No pictures, yet, but results from up North were good. The 200 to 240 feet of water from Carmet to Fort Ross had hungry salmon for the guys that didn't mind a bit of a run. The folks that stayed closer found a few but had to work a lot harder for them. Halibut action was also slow in the bay. I talked to a couple of very good halibut divers that tried the bar today and they said the water was cold and the bar had no halibut. That will change, perhaps by next weekend if the weather cooperates.

      Jake Showaker and Paul and Adam Kotko limited out "up north" today. Their exact location was not passed on to me, but alternate sources have strongly hinted that there may be (or may have been) a really good salmon bite off of the Russian River and/or points north. The picture makes me think it could be true.

     Then again, there are a few fish around here. Steve Anderson of Lodi caught this 26 pound salmon (gutted and gilled) in front of the Trees in 100 feet of water , 80 feet OTW, on a straight bait. A man catches a fish like that, he doesn't need a whole limit to make him smile.

      First, a photo and report from Wednesday, sent by Tony Alcocer:"Headed out for Salmon off Tomales point this morning. It was rougher then what we like but gave it a try. At one point both my brother and I both gave in to the rough sea's and did some "chumming", Heck my dog even got sick. (really) So, we headed in for some Halibut fishing. On our "last drift" (really) of the day my brother hooked this...see attached photo. Got it on a live Mackerel, south of Hog Island."

     Lou Gumm caught these salmon yesterday while fishing with R. Duke. They were fishing off of Tomales Point and the fish bit a watermelon Apex. The boat ended up with three salmon aboard for the day. A few guys limited yesterday, but mostly the radio was full of sadness. I took a skunk for the day myself. I watched a guy troll by me, hook and land a salmon, rebait and hook a second fish while dropping back in. Actually, he just did it again as I sit here writing this. Mike Gonzales just pulled out his boat with a limit of salmon, including a 24 pounder. Both days he was in 180 feet of water, yesterday off of Elephant, today off of the Trees. Green Krippled Anchovy with a green #0 dodger is what worked. For him.

     Just the one picture today but it's a nice one. John Cooper of Roseville caught the big one which weighed 20 pounds. All of the halibut bit live jacksmelt by Hog Island. On the salmon front, most of the boats trying for them caught at least one and a couple of boats got their limits. If you like fishing in the South wind the you should have been out there today. For everyone else, it wasn't as much fun as could be. The VHF had stories of good salmon catching going on up North by the Russian River in 240 feet of water. I heard a rumor of good ones off of Ocean Cove as well, but that's third hand info. There was a nice striper hooked and lost in the surf yesterday, so they aren't all chasing anchovies in the bay.

     Wayne Purdy of Lodi caught this nice 16 pound halibut in the bay today. 

     I didn't get this fella's name (my bad) but he told me that he caught six halibut just South of Hog Island in the last two days, five on frozen anchovies and one on a live pinhead anchovy. He also released a thresher shark. He said he was fishing in the schools of anchovies. My recommendations to the rest of you that wish to catch halibut: Do that. Be like this man.

     The salmon bit for most fishermen again today. The water was nicer and allowed a bit more distance to be fished. Salmon were taken from Tomales Point all the way down to below Elephant Rock, again mostly between 180 and 200 feet of water. Don't just drop in somewhere unless you see bait on the meter or birds working. Successful depths ran from 40 to 100 feet down but again, mostly depends on where your schools of bait are located. Bait and junk are both working, especially the Apexes.