Tomales Bay Late May

We're staying at a house in Inverness for the holiday weekend  (southern tip of Tomales)... I'm assuming it is still too early for Halibut but was wondering if anyone has any recent info.  I've only been out there once, launched at Heart's Desire and paddled over to Nick's Cove and spent an afternoon C&R'ing bat rays I wasn't trying to catch.

I'll have access to the Inverness Yacht Club but I just have no idea if it is worth it to launch that far south?

Anything to target besides shark right now?

Any info or suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks.

If I were there I would try the flats right out from where you are going to be. The water warms up there faster than the bay by the mouth. Or Marshall area. I havent heard of any halibut there yet but that doesnt mean they arent there. Call Lawsons for some fishing info.

Thanks ravensblack.

I talked to Lawsons this morning and they haven't seen any Halis yet, but is sounds like the dungeness are still going strong.  The woman in the shop at Lawsons was super helpful and informative.

I think we're going to head over to Hog Island tomorrow to buy some mussels and oysters and find a place to launch around Marshall, (I've read there are some pretty accessible spots near Tony's?).  The GF can head home with the shellfish and Hayden and I can crab and shark fish our way down to Inverness.

If it's not too windy, we'll probably try to do the same on Saturday.

I'm thinking like 30 minute soaks on 2-3 Danielson traps while we drift around and see whats biting?  She recommended finding some flat sandy areas on the west side of the bay.  So unless anyone has any other suggestions, I think that will be our GP.

A

I'd launch from Heart's Desire, drift that whole sandy area in front of H.D. a few times, then drift around Indian Beach a few times, then drift North with the tide while fishing one bait on the bottom for halis and one mid column for WSB (haven't heard of either being caught recently). Then I'd ride the tide/wind back to the launch and call it a day.

If you were interested in catching leopards then I'd anchor right off of Indian Beach, or hit the flats a little south of there. I do know the batrays are at Indian Beach really thick right now, so since you mentioned you're not into them you could use live bait or live/dead midshipman for leopards.

I plan on doing the drift I mentioned above sometime this year. Might combine it with some kayak-in camping.

I'd launch from Heart's Desire, drift that whole sandy area in front of H.D. a few times, then drift around Indian Beach a few times, then drift North with the tide while fishing one bait on the bottom for halis and one mid column for WSB (haven't heard of either being caught recently). Then I'd ride the tide/wind back to the launch and call it a day.

If you were interested in catching leopards then I'd anchor right off of Indian Beach, or hit the flats a little south of there. I do know the batrays are at Indian Beach really thick right now, so since you mentioned you're not into them you could use live bait or live/dead midshipman for leopards.

I plan on doing the drift I mentioned above sometime this year. Might combine it with some kayak-in camping.

I'm pretty sure we are already going to be on the east side of the bay, but (correct me if I'm mistaken) I think Indian Beach is just across the bay and maybe a little south/closer to Inverness from Marshall?  Since we are just getting dropped off could we still put in below Marshall and drift in front of HD and Indian?  We wont get there till early afternoon, so I was thinking we could use the slack tide to drop the traps (low tide is at 3:30 p.m.) and then ride the flood tide in towards Inverness in the early evening. 

Would that be a productive area to crab?

I do know the batrays are at Indian Beach really thick right now, so since you mentioned you're not into them you could use live bait or live/dead midshipman for leopards.

I do enjoy catching the rays, but it's one of those been there done that things.  Great fun, great fight. 

Any suggestions on where to grab live bait in the area?  I don't have a bait tank but I do have a bait tube - if you think that'll suffice.

Damn, sorry I missed your questions. Did you ever make it out there?

Heart's Desire/Indian Beach are on the west side of the bay (as is Inverness). And you are correct that HD/IB are pretty much directly across the bay from Tony's restaurant in Marshall. You can launch yaks right in Marshall at the rockwall but, depending on the tide, it could be a hassle. Just a few miles South of Marshall there is a dirt boat launch that might be easier to launch from. It is by the Marconi Center.

While Heart's Desire is a straight shot from Marshall it is also one of the widest areas of the bay, and would be a bitch to paddle to if the wind picked up.

I've never crabbed in Tomales so not sure where the honey holes are, and as far as I know there is no live bait anywhere in the area.

Damn, sorry I missed your questions. Did you ever make it out there?

Heart's Desire/Indian Beach are on the west side of the bay (as is Inverness). And you are correct that HD/IB are pretty much directly across the bay from Tony's restaurant in Marshall. You can launch yaks right in Marshall at the rockwall but, depending on the tide, it could be a hassle. Just a few miles South of Marshall there is a dirt boat launch that might be easier to launch from. It is by the Marconi Center.

While Heart's Desire is a straight shot from Marshall it is also one of the widest areas of the bay, and would be a bitch to paddle to if the wind picked up.

I've never crabbed in Tomales so not sure where the honey holes are, and as far as I know there is no live bait anywhere in the area.

No worries - I did see a nice spot to launch in Marshall, but the wind was howling on Friday and we got up there a little later than we anticipated, so I elected to launch a little closer to home.  My 14 year old son was with me and I didn't want to get out on unknown waters in unknown conditions with no idea how long it would take to paddle home that late in the day.  We made the loop around to the other side of the bay and launched at a little beach just about where the Golden Hinde used to be and did some exploratory paddling.  Like I said the wind was howling and it was pretty choppy, so after crossing the bay near Tomales Bay Oyster Co. we elected to just get back closer to shore and head back towards the little market by the house we were staying at.  No sign of bait or fish at all.

I was surprised it was only 8' deep in the middle of the bay where we were - given the conditions and the bottom, I decided not to drop the traps because I wasn't sure there were any crabs down there and I was pretty sure I didn't want to face the weather to come back and get them.

Saturday it rained all day, so we stayed close to home - next time I'll try your drift.  Thanks for the info.