I went to the Golden State Salmon Association dinner in Santa Rosa last night and stayed out well beyond my bedtime, so no report yesterday. It was a good time for a good cause, but I apologize for my tardiness. That said,

   Here's the first picture I got on my phone yesterday. Mike Nursement picked up this halibut on the troll (straight bait is all he and Mara ran yesterday) past Hog. Soon thereafter, the water near them erupted with boiling baitfish. On their tack through it they doubled. Mara's came off, and Mike's broke the plastic rod holder and the rod and reel went over the side and disappeared. There was a lot of rejoicing last night when, at the GSSA dinner, the Nursements won first a rod, then a reel. Not quite Even Steven but that Okuma Monterey rod is a lot prettier than the old Ugly Stick. I hope it catches fish as well. 

   The big halibut here weighed in at 15.5 pounds. Both fish bit live jacksmelt. The weather yesterday went from nice in the morning to get me off the water by noonish. The folks that caught a few fish had an easier time calling it quits. As you'll notice, this gentleman is still smiling.

   Finley Holland of Loomis caught this 21 pound striper on a live jacksmelt near Hog yesterday. I believe that the halibut was similarly caught (Finley, smelt, Hog, etc.). This is the first striper that I heard of that far back in the bay this year. Nice work, Finley! That's the largest striper so far this year. You made Gage's head explode a little. And his ego is sore. Well done.

   Branden Mendoza sent over this report pretty early this morning. "Morning Willy. Have an early report today. We got on the water about 5:45 am we trolled from the yellow buoy in front of the launch to the red barn. And we managed to pick up 1 30inch 11lb striper for one and only troll of the morning before the wind blew to much for us. We hooked it in front of the red barn 18ft of water trolling a white hoochie with a flasher. We had a great morning and back home by 8am with dinner isn't bad" On a day like today that blew pretty hard, pretty early, catching anything is damned good. Nice work, Branden.