NCKA on Humboldt Bay - 7/9/09

Met up with FishinMike again today.  I had to work until midday then jam home for my gear, make a repair to my fishfinder wiring, and hit the road back to Eureka where I needed bait and some tackle.  I was a near hopeless noob today as I embarked on my first ever halibut try from a yak in Humboldt Bay.  Rod from Englund Marine was totally cool, drawing me a diagram and setting me up with the tackle I needed for my bag of chovies.  I got on the water at the public ramp near there and hailed Mike on 69.  I could see his mango X-Factor about a mile to the northeast.  A great paddle through a brisk breeze with a little trolling of the Storm on the way and I was to Mike.  He'd had a fish to the boat and nearly netted - good news!  I rigged up and started my first drift, immediately feeling little nibbles.  I thought of all the times I've heard here about free-spooling a little so I did, and then I set the hook!  ...and it was a bullhead!     I loved the sensitivity of my rod for this kind of fishing.  I went on to feel lots of bullhead bites, got a bullhead double hookup, and caught two big crusty clam shells on our wind drifts across good territory where powerboats were working with us.  I've now had the exposure I needed to see what goes into this fishing and how well suited it is to my kayak.  I'm intrigued...  I'm catching a new phase of the madness!  I look forward to going again soon.

Thanks for hooking up, Mike.  That's cool that you had a halibut to the boat - you'll be thinking of that one for a while!   

Not catching anything today was no big deal at all for many reasons.  Hooking up with NCKA and using tools and skills learned on NCKA makes the trip worthwhile in itself, as does the therapy of being OTW in general.     

Right-on Abking! Thanks for the report and looking forwarding to hearing about your first butt from humboldt.

Welcome to the hali dimension of the madness 

Right on Abking!  Glad to see kayaks fishing the harbor.  When I lived up there I tried the harbor about 6-8 times on my yak for no love.  You can bet those posts about the halibut a few weeks ago got my attention!  

I'm planning on coming up to Eureka at the end of August for an epic fishing adventure.  I'll have to add a half-day on the bay fishing for halibuts to the plan.  Hopefully you'll be around for some fishing when I get up there.  Depending on the weather I'm looking to hit the cape, the lagoons, the bay, the river . .whatever!
  

Way to give it A try Eric!!!!! Thanks for the report!!!

Abking,
     I like placing a small clear bobber (just enough to float your bait) in front of a dead bait while drifting for Hali's... it keeps the bait off the bottom and in the sight of any fish near by...( it will also discourage those pesky clam shells... )... also Thump your weight once in a while on the bottom ... the commotion may cause a fish to "come ck it out"

Gue

All day yesterday I was thinking of being up there. Had to work though, waaaagh!
Did you guys meter or jig up any bait? Were the pelicans diving anywhere?
Thanks for the report. You know, about 10 bullheads head to tail on the trough should be about 30 inches.  

The madness comes in many forms.

Didn't meter any bait or see birds working anywhere, Juan, and we were thinking of you too:  "we wish Juan were here to show us how to catch these guys!"   

Eric, I caught my first 2 halibut from a kayak this year. Although I have caught them from a boat many times in the bay the kayak way was much , much more exciting. keep it up and you will get one. I hope you caught that tip before it was modified.

Sound like you're into the Hali hunting.  I know you'll get them soon than you think.  Happy hunting Eric and thanks for the report & pictures.

Good try Eric. Keep at it. It makes it all worth while once you catch one
on the kayak. Good luck on your next trip and I hope the next time
around you catch your limits like HalibutKing (Sonny).

Jedmo

owner of the blue kayak : you dont have any problems traveling with that much yak hangin out>? how many feet hang out>? just askin so i can compare to my situation

Nice one Abking! Don't worry you will nail those flatty's next time! Nice rig! X-factor correct? If so, how do you like paddling it? Looks sick! Also another quick observation..i wonder if the bullheads are a big source of food for hali's in that area? Hmm..Nice one anyway brother!

Abking, I can really relate to your comment about a new phase of the madness, I love it when something new to me comes along and completely intrigues my interest and focus. Those are the little things that keep me going feeding my fishing addiction. Stick to it and I know you'll be rewarded. Hali fishing is definitely different than rock cod fishing. Be prepared to exercise some patience, as hali fishing tends to be a bit slower action wise. Live bait has always been the answer for me. Hope you nail one soon

Thanks, Guys.   

owner of the blue kayak : you dont have any problems traveling with that much yak hangin out>? how many feet hang out>? just askin so i can compare to my situation

No problems - I run a red flag off my bow.  It's a 14'4" yak (X-Factor) and my bed is about 8' with the tailgate down.  It's held in with two straps through the scuppers and attached at the back hooks (at the base of the tailgate).