I've got the Covid. Finally! So no work for me. I got this picture and info from Cameron who was driving the tractor today: "Yesterday was all sadness. Most people couldn't get bait. A couple boats mentioned a school of sardines in the channel, maybe around marker 5, with stripers throughout. Today, a boat I gave advice to yesterday followed it and caught three before being swarmed in boats. Chummed up smelt from the eelgrass bed west of hog, then drifted near the yellow buoy to get three in rapid succession. I'll send more info as I get it." The rumors of bait (herring, actually) around Marker 5 seem truish. as I caught a couple of herring there yesterday ( it turns out you can quarantine on a boat. Who knew?). I saw quite a few schools of bait but catching them was harder for me at low tide than it was for other, more clever people (Cough! Swampy. Cough!) at the high tide. I did catch enough jacksmelt there to drift for halibut but the halibut didn't want my smelt. Only the smelt were happy about that. These folks caught a limit by the yellow buoy which about three halibut better than most. Nice work, nameless happy people. I can't speak for everyone else, but I, for one, am jealous.
This fish made me a little less jealous. This eleven pound striper was in a school of stripers that attacked Gage and my jigs on the bar this morning. Gage had, conservatively, 8 bites before I ever got one. Mine stuck, though. We were both hooked up for a couple minutes on a double and hollered like mad for the couple of other boats to come get in the school, but like all good things, the bite didn't last very long. Yes, Gage and I have the Covid, but we have been blessed with just about the mildest form you can feel. We are happy we waited for the "diet" or "lite" version. Can't legally work, but we can quarantine on the water.
One other report; the surfperch are still on the chew out in front of the tent sites. There may even be a striper or two there, but the perch seem to be more reliable. And they're flaky enough. Incoming tide is better, and especially the couple hours before the top.
Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery to you and Gage. Unfortunate, the fish don't get any relief from your baited hooks.
ReplyDeleteLooks to be better fishing all around than this time last year as we are headed there for a Monday- Friday yearly trip and been debating on bringing a boat or ( little 14’ valco) probably regret not.
ReplyDeleteGlad your one of the majority I know getting mild Covid.
Wind stops on the day we leave and you guys hammer on the bar, which is where we wanted to fish all week, but no one unplugged the fan from Monday on. Thanks to Lawsons staff for another great stay near the dunes. See ya in about 3 weeks, if not sooner. Nice to meet Swampy as well.
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Good luck on a fast recovery you two! Got a question i am sure you know the answer too. Can you legally go catch salmon and drop them in your car then go back out and fish with multiple rods and barbs for halibut? Thanks Chris
ReplyDeleteSalmon rules apply if you are fishing for salmon or if you have salmon on the boat. Remove the salmon from the boat and you go back to the regular rules for the water you are fishing. So, in Tomales or Bodega Bays, yes. If you have any rockfish in the mix, unload them as well.
ReplyDeleteCovid seems to be catching up with the last of the holdouts right now. I made it until Memorial Day weekend before it paid a visit. Reat timing for a teacher. Glad to hear yours is mild and that you and Gage are able to fish it out of your systems. Thanks as always for all of the witty/helpful info that you pass along. Get well asap.
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