car will be safe?

I tried Tomales yesterday.  Launched at Nick's Cove.  Could not scare up any baitfish so, I drifted the west side of Hog Island a couple of times using squid.  Not a single hit.  I did see two leopard sharks.  A couple of other guys were there, also skunked.  Still had a nice paddle.  The wind started in about 1:00PM.
I'll try again in a few weeks.

Greg

Thanks for the report Jim. I'm looking forward to diving the mouth again this year whenever the water calms down.

Dave,
   I spear more than I hook and line for Halibut, I really enjoy exploring the bay and seeing whats out there from under the surface. With this warm weather pattern and the really strong winds subsiding the fish should start showing up in good numbers anytime now. Will start diving anytime now, I'll post up before I go. Alot of my trips are after work for early eve dives around Hog Island. Launch from Miller Park a.k.a Nick's Cove and do a zig zag pattern out to the main channel and back.
  As far as launching kayaks, (safe for the car) Miller Park and Lawson's Landing are your two best spots to launch. If you plan on doing the sandbar at the mouth then you want to go to Lawson's since it's right there close. Tight lines and good vis,

Dove the kelp and eel grass areas yesterday around Hog Island after work looking for some butt's, couldn't find any but did see four 3'-4' Angel Sharks and alot of good sized Red Rock Crabs. Vis was just o.k for a short gun probably 4'-6'. Southern wind had things a little churned up against the incoming tide. looking to get into the water either around Lawson's Landing on Sunday or drive up North for some Abs. Will be getting into the water both Sunday and Monday, if any one is interested give me a call,

707-477-8122 personal cell

Thanks for the report,  Looking forward to getting out there to chase down some Quality Butts....