Took a couple good friends (John and Steve) out for Live Bait Halibut outside the Gate today. Steve is a retired Pipeline Business agent for my UA Steamfitter Local and John is a current member who has worked for me since 2011. We all fish together often…
Met at the boat at 5:15 and shoved off about 5:45… Stopped for live Anchovies at the Wharf in SF. Bait was excellent condition and large size.
Stopped at Alcatraz for 2 quick drifts where we were all either bit short or had scratched baits, but nothing stuck. Quick discussion, along with a weather check, and we headed out the gate. I have a couple commercial buddies that confirmed the bars are holding big butts. NIGHTHAWK is a 30’ Cat and quickly makes the run from Alcatraz to past Point Bonita and the Potato patch to our North Bar hotspot with a 25 Knot Cruising speed!
The report was spot on… South wind had it a little bumpy across the bar, but fishable and the south wind died down as the morning went on.
First drift and Steve hooks up a nice halibut in the 20lb class. I’m up next with the big fish of the day -a 25lber and it was a steady pick from there. Every drift produced fish. No doubles, but everyone caught fish! We did drop several nice fish; 2 were flubbed at the net! Didn’t matter because we ended the day with early limits!
Something special about cruising under the Gate with limits of fish and seeing the City, Marin, and the East Bay Hills open up past the fog. With sail boats, pilot boats, and the old Red and White Fleet Bay Cruise boats taking people out for their first trips along the bay shore and under the iconic GG Bridge is such a lasting memory of had my whole life…
Great day of fishing with great friends!
Met at the boat at 5:15 and shoved off about 5:45… Stopped for live Anchovies at the Wharf in SF. Bait was excellent condition and large size.
Stopped at Alcatraz for 2 quick drifts where we were all either bit short or had scratched baits, but nothing stuck. Quick discussion, along with a weather check, and we headed out the gate. I have a couple commercial buddies that confirmed the bars are holding big butts. NIGHTHAWK is a 30’ Cat and quickly makes the run from Alcatraz to past Point Bonita and the Potato patch to our North Bar hotspot with a 25 Knot Cruising speed!
The report was spot on… South wind had it a little bumpy across the bar, but fishable and the south wind died down as the morning went on.
First drift and Steve hooks up a nice halibut in the 20lb class. I’m up next with the big fish of the day -a 25lber and it was a steady pick from there. Every drift produced fish. No doubles, but everyone caught fish! We did drop several nice fish; 2 were flubbed at the net! Didn’t matter because we ended the day with early limits!
Something special about cruising under the Gate with limits of fish and seeing the City, Marin, and the East Bay Hills open up past the fog. With sail boats, pilot boats, and the old Red and White Fleet Bay Cruise boats taking people out for their first trips along the bay shore and under the iconic GG Bridge is such a lasting memory of had my whole life…
Great day of fishing with great friends!
Last edited:
