Visiting Anglers in Mid-March (Tomales Bay & Clear Lake area)

My wife and I are planning a week long kayak fishing trip to central California in mid-March. We currently reside in north-central WA. 

We plan on fishing Tomales Bay for C&R Leopard Shark fishing and Clear Lake for pre-spawn Largemouth but still have several days open ended for other opportunities. 

Some other species we would like to get are Stripers, California Halibut, and Sacramento Perch. If you have any suggestions on where to target these fish or some other regional fisheries we should check out I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

We’re you planning on bringing kayaks or shore fishing or hiring a guide?

By mid March you have a good shot at halibut in tomales. San Francisco Bay is a better bet and usually the halibut show there earlier. You could jump on a party boat in SF bay and get halibut and stripers.

Clear lake is a lot of fun. That time of year it’s almost a no brainer.

Sac perch I have no idea.

When it gets closer make a hook up topic and you will probably find some company who can point you in the right direction as well.

We’re you planning on bringing kayaks or shore fishing or hiring a guide?

By mid March you have a good shot at halibut in tomales. San Francisco Bay is a better bet and usually the halibut show there earlier. You could jump on a party boat in SF bay and get halibut and stripers.

Clear lake is a lot of fun. That time of year it’s almost a no brainer.

Sac perch I have no idea.

When it gets closer make a hook up topic and you will probably find some company who can point you in the right direction as well.

I'll be bringing my own pedal kayaks.

I'll use the search function and see what I can dig up on San Fran Bay halibut. I assume the bay offers us our best shots at Striper as well.

Message me two weeks before you guys plan to arrive and we’ll schedule a day (or a few days) to target halibut in the SF Bay Area.  I’m sure I can get Eddie to come along.

Kevin

Message me two weeks before you guys plan to arrive and we’ll schedule a day (or a few days) to target halibut in the SF Bay Area.  I’m sure I can get Eddie to come along.

Kevin

Awesome. Thanks Kevin!

Message me two weeks before you guys plan to arrive and we’ll schedule a day (or a few days) to target halibut in the SF Bay Area.  I’m sure I can get Eddie to come along.

Kevin

Can I come too??

Message me two weeks before you guys plan to arrive and we’ll schedule a day (or a few days) to target halibut in the SF Bay Area.  I’m sure I can get Eddie to come along.

Kevin

Can I come too??

Thats a pretty good group of guys to go out with. Those are some fishy dudes! I imagine that would be a fun, successful hookup. Man, I wanna go

Not an expert, but the only thing that comes to mind when I hear Sacramento Perch is Crowley Lake, and assume it will be frozen in March.

I've heard that Crowley and Bridgeport are good but assumed they would be cold this time of year. I know Clear Lake is purported to hold some so maybe I'll throw some panfish gear while I'm there.

About 20 years ago I got my parents to stop at lagoon valley lake in Vacaville when we were driving home from the bay so I could try to catch a Sacramento perch. I fished it for a couple hours and caught 1 Sacramento perch (still my only one) that was about 6” long. I don’t know if they are still in there or if they would allow kayaks but it’s close to where you are planning on going. I’d look into it if you want another shot at em.

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Not an expert, but the only thing that comes to mind when I hear Sacramento Perch is Crowley Lake, and assume it will be frozen in March.

I've heard that Crowley and Bridgeport are good but assumed they would be cold this time of year. I know Clear Lake is purported to hold some so maybe I'll throw some panfish gear while I'm there.

Almanor also holds Sac Perch as well, but probably still too cold in mid-March as well.

-Allen

Perhaps Clayman could weigh-in on the Almanor fishery potential

Perhaps Clayman could weigh-in on the Almanor fishery potential

I'm on it  .

Lake Almanor has a sizeable population of Sacramento perch, and some pretty big ones at that (my PB from there clocked in at 16 inches). But the best time to catch them starts about mid-April, when they start moving into the shallows to spawn. If you did mosey up to Almanor in March, that's prime time to catch some dandy brown trout ripping minnow plugs tight to the shoreline.