2022 Newport / Yaquina herring thread

The green circle is the closest approach to the water.
There's a path of sorts.
There's also 2 pipes about 2 foot in diameter that you have to go over.
Easy going down, less entertaining when coming up.
The red line is barnacle covered rocks, not overwhelming, enough that your going to collect some scratches.
Lower the tide, the more of them exposed.
I've never launched further west, the area by the gazebo is marked bus parking.
I've never been approached by any authority types when launching there so it may not matter.
I've also launched at the spot Barb recommends.

MonkeyFist nailed it ^

I launched towards the west end of that parking lot a few weeks ago. The trail to the water was slightly longer, but no rocks.

I launched towards the west end of that parking lot a few weeks ago. The trail to the water was slightly longer, but no rocks.

That's what I did the last time I was there, too.

Shot down to the bay this afternoon and picked up 204 of them. I chased them around the Embarcadero docks. I was the only boat/kayak trying for them, so I had to rely entirely on my depthfinder to track down the schools. Sea lions came in and spoiled me a few times--right when I thought I was on a steady bite, a pack of lions would swoop in and disperse the herring. It was annoying, but not terribly annoying. Vast majority of the herring were blue label-sized males, not many females. If you're looking for purple label, it may be best to wait another week.

Be sure to wash your hands if you dip them in the water. Tons of sea lion turds floating around in the harbor 

Thanks for the report! I wish I could go down on a week day like that. If I make it tomorrow it will probably be wall-to-wall boats.

Given the nice weather yesterday, I was kinda surprised there were so few people out there trying for them. The handful of people who tried fishing for them off the Embarcadero docks were kicked off the docks at 30 minute intervals. Maybe the retirees are waiting for the bigger herring to show up? Or they're waiting for someone to post a positive report on iFish? 

I'm not going to make it tomorrow. Noticed the old adventure wagon is leaking oil, so now I need to figure that out before I take a substantial trip. Hope you guys get plenty of bait for the year!

How long do they stay in the bay? I really want to make it over to fish for them but not sure I would be able to get over soon.

How long do they stay in the bay? I really want to make it over to fish for them but not sure I would be able to get over soon.

They usually stick around til mid-March or so.

Not in my kayak - but -
Two of us were out yesterday in a PB, until about 1:00.  We got about 200 herring with several hour breaks to pull crab pots.  There were the green label size in the dock area with larger size at the ship dock closer to the blue tank.
Today was much slower- we brought back 35 by 1:00 - and quit to pull crab pots - (also not good today!).

We saw several large groups of seals (100 or more?) chasing herring on Thursday - pretty amazing! - no large groups today…

Got to agree with Clayman - never seen so many pinnipeds in the bay!  And I don’t rinse the slime off my hands in the bay anymore…..

I need to jig up some purple sized herring.  Caught a couple dozen blue size on Friday.

we got 650+  between 3 kayakers.  Fish were scattered so it did take 5-6 hours.  Planning on taking my daughter next weekend.

When you feel one bite, dont set the hook and wait 10-15 seconds until your rod gets heavy.  When one bites it attracts the others and your rod will load up with multiples if you are patient.  In thick schools having 6 on at a time was not uncommon

I've never done the herring thing before, would ya mind if I joined ya next weekend Zach.Dennis?

I'm assuming there isn't much to it, once ya find a school. Just use a sabiki rig?

Does anyone ever use some sort of jig or swimbait, as the weight on the bottom of the rig?
I would imagine there are at least a few predatory fish hanging under or around the schools....

I will be fishing from my boat if i do go with my daughter and father in law.  You are welcome to join from the kayak.  Should be several people there if i am unable to make it.  It can be a zoo if the word gets out about the herring.  Luckily, people on ifish are still unaware so it was not too crowded this past weekend.