Muir Beach Halibut

Tuesday was my fishing buddy Mike's 38th birthday so we planned a combo trip out to muir beach. We knew it was early but figured we could drop some crab traps and drift the cove a few times in the hopes of landing a nice ocean flatty.

Turns out we could not have planned it any better weather wise. It was like a lake out there! A hot lake actually as my sunburned legs would attest to. We dropped the crab pots in and then metered around a bit cause it was the first time with my new fishfinder. Found thick schools of bait around the point but after messing with the sabiki we discovered they were foot long smelt which seemed a bit big for bait so we let them go. Caught a couple shaker lings and a nice Bolinas cod that went back in the drink of course.

We pulled the crab pots a couple times for a handful of rock crabs and several dungeness as well. As I'm paddling across the cove to pull my trap for the last time I hear a little yell behind me. Turns out Mike has hooked up to what he thinks is a shark and it's towing him around a little as he struggles to get it to the surface. I paddle as fast as I can over to him in case he needs a gaff and when he gets it to the top it turns out to be a monster halibut! The fish makes one or two runs more before we get him on the gaff and secured to the game clip!

Mike has been on a great streak with the flat kind. Two weeks ago we fished Paradise in the rain and he pulled up a hail mary 31" keeper on the bucktail jig. Tuesday's fish ended up measuring 38" and was nice and fat.
Pretty cool to catch a 38" fish on your 38th birthday.

Happy birthday buddy!     

-Eliot

 Nice report, I am so jealous!  Would have love to been there to see that.  How was launching at Muir Beach?  Jim

Sweet!!!

Nice Score....

  PICS???????????????

The launch at muir usually isn't too bad except for the distance from the car to the water. A good set of wheels or a strong back is needed for this part.

Sorry no pictures. I sometimes carry a disposable waterproof camera with me but not a digital because it seems like one more thing to lose. Mike has some pics of the fish at his house maybe he can post them.

-Eliot

38" for the 38 year old - that is cool.  Great report.   

congrats and happy b-day!!!
if you don't mind, can you provide me with a detailed direction to the launching location?
thanks.

My 52nd birthday is coming up, can't wait to see what I catch on that day    Thank you for the cool report.

Cool report. Congrats to your buddy catching that whopper halibut.
I would love to see pictures of the fish too.

Jedmo

Its just south of Stinson Beach. Where you could put in as well. Bolinas is another spot. WTG! on the hali. Some big halibut were caught between there and Ft Cronkite last year. Gotta' do it this year. Congrats to your buddy on his birthday fish!

Its just south of Stinson Beach. Where you could put in as well. Bolinas is another spot.

thanks Craig.

Wow, great birthday for your buddy! Thanks for the report. 

Its just south of Stinson Beach. Where you could put in as well. Bolinas is another spot. WTG! on the hali. Some big halibut were caught between there and Ft Cronkite last year. Gotta' do it this year. Congrats to your buddy on his birthday fish!

just south?  like 6 miles...LOL. gate usually opens at about 8, watch the shore break!

in the buddy's boat we had a couple of banner days off cronkite..multiple 20+ # fish...maybe its starting a bit earlier this year?

38 for 38.  God help him when he is 60!  Congrats on a great trip

Nice catch!

Nice fish Congrats