Yaquina Bay Herring - Sunday 8/10

I was thinking about jigging up some herring in Yaquina Bay on Sunday 8/10.  Anyone interested to join in?  High Tide is 109PM probably launch around 9:30am.

I don't care to deal with the main boat ramp at South Beach Marina, so for a kayak launch I thought I'd try behind the Rogue Brewery by the Rogue Spirits building - apparently the old South Beach boat ramp used to be there (free parking, gravel shore launch).  Short paddle to get thru the marina and across the bay to the green can or the NOAA dock on the incoming tide - usually quite a few powerboats jigging for herring. 

I won't go by myself, so let me know on this thread or PM if you'll be a buddy boat.  Some big wake can come thru that area, so caution and safety are not to be dismissed (flag, airhorn, whistle, PFD, 48°F water!).  Sabiki rig and 3oz or 4oz lead should do the trick.  I've never done this from a kayak before, so it could be challenging/fun.

That launch is awesome and about as good as it gets. It has been our backup location for the ORC for the last few years. I wish there were more launches like that one in the Northwest. Tons of free parking, fish cleaning station and bathrooms right next to it, there's a spigot to rinse gear off with, perfectly smooth gravel to slide your kayak on down to the water, easy, protected launch, brewery right next door, buy tackle/bait at the marina store, the list goes on and on...
Sounds like fun, let us know how you do!

That launch area is also a great area to practice beginner salt self rescue kayak reentry in full immersion gear. 
The water is just as cold as the ocean, and deep enough to be realistic without the swells and wind waves.

With the fresh water hose Rawkfish mentioned above, you can also rinse yourself and PFD free of salt water before calling it a day.

I'd definitely take the opportunity to do some more self-rescue practice if there aren't too many onlookers from the cleaning station.  I'm guessing there will be a lot of people cleaning limits of salmon by 930am - last day of hatchery coho in the ocean.  Thanks for the long list of amenities Rawkfish.

Definitely take the longest rod that isn't too heavy.  If you get into them, the typical 6 to 8 hook set up can get awful long when sitting inside the kayak. 

Agree with the 3 to 4 oz.  Too much lighter, the fish swim up and will tangle the heck out of your sabiki rigs.  If I am into a good batch of herring. I often cut back my sabiki rig to a more manageable 3 to 4 hook set up.

Keep your deck clean.  Those tiny hooks catch EVERYTHING that is exposed on your deck. 

Good call on shortening the sabiki rig. I usually get the six hook setups and cut them in half. Much more manageable from a kayak.

3 hook sabiki looks much more manageable - thanks for the suggestion.   Should I just put them in a bucket with saltwater, or do I need some ice and rocksalt to keep the scales fresh? Probably just use my back deck for the collection container...i'm sure a lot of them will escape.  This sounds comical...it should be some good entertainment for the PB crowd.

Good luck keeping the scales on. I've heard bait places dump their fish into ice baths with CO2 to knock them down. But they also starve them to "set" the scales. I will say my herring here in AK seems every bit as shiny without the scales even after I freeze them. They are also super soft due to higher oil content. I have to brine mine to get them firm enough.

I have read that a rock salt/ice slurry in a cooler is the way to go. Make sure the fish are straight. Let us know how it goes. I've been wanting to learn how to catch herring over there. I thought it was earlier in the year.

There's a spawning run in February for a couple weeks, and then they show up again in July for a couple months.  The summer herring are the ones to catch for using as cut plug.  Size in Yaquina Bay will range from 4"-8", sometimes small shad are in the bay too - they look alot like herring at that size.  Herring is a versatile bait: Trolling chunks on a hoochie for coho, whole for salmon, cut plug in the river, mushy February herring are great for the Halibut cocktail.  Plus, they're just fun to catch.

Got about 50 herring in the bay today -- what a blast.   I felt pretty small especially around that NOAA boat tied up at the dock.  He blew his air horn when I was about 50ft in front of him (remember, tied up at the dock and anchor lines secured!) - I discovered the seat eject feature of the Hobie (almost).