Hog Island Halibut How To

Can someone post a how to on catching halibut at Hog Island. I see on the Lawsons Landing fishing report all kinds of pictures of caught fish. I know you almost have to use live bait. So maybe start there. How to catch live bait in Tomales Bay. Is it best to fish the incoming tide? Should you anchor up and fish as the tide flows by or drift? Should you try to fish the deepest spots in the bay?

Launch at Miller park, catch live bait around  Hog Island, drifting along the channel.

Come along for a hookup sometime. Or if you want to give it a shot some sat-mon I can show you what little I know.

Ok, here's an edit because what I posted above was not very helpful!

I like to launch at Nicks Cove on Hwy 1. http://www.marincounty.org/Depts/PK/Divisions/Parks/Miller-Boat-Launch The facilities are clean, and there is a nice fish cleaning station there. I believe it is $7 day use. Pay at the pay station and credit cards are accepted.

Live bait is usually fairly easy to catch. I like to use the smallest sabiki I can find. Currently its a Hayabusa sabiki size 3 (3 lb test). I've also been using the smallest Mustad ones that walmart sells. I'll usually throw the sabiki in the water and drag it behind me as I head to my fishing spot. That seems to work pretty well for me. Other than that it is a good idea to have some sort of back up plan. I like the berkely gulp saltwater jerk shad rigged on a pro troll bait holder. IMO that is much easier and cleaner than frozen. You can then drift for halibut as you try to catch more live bait.

As far as tides are concerned I wouldn't worry too much about them. Fish when the weather allows you to. That being said I seem to have the best luck around the turn of the tides.

You will want to drift and fish for halibut. They like to hide and wait for a meal to come to them.

Most drifting is done on the west side of Hog Island along the sides of the channel. You don't have to fish deep. Usually the 10-20 foot range is good. Northwest of Hog and south of Hog are bouys. A good drift is between the two bouys. Attached is a map.

Rig wise I use a "bounce ball" style rig. On my mainline I have a sinker slider. On the slider I have 2 feet of line and then a cannonball weight. Usually 2-4 oz. At the end of my main line I have a snap swivel. Then a barrel swivel. Then 2 feet of leader and another snap swivel. Attached to that I put a 4 inch Yakima big al rotary fish flash. Then another swivel. Then 1.5 feet of leader to my hook. I've been using light wire circle hooks between size 1 and 2/0. You can use a stinger treble if you want as well. Everything after my main line is 50lb trilene big game. I use the heavy line to avoid line twist. You can see some of the set up in the attached pic.

Drift along and bounce your weight on the bottom every 15-30 seconds to make sure you are near the bottom. Good luck!

Wow John, great info.

Man O Man Thank You John. Fantastic information.

This deserves a sticky(maybe). Very Good reading.

This deserves a sticky(maybe). Very Good reading.

+1

Thanks for sharing the info

This deserves a sticky(maybe). Very Good reading.

+1

Thanks for sharing the info

+1 also
Great info, thank you!!!
Question: Tomales is okay on fishing w/ multiple hooks & rods?

28.65. GENERAL. Except as provided in this article, fin fish may be taken only on hook and line or
by hand. Any number of hooks and lines may be used in all ocean waters and bays except:
(a) San Francisco and San Pablo bays between the Golden Gate Bridge and the west Carquinez
Bridge, where only one line with not more than three hooks may be used.
(b) On public piers, no person shall use more than two rods and lines, two hand lines, or two nets,
traps or other appliances used to take crabs.
(c) When rockfish (genus Sebastes), lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus),
or kelp or rock greenlings (Hexagrammos decagrammus and Hexagrammos lagocephalus) are
aboard or in possession, where only one line with not more than two hooks may be used pursuant to
Sections 28.55, 28.27, 28.28 or 28.29, respectively.
(d) No gaff hook shall be used to take or assist in landing any finfish shorter than the minimum
size limit. For the purpose of this section a gaff hook is any hook with or without a handle used to
assist in landing fish or to take fish in such a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily
in its mouth. No person shall take finfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters
without having a landing net in possession or available for immediate use to assist in landing undersize
fish of species having minimum size limits; the opening of any such landing net shall be not less
than eighteen inches in diameter.
(e) North of Point Conception (34°27’00” N. lat.), where only one rod and line may be used by each
angler fishing for salmon, or fishing from any boat or floating device with salmon on board.
(f ) Mousetrap gear prohibited: It is unlawful to use, assist in using, or to possess aboard any vessel,
hook-and-line gear commonly termed “mouse traps” constructed of a hook(s) or lure(s), attached to one
end of a line that is attached to a float, or floats at the other end, and that when fished, is not attached
directly to a person or vessel. Possession of such gear aboard a vessel shall be prima facie evidence
that the gear is being used in violation of this regulation.
(g) North of Point Conception to Horse Mountain, Section 27.80(a)(3) applies to each angler fishing
for salmon or fishing from any boat or floating device with salmon on board.

for more on kayak fishing for halibut look at the articles section below recent topics "Catching halibut from your Kayak"  written by Allen Bushnell. It is a great read.

28.65. GENERAL. Except as provided in this article, fin fish may be taken only on hook and line or
by hand. Any number of hooks and lines may be used in all ocean waters and bays except:
(a) San Francisco and San Pablo bays between the Golden Gate Bridge and the west Carquinez
Bridge, where only one line with not more than three hooks may be used.
(b) On public piers, no person shall use more than two rods and lines, two hand lines, or two nets,
traps or other appliances used to take crabs.
(c) When rockfish (genus Sebastes), lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus),
or kelp or rock greenlings (Hexagrammos decagrammus and Hexagrammos lagocephalus) are
aboard or in possession, where only one line with not more than two hooks may be used pursuant to
Sections 28.55, 28.27, 28.28 or 28.29, respectively.
(d) No gaff hook shall be used to take or assist in landing any finfish shorter than the minimum
size limit. For the purpose of this section a gaff hook is any hook with or without a handle used to
assist in landing fish or to take fish in such a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily
in its mouth. No person shall take finfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters
without having a landing net in possession or available for immediate use to assist in landing undersize
fish of species having minimum size limits; the opening of any such landing net shall be not less
than eighteen inches in diameter.
(e) North of Point Conception (34°27’00” N. lat.), where only one rod and line may be used by each
angler fishing for salmon, or fishing from any boat or floating device with salmon on board.
(f ) Mousetrap gear prohibited: It is unlawful to use, assist in using, or to possess aboard any vessel,
hook-and-line gear commonly termed “mouse traps” constructed of a hook(s) or lure(s), attached to one
end of a line that is attached to a float, or floats at the other end, and that when fished, is not attached
directly to a person or vessel. Possession of such gear aboard a vessel shall be prima facie evidence
that the gear is being used in violation of this regulation.
(g) North of Point Conception to Horse Mountain, Section 27.80(a)(3) applies to each angler fishing
for salmon or fishing from any boat or floating device with salmon on board.

So yes, alright!?

Yes, Naoaki. 

Yes, Naoaki. 

Thanks, guys!

Great info.  Thanks guys!

Threemoney Great article
FYI just launched at Nicks cove last week and parking is $5.00 cash or CC