SMELT?

Do any of you know where to go smelting? I haven't thrown the net in a couple of years now.For the last 4 decades I have always gone to Martins beach a couple of times a year, but since the Deeney family sold, I don't know where to go.

    Tim

Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding the term 'smelting': I caught tons of Jack Smelt at Tomales Bay this past Sunday. Since you mention a cast net tho I'm wondering if you're talking about catching smelt for bait as in Top Smelt. There are so many different types of smelt - even fresh water ones. Can you be more specific?

I believe he is referring to surf smelt (top smelt?) for eating purposes.

If you post your location others might be able to offer some advice.

I've seen some of the "old timers" netting smelt on the beaches of Duncan's Landing on the Sonoma Coast.

PM monkeyface, or contact him thro monkeyface news. Hell set ya straight on both day and night smelt...........

Too bad about Martin's beach.  I remember netting a few smelts there myself.  I still can't forget when this couple where using a 2 man net and got swamp with a big wave.  Just about everyone on the beach was watching and when the lady came up after being battered by the surf she did not even realize that she lost her top.  Only when she realized that everyone was staring at her and some laughing that she quickly cover herself up with her arms. 

I heard that once in a while they would run at the hmb state park and bean but have never seen them myself.
So, what is stopping anyone from going Martin's beach now?  Aren't all beaches public property?

Its all hit and miss with the surf smelt around the FT bragg area. One day you can fill up your 5 gal bucket in one net and not see another run all summer.

I tied to hit a stong run the last few years to dive it and see whats eating them but i kept missing them. The you should have been here yesterday thing.

I had gotten a PM from Kirk, he had seen them running at Cowells Ranch beach. So I loaded up the kids and a buddy and hit the beach 0n the 9th. When we got there at noon there were two guys just finishing up with a bucket load so we knew they were there, fished till 6 and never saw a smelt. I think the run is over for this year! oh well. For a great read check out Kirk's blog @ http://monkeyfacenews.typepad.com, it's one of the best bay area fishing blogs ever.

Tim

Damn this is my 10th post, after 27 months & 8days 14hours log on time I'm no longer a LURKER