Halibut hot spots???

mooch,

I'm pretty much a noob and I like to try things that probably won't work,
but these two things worked for me  last summer:

I think that continuing to bounce a jig when you drift off the rockpile is a decent way to fish for
halibut while also targetting lings and rockfish. You got that one in montery that way and
I got a big one by scott's creek haven for GWS that way.
both on metal jigs being bounced while fishing for ling/rockfish.
Once off the rocks, I actually cast my jig out and bounced it back over the sand to
cover more ground while waiting to drift over some rocks again.

sometimes a fishfinder keeps you only over the spots you want to fish, but in those sandy spots between
the rocks is where there can be a halibut.  one big halibut is worth a limit of rockfish.

I guess I'm saying if you hit some spots that have sand and rocks, don't stop with the jig because
you drifted off the rockfish spot. just be patient and jig a while longer. you'll catch less rockfish but
you might catch a halibut.

Also, I think that the sandy spots between the kelp stalks in santa cruz and capitola are places that the skiffs
and private boats do not hit and are good targets for kayaks. I got my other halibut just off the capitola
pier on a live anchovy that I was 'trooching' between kelp stalks. I was not holding the rod. I also lost a
lot of bait trying that,  . However, I will slow-slalom the kelp stalks in that area again this year.
 

One good thing if the wind is really bad the boats will not be going out the jetty, you could always stay in the Bodega Harbor and try there for hali's..
I have seen a few pulled out adjacent to the coast guard station in the channel by small boats drifting.

Yeah, but if the wind is that bad, then the drift is too fast! I've only tried kayak fishing for 'buts twice. Both times in Bodega Harbor, both times the wind made the drift way too fast. Then you had to paddle back against the wind to start over. It ended up being like a 20-30 minute paddle against the wind for a 4 or 5 minute drift.

Pretty discouraging.

both times the wind made the drift way too fast.

try using a drift sock.

I've used mine in the Bay but I'd re-think about using it in the Ocean...especially the Davenport area. I remember the reports from last year...about a few GW encounters with the boats that had their drift chutes "sniffed"  Can you just imagine drifting along on your kayak with your drift chute deployed...and all of a sudden your getting a sleigh ride from a GW that just took a fancy on your dirft chute 

Yeah, but I'm sick of adding stuff to my kayak! I already feel like I have too much stuff, even though compared to what I've seen others with I carry pretty much the minimum.

Plus, a drift sock would help the drift a little, but won't make the paddle back against the howling wind any easier. 

both times the wind made the drift way too fast.

try using a drift sock.

Or troll!  Drift/troll one way and troll the other way.

-Allen

dustin, I would really recommend a drift chute. They work great.

jmairey, your idea of jigging  the sand between the rocks is right on. I've done that frequently for our Pac. 'butts.

Rockhopper, I am a big fan of drift socks/chutes, wouldn't go out without it. In any kind of real breeze, it really cuts down on the drift speed. The deeper you're trying to fish, the more important this is. (Here in WA, we don't have all the depth restrictions you guys have.) I'd even consider it part of my safety gear, as it can keep my bow pointed into the wind and wave, if I'm busy with something else. While I have the primary line going from my bow to the sock, I have a second line with a clip on the end, that clips around my chute line, and allows me to pull the chute to the mid-section of my boat. Oh, and I'm about as likely to try and paddle (or row, in my case) with the chute out , as I would with the anchor out! If you don't want to spend much money to try it out, I've even made my own chute out of a cheap old dress I got at the Salvation Army.

Well Bodega Harbor is a good spot in general but a local commerical fisherman usually fishes it out byj May.  So as soon as this rain goes away, I will give it a shot.  There is also a honey of a spot on Doran Beach.   Don't have GPS cord yet, but the new GPS unit is in the mail.  If you paddle out and line yourself up with the edge of the south jetty and the coast guard station, that will be pretty close.  Keep you posted,

InSeine

I really want to try out Bodega or Tomales bay for 'butts.  I was thinking it would be fun to drop the crab while I am out there too.

mooch and stuart, chefstefano got that 'but may 7th, 2005 off sand city in 60 feet of water on dropper loop squid.

So I think that is the place to start early season halibut hunting. spots north of santa cruz probably don't happen
till july like stuart says.

I think I read that you can ball bounce with no more than 1lb. But sand city looks like a place to troll a plug or
hoochie and dodger or FBR or swimbait or bait off a dropper/three way in the early season.

Does anybody know of any parking up by sand city? I'd like to skip the san carlos ramp and just surf launch
by that hotel.

There's parking right next to the hotel at Sand City.

Oyster Point got going in May last year too.  Pretty easy to bump troll in 20' of water there.

-Allen

For catching the Berkeley Flats are amazing.  I've a friend with a boat and we would go out a couple times a month in summer and it was very rare when we didn't limit.  Then he got married and had kids... Easy paddle from Berkeley on a kayak.

Eating them, that is another story, I've "heard" that in early summer when they first get into the bay they are safe.  I'd love to hear what one of the biologists say?