8/9 Oyster Point

Went out at Oyster Point to very light winds. Cruised straight out the the tubes to try and catch some of the Striper action I'd heard about. I had a new ff and was working it out but did see some schools of good sized fish. Although the area near the tubes was almost empty.

Saw SeanS (right? sorry if I got it wrong) on the way there but he was on the way out. I figured out why a few hours later. I trolled about 100-200 feet infront of the tubes and found some schools and threw everything I had at them. Hair Raisers, Rattle Traps, Crocs but they didn't take anything. The winds got pretty strong and whipped up some good swell. As I was leaving it was pretty "Victory At Sea" out there. Trolled all the way back to OP harbor with no luck.

Don't know if it's me or them but have yet to hit those Striper. Mooch, surfing marmot, If you went out I hope you got something, let us know... and if so how you did it!!

Zeelander - I got a call from ChuckE at about 2:30PM - he had mentioned that there was no fish to be found, So I decided to hold -off. I was going to try Coyote Point but they were charging a fee to get into the Park  (sometimes you can just drive in for free)

I got the word from Mooch on the lack of fish, so I decided not to make the rush-hour drive up given how little time there would be to experiment. Had it been a week end, I would have anyway to see if things changed on the turn of the tide (Low at CP was around 1900 I believe). I hae caught plenty at San Luis, but the Bay is new to me so I don't have any success to draw upon. Let's keep at 'em and see what we can figure out.

Zeelander,  not surprised the wind pickedup--that was the forecast. I am not going to Elk and have been thinking about giving them a shot Saturday on the incoming or out-going tide at OP or CP. Sunday I am at Lex looking for CrapZilla.

Yah was a SKUNK-OLA!!!
Fish to be had all over the finder-- big marks all over the place- but NOTHING

THis time of year often brings in droves of rays around the shore line.  Could that be what is showing up on the FF's
Jason

most of the marks were-way off the bottom, and at times there were obvious groupings...but i wouldn't be suprised if they were some in the mix..

Yeah it was the SkunkOLA fest out there SteveS. Pretty frustrating seeing all the marks with no bites. Oh well, will get 'em someday soon there.

Mooch & surfingmarmot- If I'd have got the same news I only would have gone out to test my new ff.

BTW anyone had any luck on Striper action in other parts of the bay? I've never caught one but I've heard, and they look like, a lot of fun to catch!

They are, pound for pound, one of the best game fish around: they are aggressive, great fighters, hit hard, and are plentiful (notwithstanding OP Wednesday). They school up--you get one, you'll usually get some but the size doesn't vary much in the school. If you don't get one in the Bay thsi Summer, then maybe at Mendo in September, but certainly at San Luis this Fall. I'll be going there a lot this Fall once the Summer winds are gone (it can blow 30 knots there and come up to that in a half hour) and will be glad to meet up. I really enjoy fishing there. I know the Forebay well but I will warn you though--my success there has all bee on a 9-wt fly rod with buckail streamers or top water foam poppers. So conventional tackle is new to me there. I am hoping to hook up with Bill, Mooch, or others who know the techniques there.

I'd liek to go down to Naciemento sometime and try the White Bass as well--small but big schools.

Yah there are stripers in the bay.This year has been slow with all the run-off.
 In the next couple of weeks the marin bay shoreline should be full of fish.  Paradise area, Marin Islands (off San Rafael) and San Quentin should turn on with some schools of fish.  They'll stay until the first heavy rains.

Small white hair-raisers and blue/white rapalas are my bait of choice.
ChuckE and I have had multiple  30+ fish days off San Quentin and near the brickyard in the past...
Last year by this time i was closing in on 600 fish caught- but this year is a lot, lot different- i'm only in the low  20's total!

It seems as though fishing in NorCal especially the bay Area has taken a turn for the worse.  The only exception seemed to be the sturgeon, they seemed to have been particulary hungry this year despite the drastice measures taken by the DFG. 

Salmon, terrible
Striper  Almost Terrible
Halibut, Terrilbe
Rockfish  not as good as last year?

of course it is only my opinion.

Jason

Paradise area, Marin Islands (off San Rafael) and San Quentin should turn on with some schools of fish.

Let's hope so. The run-off explanation makes sense--they probably detect salinity and other subtle changes in mineral concentrations. Marin is a longer drive for me than the Pennisula, but not much longer than the drive to San Luis and the same $6 cost (GG Bridge toll versus San Luis etry fee). The difference is in edibility but I mostly fish C & R for Stripers anyway. I'll be watching the board for reports of fish up there.

"I'd liek to go down to Naciemento sometime and try the White Bass as well--small but big schools."

Word.

I always wanted to get into some white bass.

MolBasser