Wind-driven cold water has slowed the halibut bite in the bay north of Hog Island, but, not killed it. A few biting fish remain. Trip Plumb and Rich Chapin caught a 22 pound halibut off of Dillon Beach proper today. They were trolling live jacksmelt. They also hooked and released a 14 pound salmon (Their estimation, and as long-time commercial fishermen, their guess at weight is probably gilled and gutted.) and a 100+ pound sea lion, also released. Actually the marine mammal released itself, although I have been reassured that Rich and Trip didn't want it and were planning on releasing it anyhow. They also said that their combined 174 years of fishing experience was the main reason for their success. I don't have enough years of experience to argue that, even if I wanted to.

    Other halibut fishermen had mixed reviews. Catch numbers have ranged from a lot of zeros to four in the box. Success, numberwise, seemed to increase south of Hog, as the water was warmer there and the fish were more active. But the larger ones lived north, as usual. just not plentiful. as usual. Bait catching, depending on who you asked, ranged from nearly impossible to easy with the majority in the hard category.

    Rockfish, now that the wind has died and you can get there again, have been a bit slow as 49º water makes everybody a bit sluggish. As the worst of the wind lays off the next few days we should see a corresponding interest in eating by these fish, too.  Luckily, stripers are less concerned with water temp and more concerned with eating, God love 'em. They bit this morning, and Cameron almost outfished me. Almost. The old man still has a few tricks, but not many. But all I need is one.