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Inspired by Dave's recent posts, I went out early this morning. I never fish the Bay this early in the year, or with water this cold (49/50f), but I'm glad I did! Caught about two dozen fat, healthy fish up to 20" in just four hours. Sadly didn't hook any of the monsters that are out there at the moment, but a personal victory for me nonetheless. The fish are present, and feeding hard!
All were caught in 6-10ft, with most at ~7ft, trolled at 3 - 3.5mph, and they seemed to have a strong preference for a 'rough bottom' (versus the really flat areas). There were fish scattered everywhere but I only marked one obvious bait ball. In low light they were hitting anything I threw at them, but early on a pink spro/ribbon tail surprisingly out-fished my rapala by about 4 to 1. At one point I had two fish on at once, one on each bait! But as the sun climbed, that balanced out and eventually they seemed to only want the rapala hard bait. Bites were harder to find by 10am, so I wrapped it up. Don't know if that was the high sun or the change in tide that altered things, or maybe they just went deeper? I didn't have the energy to go searching.
But hopefully that intel is useful for anyone looking to head out. Just remember the dry suit - it's still really cold water!
All were caught in 6-10ft, with most at ~7ft, trolled at 3 - 3.5mph, and they seemed to have a strong preference for a 'rough bottom' (versus the really flat areas). There were fish scattered everywhere but I only marked one obvious bait ball. In low light they were hitting anything I threw at them, but early on a pink spro/ribbon tail surprisingly out-fished my rapala by about 4 to 1. At one point I had two fish on at once, one on each bait! But as the sun climbed, that balanced out and eventually they seemed to only want the rapala hard bait. Bites were harder to find by 10am, so I wrapped it up. Don't know if that was the high sun or the change in tide that altered things, or maybe they just went deeper? I didn't have the energy to go searching.
But hopefully that intel is useful for anyone looking to head out. Just remember the dry suit - it's still really cold water!
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