Here's a report from Wednesday: "Not sure if it’s on anyone’s minds if the report of WSB lurking 👀 in the waters of Tomales bay…. There there small but around for sure in small numbers. Thought it was a Striper going nuts 25inch chomping on baitfish. Respectfully Sent

Eric" It is nice to know that, yes, you can catch a ghost, even if it's a baby. For the record, and for future ghost (and other fish) catchers, a couple of things. I know we're required to have a net in order to "safely release" short fish, but the net can bust up the fish's fins. Halibut fin rot (from netting) is supposed to be pretty bad. I've caught a few fish that have had split fins. probably from nets, so it's not guaranteed death, but probably if you can release them without netting it's probably good. Along the same lines, probably don't  put your fingers in the gills of a fish you are going to release, as the gills are their lungs, and human bacteria probably aren't good there. I'm not pooping on your catch, Eric, I'm just repeating what Gage told me after I did the same thing. This is how we learn. At least you know that you can catch ghosts, and ghosts exist in Tomales Bay. Even if they're babies. Babies grow up, given the opportunity. Nice fish, Eric, and it's probably fine, but not netting and not gilling will increase the chances of future happiness for all. 

    Also from Wednesday comes a report from Lorca Rossman: "

No love from the halibut yesterday, but this lovely ~12lb king took a live anchovy in 10’ of water on the bar.  Gently released to fatten up for next season.  Sigh.."  You know, in a regular year, you go fish for what's biting best. Sometimes it's halibut, sometimes it's salmon, sometimes something else. This year, like last year, halibut are kinda  screwed. There are lots of salmon in the ocean, but not enough from one section of the Sacramento River (the section they didn't truck past the river and delta, hmmm.) so no fishing even though it seems to be an ocean full of extinct creatures. Nice job on your coelacanth, Lorca, and in an unlikely area. There  has been a lot of no love from the flatfish lately, but those forbidden fruits, well, they're biting.

    The Gage took family friends Larry Varela and the Alexander twins out fishing on Wednesday and Thursday and both days they were chased off the water by rabidly biting ceolacanths. But before the extinct dinosaur fish bit, they were able to catch two 16 pound halibut at McClure's on Wednesday and limits of rockfish off of Elephant Rock before trolling on Ten Mile for disappointment (and more dinosaurs). Maybe they're easier to catch when you don't try? Perhaps they're quantum fish, and they're everywhere and nowhere at the same time when you're not looking (not kidding; look up Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle). Probably not, but it would explain how they couldn't find the numerous fish that are out there. 

   From Cameron, yesterday: "Josh Bullard fished with the Dentone crew for this nice 24 pounder. Caught just north of hog on a 14" jacksmelt. They clipped the tail, which probably helped a lot, considering it hit really slowly. It was their only fish." Well, if you're only gonna catch one, catch a damned good one, I say. This qualifies for sure. Very nice work, as the fishing kinda sucks. Well, the catching does. Not many good stories the last few days. Good work, Dentone crew, and may tomorrow be plentiful for you.

    Kerry Apgar retired from here last year but I still get second hand reports from her; "Did you see this?

David and John's  Nephew Even." I didn't see them, but as I drifted, fishless, in the clam channel yesterday afternoon they drove by, and as I indicated that I had no fish, they showed me six fingers. I wanted to respond with one special finger, but I like them, and John Rosasco is way bigger than me, so I just waved. I guess it's fair, though, as the day before  Frank Green and his crew limited out and won a bet. Yesterday John and his crew paid it back. I guess the stress of catching almost all of the fish in his team's boat on Wednesday put too much stress of our Frankie and he had a heart attack. He should be getting a stint as I write this. Best wishes Frank, and I hope you're back to shaming all of us as soon as you think. I would consider it an honor. 

   Steve Humphrey sent over this report tonight: "So here goes although you probably, surely, should have heard by now today was a total non event. Even the bait took the day off. Saw one fish caught. It was pretty obvious this boat with three kids and a wife had their game on. I know, sounds bitter but facts are facts. After burning too much fuel and tying till our fingers hurt, we sadly gave in to the old skunkola. The good news we were not alone, if one could call that good news. It was a good day" At least you didn't have to clean fish. That's what I tell myself. The last week has been hard, and the last few days kind of brutal. Almost everyone has been skunked. A few guys have caught, and a very, very few have done well. Today, the Jigger John (Rosasco) has three fish for the boat and he caught a 45 pound (25 and 20) limit. It's not that they aren't there; worse, they just aren't biting for us mortals. I was seven hours on the water yesterday until I finally got a bite near Hog Island. I'm not religious, but when when you see the lure I was using you'll see why I said, 'Thank you Jesus."

    When I'm not catching I start digging through the tackle box trying to find something. Just know that I'd been digging for a while, and this lure lets you know two things (I was lucky, and I spend too much money on gear that's dumb) .