11/10 Non Yak Hali

After banning Tomales for the time being as all I was pulling out was skates, still nothing to complain about. I decided to try Sausolito for a change of pace. First time out a few weeks ago, caught a barely legal ling, and a few rockies.  Seeing as the tide was good and the weather seemed solid,  made the early morning mission down through traffic hell. On the water by 7 am, not too bad and was coming up on high tide. Fished the usual spots for rockfish but got no love so decided to go catch some bait. I through that damn cast net atleast 25-30 times for 3 small 3-6 inch smelt. Got back out to Angel Island and started the drift in about 40-50 ft using a the usual 3 way , with about a 3 oz weight. Friend had a squid dropper and same size smelt.  Drifted for about 10 min, when friend was starting to get a nibble. Fish started to take and the hook was set. Fish on! Fought hard for about 10 min till finally the beast rose from the depths. Good thing I just bought a bigger gaff as was needed.  Got the perfect spot and wham!.  Both of us pulled the fish in and friend wasnt listening when I told him to be ready.  The butt went nuts! Finally my buddy did too and a few good stomps and a cut of the gills and the battle had ended.  Had to go back to the launch to bag it up and ice down since we still had a full day. Had one more take but i couldnt keep it.  Tons of John Bon Chovies out there!

Fish weighed in at 26lbs. 

   Glassy!

Wow! Beauty of a Hali and what a nice day! Pretty damn rare to see the water so close to the GG that glassy!! Congrats! 

Thanks Zee,  yeah that kind of weather kept me out there from 7 am till 5 pm!   and then it took 2 hours or so to get back to Santa Rosa!   

Thanks for the report!When the conditions are so good,I try to take full advantage of them too! cuz it will come to an abrupt end,here on the bay     Nice Butt' & pics!

ya, that halli was a hell of a fight....thanks for the gaffing.The fillets were excellent ,hope you had a good feast.

Got a 30lbs on my dad's boat trolling a Bango B.  I thought I snagged bottom and it started to move.  Got it in the net and on deck.  We had to jump on the seats until it quit kicking.  Probably around 10 mins.  But, felt like an hour.

I you do it next time.  Gaff it and have you buddy hammer the living daylights out of it.  Or, get a big net, cut the gills and let it bleed in the water.

Halibut, if you bring them in slowly.  They don't even know they are hook.  But, on the hook set you must let them eat the bait.  Feed them some line and then set the hook when they start to run.

That is why up in Alaska they can fish cheap 2 speeds for 300 lbs.  Tuna you need Gold.

Ken kickfish

Thanks FH and good advice Ken, A friend of mine who fishes for them down in Santa Barbara tells me to break or snap the spine near its tail and then cut the gills.

Yeah and this one was bouncing hard off the bottom of the boat , pulled the gaff out of my hands for a few seconds. It was a sight no doubt, would have been hilarious if someone was watching,  So many primal screams coming from all of us!