Kicked But and Got Our Butts Kicked 4-11-08

     Met up with Rory in Cotati at 5:00 and headed off to meet up with Chuck at the Berkeley launch site. We paddled/peddled out in a flat-glassy bay with not even a wisp of wind and trolled to the end of the pier ruins and proceeded north towards Albany I think ,as it was my first time fishing on that side of the bay. About a mile or so out from the pier we turned east after getting a call from Chris (Kingfisher) who had a few shorties and one legal size in the box on his P.B.. I had one short bite and reeled in half of a herring and then heard from Rory that he had a halibut to his kayak twice before finally threw the hook.
      Chuck and Rory continued east but I stayed out in a little deeper water trying to keep out of the mossy bottom areas the required constant cleaning. About thirty minutes later I called Chuck on the radio and woke him up from a little power nap....sorry Chuck. A bit later Chuck informed us he was going to troll back the barn and wished us well.
      Rory joined me on the outside and we staged our plan to fish south and then let the incoming tide and now slight onshore breeze push us back to the dock. A few minutes later we noted how the the air got really still then suddenly the wind shifted to offshore and really started blowing. Now we had an incoming tide and a nasty offshore wind that whipped up some brutal conditions so we headed for the dock........that's when It happened! My rod tip took a dive and the clicker was signaling loud and clear...Fish On! As I pulled the rod out of the holder the wind turned me back west and I knew this fish had to be landed quick or I would be visiting Alcatraz real soon. With the net readied the fish swam into range and I swooped it up and at the same time the hook came unbuttoned and the flasher, weight, and hook went sailing through the air and wrapped itself around the front kayak handle. With the fish securely in the net I attached the game clip then proceeded to whoop and holler like the lunatic I am.
      Now it was back to the task beating it back up the hill to the dock. It took us better than an hour to reach the jetty wall and with that, finally a break from the wind. I knew the wind would come up at some point in the afternoon but wasn't ready for the speed at which it came or the direction that it would come from.
      Truly.......We Kicked But and Got Our Butts Kicked.  Thank You Chuck for showing Rory and I a new fishing hole.     Allen

And the rest of the story.

Man, Your on Fire!!!!!!!


  Nice Butt,    What were you using?


 Damm, I have alot of work to do

 One question ChuckE,  What were you planning to do with that Tiny net?

Way to go, Allen.

       I was using my "Irish" set up. A four ounce ball completely  covered in green moss towing a chrome /green flasher followed by a green roll-baiter which held a frozen herring. Basically it's the same rig is would "normally" use for salmon.

Nice work Dad, looks like it turned nasty out there today, way to stick it out.  Can't wait to eat it!

Definitely good food  Congrats guys.

Wow, thanks for the report.  Congratulations.  Seems like all you need now is a quick run to Lake Mendo for a striper and smallmouth and you'll be pretty much be done until rockfish opens.

I guess I'm looking like a little bit of a sage right now...   

Way to go, Allen.  Great photos and report.   

Thanks for the tip on the set up, that moss can be discouraging as your thumping around a mud flat in the Bay. 

 Nice job and Hali,

 I really thought that fish might hold you up a bit,  I was figuring Wrong....

 Guess I recon your the One to Gun For........

 See ya @ Sunset........

CONGRATS ALLEN!
It was such beautiful day on the Bay, so it was all my pleasure to show you and Rory around Berkeley.  I'm glad you guys got a chance to enjoy it and make it it back okay against the wind which is almost always an issue around Berkeley.  That's why you have to pick your battles there and seize the opportunity to go when it's calm.

One question ChuckE,  What were you planning to do with that Tiny net?

Hehehe..  .. Usually carrying a small net improves my chances of catching something too big to fit inside.  Oh well... it didn't do the trick for me today, but I did have my custom Kunz gaff to take care of any serious business.

Allen-

Nice job on the but. Got to love those things when they take your offerings and fight for their lives.

Freddie

but I did have my custom Kunz gaff to take care of any serious business.

 I never had a any Dought you were prepared in some way,  But when it comes to nets

 No one Compares to Nor Cal

Really sweet Alan. Thanks for the intel and tactics. Hope we have luck tomorrow.

scott

You sure are going up in numbers. slow down and let us in on the action.  nice fish...NorCal Rocks