Doran Butts?

My fam and I are camping out at Doran 7-2 thru 7-4. Any advice on the butts? Will have some newbs with me ( as well as myself ) . Planning on trying to get some rock crab with rings and killing time trying to catch a fish or two. I have a few butt rigs.....man that sounds bad, w/ the tri swivel, will drifting with frozen chovies have any success? I know live bait is better but I'm bringing way to much s!$t to worry about that. Thanks in advance for any info.

Anthony

I know a fly fisherman who has caught them casting out from the beach there.
Also have heard of some caught in the harbor but both reports are from years ago. Nothing recent. Good luck and enjoy the weekend. jim

Thanks salty, I will be in space 101 with the hideout, anybody is welcome to stop by and have a brew.

Anthony

When I went out with local guys they're mainly using hoochies & popsicle but I've never caught any halibut there...
I heard they're there (there are few old reports here in NCKA).
so Good luck!

Naoaki

Of course frozen bait and artificials work, but it isn't all that difficult to catch something on a sabiki to use as live bait. A smelt, a litttle shiner perch, even a little kingfish would work. Sometimes I get more caught up in making bait than pursuing the intended quarry! Catching any fish is fun.
Good luck and have fun.

Of course frozen bait and artificials work, but it isn't all that difficult to catch something on a sabiki to use as live bait. A smelt, a litttle shiner perch, even a little kingfish would work. Sometimes I get more caught up in making bait than pursuing the intended quarry! Catching any fish is fun.
Good luck and have fun.

but I end up eating the bait...

You can try jigging bait at Spud Point pier, and I've also had some luck at Tide's Wharf and the unsafe, rickity pier at Lucas....with Tides and Lucas being better for shiners.

Also, inside the harbor you can almost always jig up some smelt, but the trouble is that they're usually too big to use for bait.

Drift your bait by the jetty there and you can scratch up some decent rockfish (you'd be surprised.) Most of the butts are caught drifting between the jettys and off of the beach at Campbell Cove. I've also heard of BIG 'buts being caught inside the harbor, but every time I've fished in there I've spent most of the time getting out of the way of the steady stream of boats going in and out of the there.

I'd be hesitant about drifting too close to seal rock at this time of year...

I make bait between the north jetty and the cliff. usually lots of sardines there, and that makes good bait. Fish with a barbless circle hook, and you might scrape up a salmon! James caught one there about two years ago. I have not gotten a hali there yet, but stands to reason, the sandy bottom, and the presence of bait fish. If nothing else, like Rockhopper said, drift along the jetties, especially the north one, and score a limit of blues, blacks, and a few other rockies.

Just heard a friend of mine speared one in 15 ft of water. Drag the strip, never know. Good luck!
Will see you soon for the crate.

Nice!! Thanks for all the intel guys. I'll let ya know how it goes.

Anthony

Try to hit the water after the outgoing tide as it's real grassy otherwise...good luck have fun. I am with Juan, it's fun catching all the different baits that frequent Bodega Bay as the water warms. Last year I caught three seals using giant smelt and went for crazy sleigh rides with each. One seal took me past the Tides Restaurant at a good clip with all the patrons gawking out the windows. The seals all ended up with a little "jewelry" as a little memento...ouch.

Anthony, lots of good tips.  As for me my best luck has been drifitng typ. hali rig with 3-6 oz depending on wind. Starting beach side of the jetty  and drifting paralell the beach in 10-20 ft .  My two best last year were off the Day use restroom as a land mark in 12-15ft.   Have picked up butts along the beach in yak with sept. being best for me.  Good Luck. and as Rock Hopper said they are in the bay also but spend too much time not gettn' runnd' over.

First off I want to say thanks for all the advice. We had a good time but that wind was a bastard and the current was very strong making it hard to have a nice drift. We managed to get a few rock crab and if dungee season wasnt closed we coulda had a limit of them every day. The only fish I caught was a spiny dogfish. I didnt know what the hell it was  until I got home and googled it. It put up a pretty good fight and was 36" long. I know what your saying.....where are the pics? Well since my GoPro is filming fish at the bottom of Ocean Cove and my iphone was dropped shattering the screen  Im hosed for right now. Thanks again for all the info

Anthony.

you should try and post your lost go pro up in the lost and found on the NCUH site worth a try ? that and Spearboard.