SF Bay Kayak Fishing

Hey guys I'm new to this forum and fairly new to saltwater kayak fishing. I am going to be going out to the Alameda Rockwall tomorrow and gonna be fishing for Halibut. I think I am going to drift fish and possibly troll. I am going to drift with a sliding sinker rig but I did have a question regarding baits. If I can catch some live bait I will use that if not I am going to use a krippled anchovy with frozen bait but I was also wondering if I can drift using and artificial bait like a squid or a swimbait? Also if I decide to troll how should I set my line up? Dodger, what size weight, sinker release, what kind of bait. If anyone can post a pic of there trolling line setup it would be really appreciated. Any other tips or suggestions for a new saltwater yak fisherman would be awesome, thanks guys. Really glad I found such a great forum

I will be there tomorrow. All of ur ideas could work. Most troll though with a dropper and flasher and bait. I will be there at 7 or earlier. Blue native Sean . Happy to help you out. 

Can you send me a pic of the trolling line setup?

Check out the halibut fishing tutorial at: thelostanchovy.com he has pictures of the different setups.

I had good luck last summer at alameda rock wall, which was my first year kayak fishing, just trolling a frozen anchovy with 2-3 oz of weight using a three way swivel with about a foot of line to the weight and a 3 to 4 foot leader.

I caught a lot of under the size limit halibut off ARW.   I also caught two bat rays. Wow!  Those put up a fight.

Welcome aboard cambo0420 

Did you catch any halibut at the rock wall? Any idea where they are biting?

Can you send me a pic of the trolling line setup?

Here is a "Various Rigs" thread that covers that and much more - thanks to Spiffy

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=85514.0

Did you catch any halibut at the rock wall? Any idea where they are biting?

They are biting almost everywhere in the bay except in front of your computer. 
Gotta get out there if you want to catch em.

Hey Matt,

I caught 5(1 keeper) at ARW last Sunday 4/21. Since you are in Berkeley go to Bay Tackle in Richmond they will set you up with everything you need.

Welcome to the board.
I think the simplest set up is a three way rig with a j hook and treble stinger hook. Use an anchovy, smelt or sex herring. These all work well in the bay.

If you are trolling you can try adding a kone zone or dodger. Honestly, I like a kone zone, but that's just a personal preference.
Remember to be safe. ARW can get windy in the afternoon. You don't want to get caught on the wrong side of strong winds and tides out there.  Best of luck--TLA

An easy set up is 5'' Big Hammer swimbaits on a 3/4oz - 1.5 oz jig head. 

Sexy Smelt, Phantom, Margarita, White are the ones that I use. 

I'll toss the swimbait and bounce it off the bottom while reeling it in or if I'm really lazy and the current is moving I'll just drop it straight down and jig it slowly off the bottom while I move with the current.

Also you can troll them with a 1.5oz jig head, just go slow and let it bounce off the bottom every once in a while.  That's how I got my keeper last week at ARW.

They are biting almost everywhere in the bay except in front of your computer. 
Gotta get out there if you want to catch em.

Haha! Good point.