Hog Island is still giving up quite a few halibut with some fish over 20 pounds caught and a couple of boats landing as many as four fish yesterday. In order to keep the halibut as large as possible, I engaged in a halibut feeding program where I allowed five fish to eat my bait but didn't hook them. You're welcome, by the way. Lots of live bait is available on the fishing grounds, with jacksmelt, jack mackerel, Pacific mackerel, sardines and shiner perch all present in the channel. No salmon landed here this week, and rumors of salmon being caught by the whistle buoy are just rumors. Rumors of albacore caught 10 miles from Bodega Head are outright lies. A few boats are going to run for some likely looking water 70+ nautical miles from Bodega this weekend and I hope they catch.

More halibut, no salmon, last chance Dungeness

More halibut from the Hog Island area were caught today, up to 17 pounds. The average size was about 8 to 10 pounds. Live smelt and jack mackerel put the flatties in the box. Having excellent bait is no guarantee, as some good fishermen went without bites today, but others did ok. The last chance for Dungeness is now, as the season ends next week. Luckily there's a fresh batch of crab moving in, not many, but more than we've had around for a while.  The pictured large Dungeness was caught on the pier last night. No salmon yet, but if we will see them at all this year it will be from mid - July to mid - August.

Here's a photo and report from Friday from Matt Lindsey: Caught near hog on the Gill Collector one released that did not like the feel of the net thats still in 24 ft of water. 

There were some other halibut caught by Hog Island, as well as a couple from further back. Two fish seemed like the high numbers with most boats landing 0-1. Outside I heard of no salmon but the rockfishing was good. Quite a few Dungeness in the outer bay but slow inside Tomales.

Even though the wind has kept people from trying for salmon, they're still trying for and finding halibut. The Hog Island area has produced the most, but further back in the bay (which has been a desert for a few years) has been producing a few fish as well. The fish in the middle photo came from eight feet of water near Inverness. Boats have returned with as many as five halibut but the average is 0-1. Live bait has caught most of the fish but a couple bit swimbaits. There's a few Dungeness in the outer bay but inside Tomales Bay the bite is almost nonexistent. Maybe they're waiting for the season to end.