Petaluma River Stripers

A couple of weeks ago, I got invited to fish with a buddy and his dad for stripers down the Petaluma River.  We finally got on the water about 9 am and tried the haystacks for a while with no luck.  We then decided to fish the slews down past Papa's Taverna.  After about an hour, just when I was thinking of changing from a bull head to anchovies, I got my first bite...  Landed a 24" striper.    Seems like every half hour to 45 minutes my pole was going off.  I managed to land 4 of 5 fish all from 22" to 25".  They got a little pissed every time I said "uh oh"  they knew that I was about to land another striper.  After me hooking up a few times, my buddies dad got one hell of a strike!  After about 4-5 runs he was finally able to get the fish up to the boat,  HOLY $#!T we said!!!  He hooked into a 48" Leopard shark.  That made his day, unfortunately the son only had one bite all day.
I was telling my brother-in-law about the great day we had and we decided to take the kayaks out last Sunday.  We went to the slew just across from the red barn south of Papa's and not one bite, but that's fishing.

Stripers are running in the Petaluma River, and from what I hear... lot's of them.

Good Luck,

Divndc

Nice job from the boat...too bad from the yak.  thanks for the report!  does the current get crazy during the tide change? 

You will definitely need an anchor.   When we were on the boat we went to the second slew but on the kayaks we only went to the first one across from the barn.  I would suggest going down to the second slew, get right in the mouth and fish out to the right.  That's where I had all the bites.  We were using bull heads and I was able to use the same bull head all day.

Good luck,

George AKA: Divndc

thnks for the details George, when ever someone mentions a river that flows into the bay, I always inquire about the current there.

I believe that the best is the last of the incoming and first of the out going tides, but we (I) were catching them all through the out going tides and the current wasn't too bad.

Hope that helps, and good luck if you get there,

George

I believe that the best is the last of the incoming and first of the out going tides, but we (I) were catching them all through the out going tides and the current wasn't too bad.

Hope that helps, and good luck if you get there,

George

thnx for the Xtra-Intel, George!  it will help when "all" the factors get added-up.

Thanks for the report George I've been thinking of hitting the Pet since Dustin and Bob hit it last year. How long is the Paddle to Papa's if I launch at the hotel and can you dock there for lunch and a beer or too?? With the bay closed do you think this will increase or diminish the amount boats on the river?

From the hotel (I think you're talking about the Sheraton)  it would be a heck of a paddle.  Your best bet is to pack a lunch with your own beer and launch from Papa's.  It's only a $2 launch fee and about a half mile paddle. 

Good luck,

George