Any halibuts still left in bay area in Nov?

Hello, I was looking to go crabbing on my kayak in half moon bay in a few weeks. Since i'll be drifting over sand, figured might as well do some fishing while i want for the crabs. Anyone know if halibut are still biting? Anything else good to target in hmb sandy areas this time of the year? 

Even the ever-overly-optimistic Bayside Marine (Santa Cruz) has not reported any halibut in quite a while, so my guess is that they are going to be hard to come by...

I’ve caught my largest (34.5”, 37.5”) halibuts in December by chance. One was at 55’ and the other at 130’.

any other fish people recommend me target while I crab in hmb? ideally ones that taste decent

any other fish people recommend me target while I crab in hmb? ideally ones that taste decent

Sounds like you want to do a combo trip.  I find this motivation hopeful yet in reality I like to stick near my traps.  Fishing while crabbing is difficult because the reef is not in crabby grounds.  I'm sure there are lings and rockfish to be found in HMB though.  Just gotta travel.  I've had some success bringing a crab snare while crabbing to spend the time.  Doesn't work if the drift is too fast though.  Hmmm...I just read a blog where the writer mentioned that you find your crab first, then fish.  Either way I hope you slay.

any other fish people recommend me target while I crab in hmb? ideally ones that taste decent

Sounds like you want to do a combo trip.  I find this motivation hopeful yet in reality I like to stick near my traps.  Fishing while crabbing is difficult because the reef is not in crabby grounds.  I'm sure there are lings and rockfish to be found in HMB though.  Just gotta travel.  I've had some success bringing a crab snare while crabbing to spend the time.  Doesn't work if the drift is too fast though.  Hmmm...I just read a blog where the writer mentioned that you find your crab first, then fish.  Either way I hope you slay.

Thank you for this, that sounds like a good time. Do you mind sharing the blog?

The best fish/crab combo location I know of is Pacifica/Rockaway when conditions allow. The crab can be found relatively closely to the fishy areas. You can set hoops at 40’-60’ and target reefs relatively close by. At HMB it’s a slog to get to reefs after setting hoops and your hoops end up being unattended for awhile. Doran also has done possible areas for the combo run but not as good as Pacifica in my opinion. Timber cove works for a fish-first/crab secondary trip.

Joe brings receipts!   

any other fish people recommend me target while I crab in hmb? ideally ones that taste decent

Sounds like you want to do a combo trip.  I find this motivation hopeful yet in reality I like to stick near my traps.  Fishing while crabbing is difficult because the reef is not in crabby grounds.  I'm sure there are lings and rockfish to be found in HMB though.  Just gotta travel.  I've had some success bringing a crab snare while crabbing to spend the time.  Doesn't work if the drift is too fast though.  Hmmm...I just read a blog where the writer mentioned that you find your crab first, then fish.  Either way I hope you slay.

Thank you for this, that sounds like a good time. Do you mind sharing the blog?

https://fishlawsons.blogspot.com

The best fish/crab combo location I know of is Pacifica/Rockaway when conditions allow. The crab can be found relatively closely to the fishy areas. You can set hoops at 40’-60’ and target reefs relatively close by. At HMB it’s a slog to get to reefs after setting hoops and your hoops end up being unattended for awhile. Doran also has done possible areas for the combo run but not as good as Pacifica in my opinion. Timber cove works for a fish-first/crab secondary trip.

dream haul right there heh

The best fish/crab combo location I know of is Pacifica/Rockaway when conditions allow. The crab can be found relatively closely to the fishy areas. You can set hoops at 40’-60’ and target reefs relatively close by. At HMB it’s a slog to get to reefs after setting hoops and your hoops end up being unattended for awhile. Doran also has done possible areas for the combo run but not as good as Pacifica in my opinion. Timber cove works for a fish-first/crab secondary trip.

dream haul right there heh

Looks like deconstructed cioppino…

The best fish/crab combo location I know of is Pacifica/Rockaway when conditions allow. The crab can be found relatively closely to the fishy areas. You can set hoops at 40’-60’ and target reefs relatively close by. At HMB it’s a slog to get to reefs after setting hoops and your hoops end up being unattended for awhile. Doran also has done possible areas for the combo run but not as good as Pacifica in my opinion. Timber cove works for a fish-first/crab secondary trip.

dream haul right there heh

Looks like deconstructed cioppino…

I think it's a pre-constructed cioppino!

That was quite the December surprise.
I really just wanted a lingcod, but figured I'd drop one cheap hoop to hopefully get a crab or two. I went out to the small reef, jigged up some RF and then figured I had my lingcod on the line, but it turned out to be a beauty of a halibut. With no more room on the boat, I decided to head in and check my hoop. It turned out to have 5 keepers in it!

I'll bet Keith could beat that combo haul at HMB, the way he seems to have it dialed this year.

The best fish/crab combo location I know of is Pacifica/Rockaway when conditions allow. The crab can be found relatively closely to the fishy areas. You can set hoops at 40’-60’ and target reefs relatively close by. At HMB it’s a slog to get to reefs after setting hoops and your hoops end up being unattended for awhile. Doran also has done possible areas for the combo run but not as good as Pacifica in my opinion. Timber cove works for a fish-first/crab secondary trip.

What are some good launch areas out near pacifica/rockaway? the waves seem pretty intimidating, i have a 13' tandem yak

The best fish/crab combo location I know of is Pacifica/Rockaway when conditions allow. The crab can be found relatively closely to the fishy areas. You can set hoops at 40’-60’ and target reefs relatively close by. At HMB it’s a slog to get to reefs after setting hoops and your hoops end up being unattended for awhile. Doran also has done possible areas for the combo run but not as good as Pacifica in my opinion. Timber cove works for a fish-first/crab secondary trip.

What are some good launch areas out near pacifica/rockaway? the waves seem pretty intimidating, i have a 13' tandem yak

I think the easiest launch in Pacifica is definitely Rockaway beach, at the far south corner of the beach.  There is a deep trough right there that prevents big breaking waves, but you still gotta time your launch and land a little.  If the swells are less than 5', it is usually a pretty easy launch/landing at that spot.     

Lots of productive reefs/rockpiles nearby, plenty of sandy areas for good crabbing too.  Not sure what depth the keeper size crabs are at right now, but they shouldn't be too tough to find.  I usually roll with 3 or 4 hoops, and try at a few different depths until I find them.