The big swell kept the fishermen in the bay this past weekend. Counts were low for halibut, especially further in the bay. There was a quick bite at 1PM on Saturday on the bar which saw three boats catch five halibut, including Gerard Fitzgerald's 22 pounder. The sardines are still in the bay but are getting harder to find. Hopefully the weather lays down this week and lets us get to the tuna.

Mike Gibson of Lodi caught these three halibut up to 31 pounds on the bar on Wednesday. Other nice fish came from that area as well, including Mike Garello's 23# and Bob King's 21# fish. Today a few boats went out for albacore and the count so far is two fish in the area of 38.07 by 123.37 and 13 fish at 38.03 by 123.26. Too bad the wind is forecast to blow. Maybe the forecasters will be wrong.

Tony Georgis of Roseville caught this 27# halibut on the bar on a live jacksmelt. Unpictured, but for the record, Gerard Fitzgerald was responsible for his boat bringing in four nice halibut from Marshall.

Mara Nursement of Colfax with a 20# halibut from the Tomales Bay bar. The bar started kicking out a few fish today, finally. There were many more fish from the Marshall area but the average size was definitely better in the mouth. Not much happened outside this weekend due to the weather.

Ablacore counts from yesterday were 2, 6, 13 and 13 for the four boats I spoke with. The fish were scattered through a few square miles, centered in the area of N38.00 by W124.05. Now the wind offshore is forecast to blow for a few days. Three limits of halibut from Drake's Bay yesterday. That's a fishery you can't wait for since that area is on the MPA closed list for next year.

38 albacore caught by Tal Roseberry yesterday at N38.00 by W124.04. No giants, but as Stalin is reported to have said, "quantity has a quality all its own." For those not wanting to venture out that far there was a good rockfish bite and some halibut on Ten Mile Beach and in front of Dillon Beach. The bay was great for catching bait but slow for catching halibut. The shark fishing back by Marshall was fantastic.

Last weekend the bite slowed down for most people. The wind has cooled the ocean water down again. The halibut that were just showing around Hog Island have been chased farther back into the bay by the cold water. A few rockfish came in from outside but the weather kept most boats in the bay. Many leopard sharks and a few thresher sharks taken south of Pelican Point. The weather is supposed to be nice this week so with luck we'll see more action out front and maybe some albacore by the end of the week.

The forecast calls for wind this weekend so fishing outside the bay is probably out. Luckily there are still fish biting in the bay. The sardines and mackerel can still be found around Hog Island and the halibut seem to be following them. The white sea bass are eating the same things. There is still a chance for bigger halibut at the mouth of the bay (a halibut was lost by a surf fisherman on Sand Point on Thursday morning) but there are more fish in the back. I caught a 28# white sea bass off of Dillon Beach in 25' of water on a live mackerel on Wednesday. Dreams can come true.

Two fishermen, four sea bass to 32#. These gentlemen encountered a school of hungry white sea bass by marker 7. The bass liked sardines. I am jealous.

Sunday's big fish was caught by Terry Fogal of Sacramento. The 29 pounder came from off of Dillon Beach.
Dillon Carter of Corte Madera caught this 23# halibut on Saturday. This fish also came from in front of Dillon Beach. There were only a few fish caught there, but they were nice fish. The Marshall bite slowed down but the rockfish bite remained slow and steady.

Frank Green of Sacramento with a 34# halibut, this years' biggest so far. Frank had last year's largest halibut as well. This one isn't quite as big, but Frank isn't complaining.
Jim Conley of Sacramento with this year's biggest fish, period. This 49# white seabass will be tough to beat. Frank and Jim were fishing with Gerald Bunch of Clarksville, Arkansas. I've been told that Mr. Bunch is a heck of a guide and good with a gaff. They were using live bait out in front of the parking lot in Dillon Beach.

Lance Seppi and crew landed 8 albacore at 37.56 and 124.07. The boat next to them had a quad and a triple there. There's fish out there. Too bad the fish are a out farther than I want to go.

Aldo Freggario caught this nice 20# halibut while jigging off Kehoe Beach. Aldo's stunt double is pictured.
John Bresnahan (posing for himself) caught this 28# halibut on a sardine at an undisclosed location. Rockfishing was on the slow side but the quality was good. Tuna reports are slim and with low numbers, if any, caught. The flat ocean and good forecast makes albacore tempting, though, and there will be boats running out on Tuesday and Wednesday. If anyone wants to run out, the boats are leaving at 5AM and monitoring VHF 74.