Tomales 7/21 (nonyak)

So back at it again. Launched out of Nick's at about 8 am.  The parking lot was full!.  I was thinking everyone was launching to go out to Ten Mile etc, but as soon as we turned Hog Island, there lay about 13 boats drifting the middle channel.   It was a clear day, hot already no wind to speak of.  Went right over to Hog and managed to get bait quickly. Mostly smelt and a few shinners.  Did the middle channel drift next to Hog, nothing except for a 30-40 lb Skate.. man those things are a pain!.. This one tried to bite us a few times.     Anywho saw a guy loose a nice Butt, and then ran into another guy who had a 20-30 lb Butt.  We were stoked, he wouldnt tell us how big it was but it looked hugo for sure.  Ran into a few more guys who claimed they had 3 fish for the day and another had 5.  I was shocked.  So ended the day down by the sand bar.  Got hit , had him on for 5-10 seconds, lost him on a shake.  If i were to guess, id say he was 15 lb + , and ofcourse it could have been a shark , but heck im a dreamer.   Anyways got back , met a nice guy who had been fishing Tomales for years.  He uses the dodger/trolling rig and uses smelt up to 11 inches! .  He said the 8 inchers are the best?  Ive been using 4-6 inchers with a 6 oz squid mostly on my drop down.  anyways nada, but it looks like the Butts are in for some lucky people.    Next time im going all trolling , i like the drift but it seems like you end up covering alot more ground with the troll.