16 March 18 , 2022 VOL . 41 • ISS . 4
SUTTER MARINE in Yuba City is celebrating 50 years in business with a Big Retirement Sale !
Sutter Marine is a family owned business that has been serving boaters in Northern California since 1972 . They have specialized in providing excellent sales and knowledgeable service for boats and motors at reasonable prices . Owner Brian Tahara has been the face of the business , but he proudly praises his employees as the real soul of the enterprise . After 50 years , Brian has decided to hang up his wrenches and replace them with his golf clubs . Sutter Marine will officially close on April 15th . They are putting on a huge Retirement Sale from now through April 15th .
All boats , motors , electronics , trailers and accessories in stock will be offered at 15 % OFF EVERYTHING ! They have featured Lowe and G-3 Boats , along with outboard motors from Yamaha , Honda and Mercury . This is your chance to purchase some unique boating items that never go on sale . The boating industry in Northern California will miss Brian and Charlene and the crew at Sutter Marine . For more information , you can call them at 530-673-6250 , stop by the shop at 380 Garden Highway in Yuba City , or go to www . suttermarine . com
WHAT ’ S HOT continued from page 2 on the air stone which I weighted down with a lead sinker . Back outside , I put the bucket inside of my big ice chest to make sure that the bait would stay cool throughout the trip . I was back on Highway 12 in a flash , crossing the iconic Rio Vista Bridge as I headed southwest to the familiar Sherman Island launching facility . Rj was right behind me , and we quickly loaded his gear and launched to the fishing grounds . Trying to catch the end of the outgoing tide , we quickly threw anchor in the looming presence of the Pittsburg power plant . With four rods deployed , we patiently waited for the first bite as the sun crested the eastern horizon . Tap-tap , Rj ’ s rod showed the first signs of life , but after a few more taps he missed the bite and tied on a fresh ghost shrimp . A few minutes later , the same rod got hammered , and Rj had something on the end of his line . Knowing that he wasn ’ t onto anything huge , I left the net in place and a striped bass soon came flying over the rail . That fish turned out to be the last bite at our first spot . The tidal flows ceased , and we shotgunned west in search of some new waters . With live ghost shrimp in the hold , I figured that at some point we were going to run into some big fish that wouldn ’ t be able to pass them up . The Benicia Bridge area had been producing some nice striped bass , so I started looking for marks on the sonar just west of Seal Islands . We marked some fish just off the shipping channel , and quickly threw anchor in 32 feet of water . The incoming tide was starting to rip , but our baits were securely weighted to the bottom with heavy pyramid sinkers . Our attention was drawn to a boat downstream from us . It was far off , but we could faintly see one person standing with a rod , while another person had pulled out the net . As we squinted into the hazy glare , I suddenly saw movement out of the corner of my eye . With laser-like precision , my gaze shot to the starboard corner of our own boat , where my rod tip was jabbing downwards in staccato pulses . I jumped to the back and started reeling . “ It ’ s on ” I relayed to Rj , as I felt my drag slipping on a decent fish . The fish put up a nice fight against my
Rj Sanchez of Oakland lifts a feisty striper that hit a live ghost shrimp on the Sacramento River near Pittsburg , CA on February 27 . Even when sturgeon pass up your baits , you can usually count on striped bass to keep your rods busy when prospecting the waters of the delta or Suisun Bay .
Photo Courtesy of Jack Neves
sturgeon rod in the surging current . I was expecting to see an undersized sturgeon , but instead was delighted to see the flash of stripes through the turbid waters . “ It ’ s a nice striper ”, I said , as Rj scooped the net under the fish . With a couple of striped bass under our belts , it was time to move on , as our second spot produced no more action . With the rods and anchor secured , we moved into central Suisun Bay to a trough known as ‘ The Creek ’. After seeing numerous marks on the sonar , we set pick and deployed our live bait once again , hoping for an uptick in the action . While dozens of fish passed under the boat , our rods sat quiet . It was just one of those days where the fishing is slow , and you ’ re hoping for that one big takedown . As the incoming tide started to wane , I pulled out the gas grill and prepared to cook some steaks that Rj had marinating in his cooler . At this point , the boat had begun to swing in the diminishing current , and the lines were angled sideways instead of being straight back . From our current vantage point , the Pittsburg power plant was now a spec on the eastern horizon . Calm waves lapped against the sides of the boat , and I was in the middle of putting away one of my leaders when commotion suddenly broke out at the rear of the boat . Rj was shouting something , and at the same time I could hear my braided line whizzing through the guides of my rod . My first thought was that my sinker was just stuck in the mud , and the boat had drifted away from it on the slack tide . I stumbled over my tackle bag and gathered myself behind the rod holder . My sinker definitely wasn ’ t ‘ just stuck in the mud ’. Line peeled off of my level-wind reel at a frantic pace . I grabbed the rod , but it suddenly went slack . “ It ’ s off !” I said in disgust , but as I hysterically reeled it went tight again . The fish had run straight towards the boat ! This thing was hot ,
This quality striped bass attacked a live ghost shrimp soaked by Jack Naves east of the Benicia Bridge on February 27 . While ghost shrimp are typically associated as sturgeon bait , striped bass rarely pass up the opportunity to make a quick meal of the pink and orange crustaceans .
Photo Courtesy of Jack Neves
and after several drag-ripping runs , I was thinking it might be an oversized sturgeon . After about ten minutes of back and forth , I was finally able to winch the fish to the surface . The telltale bubbles indicated that it was indeed a sturgeon . While it wasn ’ t oversized , the 49 inch sturgeon was a heavy load to bring over the side of the boat . The weighty dino tapped out at 39 pounds on my digital scale . With the excitement behind us , we enjoyed the rest of the balmy afternoon with only a few nibble bites to show for it . Our adventure was coming to an end , but the early-morning bait shop visit capped by the setting sun closed out yet another therapeutic day of fishing . The next time you hear the bell ring when you enter a bait shop , take a moment to draw in the sights and sounds of the experience . Just remember that a new day awaits , and you never know what kind of quest will soon unfold from the end of you rod tip .