Tomales Thursday June 2

This morning, I woke up a boy.
Tonight, I will go to bed a man.

I had never caught a fish from a kayak until this glorious day.

I started paddling out from Miller Park at around 7am.  Wind picked up soon after I launched.  Accidentally took a dip in the bay ... total rookie maneuver.  I managed to not lose one item, except for one key piece of equipment ... my wedding band.  I think I may have hit rock bottom on the WAF.

So I continued out to Hog Island.  I had a very difficult time catching bait, most definitely due to the wind and I am sure partially due to my inexperience.  I did manage a shiner and a smelt.  Took a VERY long time and a lot of paddling.

Once I had my two bait fish, I headed NW of Hog Island and dropped in the smelt.  I had to add some serious weight due to the wind.  Anyway, a couple of minutes after I dropped down my overweighed smelt, I had a fish on, which was sweet.  Brought it to the top, and it was sure enough a halibut.  I tried to net the fish, and I totally spooked it and it went for a run and broke the line on my halibut rig.  Damn.

I changed rigs and dropped the shiner.  A minute later, fish on!  This time I landed it successfully.  Sweet.

If I had landed the first fish, I would have caught two halibut quicker than I caught two bait fish.

I had a dead smelt laying around and tried that next.  Then tide really started moving and the wind picked up even more, so I decided to call it a day.  Rough paddle back to the car, but well worth it.

Anyway, it is really windy out there.  Some folks were talking of going out on Saturday, so watch the wind.  I may try to go if people are still going, only if I can increase my WAF (I bought her some flowers so I can break the bad news to her).

Peace, Sean

This morning, I woke up a boy.
Tonight, I will go to bed a [single] man.

Cool deal Sean.  Welcome to the kayak fish catchers club!

-Allen

Sean, way to go!! Hope it is that easy for you every time! You really got to watch that wind out there.
Brent

Ok...now I'm torn.  How windy was windy?  Great catch BTW!

That a boy... great job (except for the wedding ring part).  Any size to the halibut?

Erik

The halibut was 29".  I don't know how much it weighed ... I'm not that technical at this point.

How windy was it?  Well it was damn windy.  As a rookie, I do not know how windy is too windy.  But by the time I decided to paddle back to the car, I was feeling it was getting a bit unsafe.[/url]

AWESOME!

Thanks for the report, bro.

Having just busted my halibut cherry 2 weeks ago I know the feeling man. That is a big fish to land on a small boat!

You might want to get a gaff instead of a net for halibuts, I netted mine but have been told the gaff is better for bigger halibuts.

Welcome to the club man it only gets better!

I've done the gaff thing and the net thing... I'm a firm proponent of a net for halibut on a kayak.  

Once gaffed, halibut really thrash... I mean REALLY thrash.  They easily fly right off the gaff... speaking from experience here.

I've never lost a halibut once hooked when using a net.  

Every time I've gaffed a halibut, I've nearly lost the fish or had it come off the gaff and had to gaff it more than once.  

That's my 2-cents... no doubt others will have a different opinion.

A 29" butt is probably about 8 lbs or so... nice fish.

Erik

What a bittersweet experience!? 2 Butts in 2 drifts and you lost your ring! The fishing gods must have been smiling on you for such sacrifice!

Hmmm, I wonder if I toss my TAG in da water, i'll come home w/ the derby winning fish...

where is hog island?

I also agree on the net over the gaff, but it's important to have a BIG net.  I watched two halibut escape friends and I armed with gaffs and small nets before I got my 42" net.  Now as soon as I see color, I can scoop the bugger up easilly - I haven't lost a large fish since getting that net.  

Being wide you don't have to be all that accurate or carefully lead the fish into it, and it also can reach several feet down, so you don't have to get the halibut to break the surface - where they tend to go balistic.

I just switched from gaff to net this year.  And I'm never going back.  I've had too many "dangerous" situations with the gaff.  Now I have a BIG net just like Josh recommends.

-Allen

you guys are too gentle, you need to be viscious to use the gaff correctly!

The cold water does shrink fingers.  I leave my ring at home or put it on my key-ring in a secure pocket (swim suit pocket under the wetsuit is darn secure).   No way you're leaving it behind if it's on your keys either.