1/2, 1/3 herring scouting

Planning on heading out in Richardson bay to scout for herring. I'll launch from Turney street next door to Salito's 7-8AM on Thursday or Friday. I'll drift northwest with the incoming tide around the channel and eelgrass beds, and head out to the deeper areas near the buoy around 11AM for slack tide and head in before the outgoing current picks up.

Let me know if you want to meet up, I'm off both days and so pretty flexible on the details.

Otherwise I'll update on my observations here and on Keith's website.

    -Steve

Good luck Steve.

Good luck out there, hope you find em.

Went out yesterday, launched at 7AM. Saw pelicans, cormorants, seagulls circling the Belvedere side.

Dropped my half sabiki and started pedaling over. The herring didn't stay in one place though, and I was constantly following the birds around the bay. The harbor seals and sea lions were out in force as well, I could see up to a dozen at the surface at any given time, probably way more diving. One ripped off 2/3 of my sabiki with the rod in my hands, I don't think it even had a herring on it. I didn't dare to throw my cast net for fear of it landing atop one and getting ripped out of the kayak. I know they were often right beneath me because the seals would pop up for air a few feet from the kayak and spook themselves, defensively splashing me with water.

All the bits of seaweed and eelgrass I pulled up had eggs on them, so I don't know if I'm too late or if they'll still have more spawns (hopefully in shallower water away from the seals).

Overall, it was very impressive to see but not successful catching. I think the fish were balled up from the attacks from below / above and not very interested in biting. I only got 2 in three hours.

Still a newbie - let me know if there's any tricks I missed! I saw online some people were saying flashers would help get their attention / tempt them to bite? Will the seals/sea lions get out from under a cast net, or was I correct to hold off? Do I need a breakaway line instead of the normal wrist strap?

Now you've got 'Chovie all salivating.

When I tried Richmond unsuccessfully for perch on the 30th, I was marking some bait that looked like herring but didn't get the sabiki out until it had passed.

Thanks for the Herring scouting report and pictures Steve.

Thanks for the report!
Hopefully this season will see many more spawns.

Thanks for the scouting report. I was going to try to get out today, but with the weather I decided to wait.

Sweet, thanks for the report!  I still have a fair bit of herring leftover form last year, but I might poke around Richmond a little in the next couple weeks.

Now you've got 'Chovie all salivating.

When I tried Richmond unsuccessfully for perch on the 30th, I was marking some bait that looked like herring but didn't get the sabiki out until it had passed.

Joe, I've caught a few perch using a sabiki around the piers, but they are mostly Walleye and these to max out around 7 or 8". Im usually trying for a smelt for halibut bait, haha. I caught a decent perch with my cast net on the jetty last year, don't know what kind though. It was black, maybe about 13" or so.

If I go herring hunting again this year, I will def bring some stuff for perch too. I also need to figure out perch, would love to hear some tips and tricks from folks here. Seems like not a lot of folks target that from kayaks here anymore - the vast majority of AOTY entries for perch are from a long time ago.

Sweet, thanks for the report!  I still have a fair bit of herring leftover form last year, but I might poke around Richmond a little in the next couple weeks.

Now you've got 'Chovie all salivating.

When I tried Richmond unsuccessfully for perch on the 30th, I was marking some bait that looked like herring but didn't get the sabiki out until it had passed.

Joe, I've caught a few perch using a sabiki around the piers, but they are mostly Walleye and these to max out around 7 or 8". Im usually trying for a smelt for halibut bait, haha. I caught a decent perch with my cast net on the jetty last year, don't know what kind though. It was black, maybe about 13" or so.

If I go herring hunting again this year, I will def bring some stuff for perch too. I also need to figure out perch, would love to hear some tips and tricks from folks here. Seems like not a lot of folks target that from kayaks here anymore - the vast majority of AOTY entries for perch are from a long time ago.

Let me know if you want to target some perch! Lots of fun. I usually target them at bodega when I’m crabbing.

That seaweed looks pretty nutritious

Any news on any spawn?

Any news on any spawn?

Drove over to Sausalito last Sunday got there a bit after high tide but was nothing happening from shore near Dumphy so turned around and drove home.

Hoping the FP spawn happens soon I'm down to the stems and seeds from last year in my herring stash.