Support Loch Lomond Live Bait House

I went to Loch Lomond Live Bait House yesterday to check it out. They need customer support, so consider them if you are in the area. Apparently after the marina was purchased by the new owners, they increased the boat launch fee to $40, which significantly cut down on boat traffic and customers for the Bait House. 

They also sell both live and freshly cooked Dungeness crab.

It's a relic from the past, in a good way. I don't know how much longer they'll be able to survive. I believe they are the only place to get live bait in Marin (if I'm wrong, please let me know where else one can go). And support a small, local business that's been in the community for something like 60 or 70 years!

When Keith died I have not been to yuk it up with the new owner.  Yaks launch free at Loch Lomand last time I checked.  Bait is expensive but live shrimp are always a treat if one wants to C&R that ole diamondback.  Such a salty little zone that shack o' history.

Yea I think yak launching is free. But the reduction in motor boats has hurt his business, unfortunately

The new owner, Bear, was super nice and I had a good conversation for a while, fwiw.

When I fished from my 14’ Valco, launched at Loch Loman a lot.  But now, much cheaper the drive the 21’ boat from Richmond.   Hard to launch bigger trailers there, as well as near $26 to cross bridge with tandem axle.   Just don’t fish the bay with the yak that much.  Keith was always helpful. Maybe why he was a great coach and teacher for so many years.

Anyone have success launching out of LL? I've never been there. It looks like mud flats just a few feet deep until you get out to the shipping channel in the middle of the bay.

Live bait sounds attractive but not if you're in a kayak and there is no halibut habitat nearby.

Stay between the channel poles and you are okay.  Get outside and you will wait for high tide to float again.  Caught a lot of stripers plugging along the shore line and islands.   Especially in the old days of the World Series bite.

There are Halis on occasion towards the Richmond bridge along the shallower edges of the shipping channel but that's quite a schlep to da bridge.  There are other ways to get there.

Stay between the channel poles and you are okay.  Get outside and you will wait for high tide to float again.  Caught a lot of stripers plugging along the shore line and islands.   Especially in the old days of the World Series bite.

FYI the islands are protected and not legal to fish.

"Marin Islands State Marine Park
JPG Map | PDF Map

Boundary: This area consists of waters below the mean high tide line within the Marin Islands Ecological Reserve.

Permitted/Prohibited Uses:

It is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living or non-living marine resource for commercial purposes. Any human use that would compromise protection of the species of interest, natural community or habitat, or geological, cultural, or recreational features, may be restricted, with the following specified exceptions:
The recreational hook-and-line take of species other than marine aquatic plants from shore only is allowed.
Boating, swimming, wading, and diving are prohibited within the park."

Anyone have success launching out of LL? I've never been there. It looks like mud flats just a few feet deep until you get out to the shipping channel in the middle of the bay.

Live bait sounds attractive but not if you're in a kayak and there is no halibut habitat nearby.

You don't have to be in a boat to get the live bait. You can drive there, walk up the dock and get what you need. Then you can launch from wherever you want, either there or drive to a new spot. I'm not aware of any other live bait shops in the area - please let us know if there are other options. The other ones I know of are in SF.

Anyone have success launching out of LL? I've never been there. It looks like mud flats just a few feet deep until you get out to the shipping channel in the middle of the bay.

Live bait sounds attractive but not if you're in a kayak and there is no halibut habitat nearby.

You don't have to be in a boat to get the live bait. You can drive there, walk up the dock and get what you need. Then you can launch from wherever you want, either there or drive to a new spot. I'm not aware of any other live bait shops in the area - please let us know if there are other options. The other ones I know of are in SF.

My advice would be to limit yourself to just a few pieces of live bait, maybe a dozen, tops. Too many, and they will all die in the bucket before you are able to get to the new spot, set up, and launch. Even with a bubbler. Let us know if you are able to make it work.

Where do you plan to launch? I used to live in Marin but have never fished that part of the Bay.

    Wow,  40 bucks  to launch !   Ouch.     I'd go out of my way to avoid supporting that.     
    Seems to me if he wanted to increase bait sales, that might be the place to start. 

    Wow,  40 bucks  to launch !   Ouch.     I'd go out of my way to avoid supporting that.     
    Seems to me if he wanted to increase bait sales, that might be the place to start.

Loch Lomond Bait House doesn't own the marina and set the prices for the boat launch. That's a different company. Loch Lomond Bait House is the smallest of small businesses, that is being negatively impacted by the increase in boat launch fees

Some water indicators for whether you can cross the flats. 200 yds outside the marina on the right is a submerged rock, if you can see two peaks you can't cross. One you are OK.,my 20 foot cc draws about 24", so it is more than that with the single peak

The bait shop now takes credit cards as well as the time old cash.

Lots of people fish the marin Islands, only two I know of have been cited, and neither actually had to pay, as the Leo didn't show for court date or never finished the ticket