ARW 3-20

Sorry for the delay I've been knocked the F' out.

Launched at 830 to cloudy skies, an outgoing current, & 3 big live shiners. It was a quick paddle down to the markers trollling a broken-back rebel, no hit. Spoke to a boater who has been fishing since 7am all they managed to bring up was a 22" hali.

Drifted the shiners that were getting beat up pretty bad. I suspect small hungry halis or schooly stripers. The current was moving a whole lot faster than yesterday. Those shiners only lasted till 1030. 2 beers down and 10 more to go. No more shiners and forgot the bag of chovies at home. What to do, what to do?

Sun came out and current was moving faster towards the bay bridge. Decided to go on a troll to scratch something up. Worked my was down to Oakland Port and into the Jack London. Once I got to Jack London area I zig-zagged my way through the whole area all the way down to Coast Guard Island. Looped once around CG Island then down to Park St bridge.

The current was ripping against me down the stretch of Park St bridge down to the High St. Anchored up by the High St bridge to down beers, take a breather, and throw plastics. Pulled anchor and trolled down to Bayfarm bridge the water was a whole lot calmer there. Once I got out in front of the Shoreline Drive area it was a easy cruise down to Ballena Bay. Threw swimbaits in the area for nada. Beer 10 called it quits cuz I was exhausted and sleepy. Paddled back to the launch.

All in all it was an exploratory trip with great weather on my side. Hali's are there but I don't think they are there in full force. Another month in my opinion and it will be fun. I was really hoping for a nice size striper with all the talks I've been hearing lately with the schooly stripers in the bay and the big boys that are lurking around the Oak/Alameda Estuary and bridges.

Better luck next time........

Nice Effort....

 You should have been rewarded with at least one line side

10 beers. Holy crap. Are you sure your line was still in the water You gave it all Ariel. Thanks for the post. It will make family weekend more bearable.

Beer 10 called it quits cuz I was exhausted and sleepy. Paddled back to the launch.

No pics?!  You're an animal, Dude.   

wow, that is a very long way to paddle!

Damn Dude... 10 brews down... That would've know the F out of me period. Solid effort though. You will be rewarded one of these days.

Freddie

that is a long way it is 14 mi around the island

As for 10 beers that's good I bring at least 10 with me but they are hard beers not light beers
but I wont be doing that now don't want to gain all that weight back I think my limit will be 6 beers
now and they will be light.

thanks for the try I will be going out on wed I will try to get bait after midnight
on Tuesday hope there are some smelt around.

duane 

Wow Ariel, that's three birds with one stone. Fishing,drinking,and workout. I was
thinking of maybe trying OP on Thursday for some hali chase.

Jedmo

Very strong work!

10 beers on a long paddle/drift while going with and against the currant.

Dude, that was one heck of a trip.

S.

WOW! No wonder you crashed hard after this trip. Impressive.

that is a long way it is 14 mi around the island

As for 10 beers that's good I bring at least 10 with me but they are hard beers not light beers
but I wont be doing that now don't want to gain all that weight back I think my limit will be 6 beers
now and they will be light.

thanks for the try I will be going out on wed I will try to get bait after midnight
on Tuesday hope there are some smelt around.

duane 

I didn't feel like 14 miles. I had the 3 major essentials with me beer, food, & ipod. It was a solid 4/4-1/2 hour paddle. The major current started ripping from Coast Gaurd Island to High St bridge, were the channel starts to narrow.

It's a good thing its only light beer. I only drink hard beer when I'm up moving around. Takes a lot more effort to burn it off. I drink the hard beer when I'm partying or working around the house.

Duane you must be a madman now that you dropped all that weight. You can probably paddle around Alameda twice.

I've done 16mi. in one day...on a glassy lake. Dude, that is some major Recon- paddling!!  WTHunt for that Hook.
You are a PaddleAnimal

Makes me thirsty! Way to go Arial, cant wait for a hali now, yummmmm...

Ariel, you are my hero!

hey, Ariel-
great report.  You really put on a lot of mileage - both in the paddle and with the beer!   Awesome.