August Halibut in Alameda?

With the freezer stuffed to the top with salmon after last weekend, I opted to stick close to home and fish my backyard spot. Slept in and launched behind Encinal High School at 7:30. As I was paddling up the Rockwall, the water was rust colored due to some kind of algal bloom (presumably) and visibility was low. I almost turned back at that point because I could see no end to the brown water, but I'm happy I didn't.

As I rounded the end of the first wall, I spotted a large party boat in the distance at the mooring buoys. The catamaran hull shape and orange highlights gave away California Dawn II and so I pressed on. James Smith wouldn't be there if there weren't any fish. Sure enough, the water cleared to blue-green and soon after I had a fish on. Once I got out to the edge of the Seaplane Lagoon ferry channel, the action was non-stop on trolled herring.

Hit the dock five and half hours later with the final tally at 16 halibut total, 14 shakers between 20 and 22 inches and two barely legal keepers. I was surprised at how many halibut are still around in early August.

Nice!! Sounds like an action packed day. Glad you found them. I’ve been hesitant to fish in that rust colored water.

Sounds like a great day on what is probably an overlooked fishery this time of year!

Thanks for the report.  I live and work in alameda.  The water has been that color all week in the estuary.  I have been trying to decide between Pacifica and the rock wall.  I’m going to stay close to home.

Errrr uhhhh, thanks for the hali update, I wonder if TI has bigger grade around now...did we miss a freezer loading salmon report with technique and coordinates ...glad you're on da board...

Thanks for the report and glad you got on them   

Last weekend's salmon trip was on a power boat, not a kayak, so I didn't report it. Headline is that I went out on my buddy's small cuddy cabin (22 feet) with 3 of us on board. Went straight to Dux, tacked toward Stinson Beach and found a spot of big fish. We ended up with 6 hogs, all over 20 pounds, with the biggest over 30. I had a 55 lb. limit.

As for yesterday, Cal Dawn 2 reported catching almost 300 halibut, with 250 of them being shakers. Ratio seems about right.

There were some mild tides yesterday too.

Last weekend's salmon trip was on a power boat, not a kayak, so I didn't report it. Headline is that I went out on my buddy's small cuddy cabin (22 feet) with 3 of us on board. Went straight to Dux, tacked toward Stinson Beach and found a spot of big fish. We ended up with 6 hogs, all over 20 pounds, with the biggest over 30. I had a 55 lb. limit.

As for yesterday, Cal Dawn 2 reported catching almost 300 halibut, with 250 of them being shakers. Ratio seems about right.

Dang...thanks for that...I hope to fish that route tomorrow, Dux to Stinson...

Last weekend's salmon trip was on a power boat, not a kayak, so I didn't report it. Headline is that I went out on my buddy's small cuddy cabin (22 feet) with 3 of us on board. Went straight to Dux, tacked toward Stinson Beach and found a spot of big fish. We ended up with 6 hogs, all over 20 pounds, with the biggest over 30. I had a 55 lb. limit.

As for yesterday, Cal Dawn 2 reported catching almost 300 halibut, with 250 of them being shakers. Ratio seems about right.

Dang...thanks for that...I hope to fish that route tomorrow, Dux to Stinson...

I did Muir to Rocky on 8/2. Pulled a big fat skunk and a wave to the face. Pretty quiet out there it seemed. Not much bait and birds, no whales, some jellies. Launched Muir and trolled a BCP in 60-70' and 30-50' down up to Rocky. Did some laps, headed back to Muir and did some laps there. Only saw two boats and never saw a net fly. I don't have your slayperience so you might have better results. Hope you get em

Last weekend's salmon trip was on a power boat, not a kayak, so I didn't report it. Headline is that I went out on my buddy's small cuddy cabin (22 feet) with 3 of us on board. Went straight to Dux, tacked toward Stinson Beach and found a spot of big fish. We ended up with 6 hogs, all over 20 pounds, with the biggest over 30. I had a 55 lb. limit.

As for yesterday, Cal Dawn 2 reported catching almost 300 halibut, with 250 of them being shakers. Ratio seems about right.

Dang...thanks for that...I hope to fish that route tomorrow, Dux to Stinson...

I did Muir to Rocky on 8/2. Pulled a big fat skunk and a wave to the face. Pretty quiet out there it seemed. Not much bait and birds, no whales, some jellies. Launched Muir and trolled a BCP in 60-70' and 30-50' down up to Rocky. Did some laps, headed back to Muir and did some laps there. Only saw two boats and never saw a net fly. I don't have your slayperience so you might have better results. Hope you get em

Thanks brah!  Gotta try to top off my freezer like John...

That's a lot of bait!!  Congrats on the busy day. Water has been that weird color for over a week now. Apparently they are dredging the estuary so that may be part of it too.

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Thanks for the report John.

I went out at the ARW on 8/7 from 6:00-9:30.  Went out past the sailboat and down to the cans.  Water cleared up by the cans.  No shakers, no nibbles, no nothing.  One other kayaker came out and caught a shaker. I saw someone get a shaker off the rock wall while coming in.

Wonder if Oyster Point would be a better option this time of year?