Salmon tomorrow(need a buddy) HMB to Bodega or anywhere in between/I walked away

Yesterday all the forecasts for wind and swell looked absolutely favorable so I decided to hit Muir Beach, alone. When I got there the break was beyond my comfort level and even though I had my yak on the beach ready to go, I bowed my head in shame and took it back to my car. So much for getting up at 3:30 am to be there right when the sun arose. Too bad too, looks like they did very well at Rocky Point. I decided to go to Tomales and get skunked on halibut instead. I most def would of challenged the break if I had a buddy with me in case shit went sideways going out or coming in. Yes I know one of the first rules is to always have a buddy. That's why i'm here.

Anybody down to fish for Salmon tomorrow? Thinking Muir again or am even down to venture up to Bodega (I've never launched a yak out of there, any tips)? I would do HMB but last I heard that red tide is still there.

About me, I've fished my entire life (in 40s), new to ocean kayaking (been canoing and kayaking all my life inland). I've launched my yak out of HMB a handful of times and Muir 2x and have also fished around the wall. I'm a conservation minded nature lover and bay native. I live in Oakland.

Conservation club is strong in here! Getting my new yak in the coming weeks, very down to paddle out together in the coming months as well. I'm in Berkeley, good to see so many east bay folks joining. Looking forward to the fall!

Here’s my 25#er today. Going to try Again tomorrow and relax, eat, and celebrate on Sunday.

Well done, very nice. What is the Welch's for?

I was trying to do a size comparison to show the girth. To me the pictures don’t do it justice.

Here’s my 25#er today. Going to try Again tomorrow and relax, eat, and celebrate on Sunday.

Well done, very nice. What is the Welch's for?

I was trying to do a size comparison to show the girth. To me the pictures don’t do it justice.

If you didn't fillet it yet, put in on a cutting board and put a tape from the board to the top of the fish.  Take the pic from that angle, might be a solid 8" er...

You're going to need a bigger fish bag...

What rig for the ribs?

What rig for the ribs?

Corn feed with a treble hook

Another butterball and sand dab. 

Thanks for the net job Sean. I had to go through Bolinas lagoon. Fun stuff. Had to park on the lagoon side.

Another butterball and sand dab. 

Are you saying you went back today and slayed?  CaliKev style?

Another butterball and sand dab. 

Are you saying you went back today and slayed?  CaliKev style?

I sure did and got to experience the lagoon entrance 🏄 landing. That would be a fun spot to get a little crazy without all the gear. I wouldn’t have tried it if I didn’t park on that side. Took my time maneuvering around the break and peddled my ass off when I had enough time to get passed the really nasty part. I don’t like the 2019 bow for surf landings or surfing a wave. The nose dives if not ahead of the wave.

Another butterball and sand dab. 

Are you saying you went back today and slayed?  CaliKev style?

I sure did and got to experience the lagoon entrance 🏄 landing. That would be a fun spot to get a little crazy without all the gear. I wouldn’t have tried it if I didn’t park on that side. Took my time maneuvering around the break and peddled my ass off when I had enough time to get passed the really nasty part. I don’t like the 2019 bow for surf landings or surfing a wave. The nose dives if not ahead of the wave.

Good work chasing it ...you got the stuff so keep it up, your report style is genuine and fresh. Full of stoke.  Consider a more detailed report to express what worked and what didn't.  From setting your alarm to recipes...geetum brah!

how early can you get into Muir beach?

They open the gate about 7.

You can launch from Doran Beach for Bodega.  Its a very easy protected beach launch.  Just get there early, as the day use FULL sign has been getting out early because of a lot of boaters using the ramp and day users.

I've been thinking of hitting Muir as well, but I'm going to take it easy tomorrow and hit Richmond if you want to join for halibut.  Go barbless and you could get lucky and land a salmon.  Had it happen to me twice last year.  They're heading into the delta.

That sounds fun. Where in Richmond do you go? I was thinking about going for halibut around San Quinten and launching from the beach there if I can figure out the parking situation.

Where do you launch in Richmond? It looks like maybe a spot at the end of Brickyard Cove? Is parking secure? Does anyone fish out of Horseshoe Bay in Marin? It's a calm place to launch to get to big water quickly.

The Richmond launch most use is Miller Knox park. Street parking if you are early otherwise the lot. Ramp to beach, bathrooms, outdoor showers, and fish cleaning station.