(Video) My wife got her first halibut (29") near Lawson Landing

Updated

I placed the GoPro at a new spot and it only took a video of her.
Will be relocating it and hope to add a second one.

This is in continuation of http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=88185.0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpz1gwNlu8E&feature=youtu.be



Thank you guys so much for helping us get our(wife's) first halibut.

Eddie - gave us great location ideas and guidance on how to travel safely near Lawson Landing.

MooMoo - his videos show how to rig and brine baits.  Used brined tray anchovies per his instruction.

TLA (Keith) - great tutorial on how to catch halibuts.

Left home around 5:40 AM to Lawson Landing, arrive around 8:20 and dropped couple crab traps and head to clam beds for some claims.
After catching some claims (digging claims are demanding labor) we started fishing for halibut around 1:45 PM.  Headed toward inland and didn't pay attention to my fish finder/GPS and got into a wrong channel.  As we kept going, noticed two people yelling and waving their orange PFD for help from the edge of the channel.  Water was too shallow for use my mirage drive and I had to paddle to get to their stranded rental boat. They had engine trouble as I was about to use my VHF radio to call for some assistance, Lawson Landing staff arrived to tow them.  We had to paddle really hard for approximately 20 minutes, battling the onshore wind, find enough depth to used mirage drive.  We finally arrived at a deeper channel and started fishing. 

After 30 minutes of trolling, my wife got only bite for the day.  I missed first attempt to net the fish and after 8 minutes of battling, I finally net the fish.  Watched TLA halibut netting tutorial again this morning to fully understand.  The halibut took revenge and bit my fingers.  Didn't know they had sharp teeth.  When we measured it, it was 29" long.  We decided to circle back and hit the spot again per TLA's advise but didn't get any more bites. 

Decided to head back and pick up crab traps, no Dungeness crabs, just full of rock crabs.  After washing gears and kayak, departed for home and arrived home after 9 PM.  It was a long day but my wife had so much fun.  Hope I get to catch my first kayak keeper halibut next time.

Thank you again for all your help.

Nice one!

Congrats, well done!!!

Really nice first halibut. If you did not go that way to help, you may not have caught the fish. Good fortune. Now you know a halibut spot.

Hey hey!! That's what this is all about. Congratulations on getting the wife on one. I'm glad to hear my info is helping all you guys get on fish.

Glad that you took the time to share. This is what ncka is all about. Thanks again for sharing.

Gotta be 10lbs!  Good stuff!  Thanks for da report!  Happy happy happy for you...

Gotta be 10lbs!  Good stuff!  Thanks for da report!  Happy happy happy for you...

Hope I get some free time to edit the video soon and post it.

Paul

Wow what an adventure!

What a trip! Good karma for stopping to help. Congrats to you both!

Congrats the wife for her first Hali.  Thanks for the report and pictures Paul.

Hate to be the wet blanket, but I rec'd a shellfish safety notification for Marin County today in email this AM...make your own choices, but if you saved some of those clams you might want to reconsider eating them....

Congrats big time! My wife got her first one and it was a keeper earlier of this year, so I understand the feeling.

Hate to be the wet blanket, but I rec'd a shellfish safety notification for Marin County today in email this AM...make your own choices, but if you saved some of those clams you might want to reconsider eating them....

Thank you for the warning.

However, I can only locate waring for mussels.
Last year they did shut down horseneck clams but I could not locate any warning for horseneck clams.

Paul

Hate to be the wet blanket, but I rec'd a shellfish safety notification for Marin County today in email this AM...make your own choices, but if you saved some of those clams you might want to reconsider eating them....

Thank you for the warning.

However, I can only locate waring for mussels.
Last year they did shut down horseneck clams but I could not locate any warning for horseneck clams.

Paul

I just called the CDPH Shellfish Biotoxin Information Line (800)553-4133, and while only mussels are officially closed to harvest in Marin, there is a health advisory specifically for Marin County suggesting not to eat any clams or bivalves from Marin due to high levels of toxin found on recent surveys.  They did close both Marin and Sonoma Counties last year for a time, but we are not there just yet.  For now, it's an "eat at your own risk" deal.  I suggest you call the CDPH number each time you are thinking of heading out for clams, shellfish or crabs.  They update it immediately when a change occurs. 

Great report though, and congrats to your wife on the nice hali!! 

Tight lines,

Norm

Hate to be the wet blanket, but I rec'd a shellfish safety notification for Marin County today in email this AM...make your own choices, but if you saved some of those clams you might want to reconsider eating them....

Thank you for the warning.

However, I can only locate waring for mussels.
Last year they did shut down horseneck clams but I could not locate any warning for horseneck clams.

Paul

I just called the CDPH Shellfish Biotoxin Information Line (800)553-4133, and while only mussels are officially closed to harvest in Marin, there is a health advisory specifically for Marin County suggesting not to eat any clams or bivalves from Marin due to high levels of toxin found on recent surveys.  They did close both Marin and Sonoma Counties last year for a time, but we are not there just yet.  For now, it's an "eat at your own risk" deal.  I suggest you call the CDPH number each time you are thinking of heading out for clams, shellfish or crabs.  They update it immediately when a change occurs. 

Great report though, and congrats to your wife on the nice hali!! 

Tight lines,

Norm

Hi Norm

Thank you for the detail information.

I already ate some clams on last Saturday....

Guess waste all my hard work digging those clams....

Paul