Tomales camping - to dive or to fish?

So my GF and I are paddling out and camping on the beach somewhere in Tomales for the 4th of July. I don't know whether to bring dive gear and dive the rocks near the mouth for lings, rockies, and maybe halibut, or stay closer to Hog Island and fish for halibut with frozen herring (unless I can catch some). We'll be launching from Miller Park, so a short paddle from Hog, but a long way from the mouth. Space will be limited, so I'm thinking either fishing or diving, but not both.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Fish for halibut near hog island. Sabiki up bait. Don't forget the camping permit and the cold beer.

Be very careful of your surroundings.
The boat-in camping there has poison oak like a MO FO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm not a big fan of diving the Tomales area...........a little too much rent collecting there if ya get my drift.
Go for the halibut.

Kinda what I was thinking. Not sure I feel like diving out there alone.
Thanks guys!

I do not think that there is anything worth diving there for. bring your kayak and fish.

The one time I saw a great white on my kayak was in Tomales Bay in the channel by Hog Island.
Man I would t dive there. No way no how!

Nosoup4you and I notice a GW a few feet away from his 18' Boston Whaler a couple of years back at the point in Tomales Bay, it was bigger than the boat.

This thread is way too coincidental.  I'll be camping at Lawson's for the 4th with my GF and another couple. I've got 2 OK Prowler 13s I'm planning to bring and was just going through this same debate of whether to dive or fish. I'm an experienced freediver/spearo but a inexperienced kayak-fisherman. I've clammed Tomales plenty, but never soaked a line.

I'd love to get my gf and her friends hooked up on something (anything) from the yak. They're excited about the prospect of fishing, but have only ever fished on a handful of ocassions and never from a kayak.  Anyone have any advice on getting a couple of newbs (I'm including myself in that) hooked up any anything that swims in Tomales Bay? With the group I'm with, I suspect we'd be equally satisfied to catch a bat ray as a leopard shark as a halibut, honestly.

We'll be at Hearts Desire Beach on Friday, then Lawson's or somewhere else on the east side of the bay for Saturday/Sunday.

Any pointers you could offer for fishing the bay would be greatly appreciated! Malibu_Two, if you are interested in trying to meet up on the water, let me know and I'll get you my cell number  .

(I know this is only my 2nd post here, but I promise I'm not a creeper, just a lurker. My name is Carter, I used to be fairly active over on spearboard and I'm good buds with fuzz- for what that's worth!  . Here's me: )

Hearts Desire and the adjacent Indian Beach are both very good spots for leopard sharks. I've always caught big ones there from shore.

 

Oh, nice! That'd be a blast. Any recommendations on rigging/bait? I was thinking to just use something old and freezer burned from the bottom of the chest freezer. I have a few bags of old horseneck clam meat I was thinking might suffice. Also have abalone scraps and probably a bag or two of fillets where the vacuum seal broke. Or should I buy/sabiki some fresher bait?

Drifting bait live or frozen can be productive for halibut in front of hearts desire for halibut at times.

Any recommendations on rigging/bait?

For leopards(or rays), just grab a couple of boxes of frozen squid and a bag or two of frozen sardines (or anchovies or mackerel - anything oily pretty much). Clam pieces will work as a lesser choice so if you're interested in getting rid of your freezer stock, why not give it a shot ? Rig a slider rig just as though you were fishing for sturgeon ... a plastic slider on the main line with enough weight to keep the bait stationary in the current, then a sturdy barrel swivel, then 4' of heavier leader line(40-60lb.), and then a 4/0 octopus hook. From there its a waiting game, but just don't leave the rod unattended or out of reach or you'll enjoy up with nothing but an empty rod holder. A reel with a solid drag is pretty helpful as well. Keep an eye out for any submerged sea weed/grass and try to get your bait in tight along the edges of the beds where they tend to cruise during high tide.

Have fun ! Should be a great weekend over there.