Santa Cruz halibut

Launched outta SC harbor right around sunrise. Mid-tide on a ~4' differential, 2-3' swell day -- no shoaling conditions at the harbor mouth.

Still some anchovies in the harbor but not as much as earlier in the year and pretty small, from what the birds were bringing up.

Drifted frozen herring and squid for a bit around the NW (sandy) side of the mile buoy, also throwing swimbaits. No luck.

Switched over to trolling, frozen herring behind a silver/chrome herring dodger and kajiki behind a silver holographic dodger (no hits on this one). Big ling takedown on the herring just SE of the mile buoy, where it starts to get rocky. About 28". Didn't make a report for my last trip, two weeks ago, but it also featured a ton of big, feisty lings, so that season looks like it'll be great once it opens.

Started my trolling line at 70' but took it shallower as I steered toward Pleasure Point. Then, right at 60', about halfway to Pleasure Point (couple hundred yards from being off the radio towers: second year in a row, this is where I find my April hali), right at 11:00am (peak low tide was 11:28) another big takedown on herring that turned out to be this 29" beaut flattie. Headed in after that. No shoaling or other difficulty coming in. Thank you dredge!

Water was 52.5 degrees at launch and had almost reached 55 degrees when I headed in. Only saw very scattered bait on the fish finder and wasn't able to hook up with any. Water clear at the surface and seemingly on bottom, but there was some sorta bloom in the 50% - 75% (where 100% is bottom) portion of the water column that gunked up part of my line pretty bad (but never had any gunk on baits or trolling rigs though).

P.S. Apologies again to the other kayak angler who was trying to talk to me while I was tying down my yak. Turns out I was battling mild food poisoning all day, and it was at its worst right at that moment (I did the other kind of yakking a few minutes after you'd left). But I did make it home safe and sound. Thank you for your concern, and hopefully we can chat for real in the future.

Woohoo! Excellent job! You've given hope to all the other Santa Cruz Anglers!

Congrats on a big flattie!   

Congrats on the fine catch  . Thanks for the report and picture newbanquestu.

Way to go !!! Thx for the report

Fishing through nausea to secure the goods. Respect 

Yes, nausea warrior!  Glad you caught.  Great report.

Great catch. Thanks for the report!

I'm debating SC vs Monterey for the RF opener. I like the chances for halibut that aren't as much in the mix up in the Sonoma area.

It'll definitely be Monterey Opener for me, I'm just more familiar with the area. And I love launching off Del Monte Beach!

Thanks for the report

Nice! Where you caught that sounds like right about where I came across some baitfish and sea lions yesterday.

Thanks for all the details, water temp, tides, baits, and pics of success. Very inspirational. Looking forward to hallies this summer in my own fishing grounds, Crescent City. It's always later up here. Believe me, I've tried this early.

Thanks for all the details, water temp, tides, baits, and pics of success. Very inspirational. Looking forward to hallies this summer in my own fishing grounds, Crescent City. It's always later up here. Believe me, I've tried this early.

Yeah, I'm pretty jealous of the folks down in the LA area who've been catching them from the beach for a couple of weeks now.

Nausea is the worsttt

At any rate, way to power through and get it done!