ARW - Saturday 5/14

Thinking it's time to hit ARW. The weather is not supposed to be fantastic, but the tides look OK. I probably won't get live bait. Thinking I'll troll some frozen chovies or maybe a hoochie. Anyone else gonna be out there?

I'll have my trout and bass gear packed, too. If conditions suck when I get to ARW, I'll bail to San Pab Res.

How is San Pablo vrs Chabot?

Never fished chabot. Fun times bass fishing at San Pablo (I mostly save my trout fishing for the mountains.

Hey Guys,

If I can make it there, is a newbie welcome...If so, were do you launch?

Randy

probably, I will be there on Sat morning.

It's not my bay, everyone's welcome. I'm not a newby to kayaks or halibut, but it will be my first time fishing ARW by kayak. I'm gonna try to be on the water before 7. My plan is to do a lot of trolling hoochies and frozen anchovies behind a "00" dodger. I've got lead anywhere from 2-10 oz, so something ought to work with whatever wind we've got.

The launch is a little boat ramp AT the alameda rockwall (ARW). Don't know the road name, but it's not hard to find. Its between Bellena Bay and the naval base stuff.

I plan on being there around 7:30 or so.  I have a blue hobie sport. 

Look forward to seeing you.

Nice. Glad I'm not going to be he only yak out there. I'll be in a blue Scrambler XT. What's your plan? Drift? Troll?

I don't have a radio just yet, but if you see me out there, swing by.

I'm going to try all of the above.   I'm not stuck on any one technique.    I have to stop by and get some bait.  Forgot to get it today.

All the action today came from in front of balena bay harbor. The place just north of the ramp (like 200 yards) there is a hole running parallel to its rock wall. About 75 yards from tbe wall is a transition from 12ft to 18 feet. Work it. If you dont have a ff look for the rip rap, it follows the transition. Forget the flasher imo, just picks up weeds. No need to go far.

Hit both bait shops in Alameda at 7:00 am and both were closed.  How can you be a bait shop and not be open at 7:00am?  Anyway, I ended going to the bait shop on International Blvd., Oakland and got some good advice along with my bait.  He sold me herring,  said his guys were having positive results on them. 

Got in the water about 8, cloudy, water 57 degrees, and brisk wind coming from the west.  Lots of boats and several kayaks.  I worked west trolling herring about a foot off the bottom.  The bait guy showed me how to rig the herring up so it has a natural swim to it. 

Last night I read Allan Bushnell's (aka) scallion) article on how to catch halibut from your kayak.  In his article he give good advice on how long to wait to set the hook once your fish hits.

I had my reel on free spool with the clicker on, and when the halibut  started taking line and clicking,
I remembered that article  said wait as long as you can.  I wait what seemed a minute, I'm sure it was more like 30 seconds before and started reeling and pulling my pole up.    Wham!  He was on.

He made several dives to the bottom, and seemed to want to come right under the Hobie each time I got him
close to the top.  I must have done four 360s trying to keep him away from the peddles.

Got the net under him after he stop fighting, and had him in the back of the hobie without any problems.

Thanks to this forum for having good information kayak fishing.

Great job Raydon. You studied, prepared and scored! WTG! Nice flattie.

Nice! where did you pick it up?