Herring Monday 3/6

Due to work i had to move my trip to Monday.  Open invite.  Might have some winds crossing the bay but should be doable.  Hope to be fishing by around 8.  Will be launching from hatfield center.  PM me or reply if you want to join or have question.

Can't help it, have to play safety cop real quick

For anyone who hasn't done much cold water kayak fishing yet, consider that the air temp at 8am is projected to be 38F with a wind of 12mph, water temp 48-50F. That feels real cold real quick! If you know what you're doing (as Zach does) this is very doable. If you don't, please have proper immersion gear and dress seriously warm under it.

Also, tight lines and a bountiful harvest!

Were you peeking over my shoulder yesterday?
When the sun came out, it was bearable.
When it started mixing sleet with the rain it was plain unpleasant.
The Filson waterfowl sweater I was wearing under the dry suit helped, but not enough.

Beautiful picture!

Any trip report from the bay Monday? I'm still hoping to get over this week or this weekend.

Beautiful picture!

Any trip report from the bay Monday? I'm still hoping to get over this week or this weekend.

I had to push again because of a family issue.  But i am planning on going down next sunday.

As for a report i know that they are in super thick. According to some its the best its been in years

Thanks!

Well, I don't have a big frame of reference, this only being my second time, but nature's bait shop certainly produced for me Saturday. It wasn't crowded at all because the fish were literally everywhere. I was only on the water for 2.5 hrs for a limit. Terrible day on the water... 50F, sunny, and a light breeze 

Well, I don't have a big frame of reference, this only being my second time, but nature's bait shop certainly produced for me Saturday. It wasn't crowded at all because the fish were literally everywhere. I was only on the water for 2.5 hrs for a limit. Terrible day on the water... 50F, sunny, and a light breeze 

excellent weather and result!  Weather looks pretty good the end of this week, I'm considering giving it a go on Thursday or Friday, wondering if anyone else is thinking of going either of those days?  cheers, roger 

I went yesterday, monday, and filled up my cooler in a couple hours.   I was 1 of 3 boats and everywhere i went i was getting multiples everywhere i dropped.  Will upload a picture tonight when I complete processing them.  I highly recommend going soon.  Now that chinook is closed in the ocean i will be focusing more on lings and this bait will be useful.

You guys are killing me!!!!!!! Can’t fish right now torn shoulder tendon, hopefully I’ll get to fish before summers over.

I went Thursday, launched at Hatfield and total blank, couldn't find any bait balls and the several PB that I interacted with had a total of 1 herring.  Nothing, nada, zippo between 9am and noon.  Strong outgoing tide and current,

special thanks to the NE wind for outperforming expectations, especially while I was below the bridge tending crab pots and fishing the jetties fingers.  lol

Zach caught them all, or scared them off 😂

Nothing, nada, zippo between 9am and noon.

Sorry to hear that, Roger! Maybe it's winding down now?

Nothing, nada, zippo between 9am and noon.

Sorry to hear that, Roger! Maybe it's winding down now?

that's what a couple of the PB said, and the birds were all siting on pilings looking like they had "herring-overs".

I'm new to Yaquina, there were boats crabbing along the NOAA docks and Hatfield.  That gave me hope for good results below the bridge but I pulled up total blanks, not a single crab. and no fish along the jetties down there.

 

Roger, did you check out in between the floating docks at the embarcadero? That's typically a hot spot. But that being said, it sounded like the herring spawn was really intense for about a week. Maybe they just all came in at once and dumped their loads. Last year's run was pretty extended. I still have herring from last year, so I didn't even partake in this year's run.

Bay fishing for rockfish/lings is tough man. There are a lot of fish posted up by the groins coming off the south jetty, but they're moody.