Fish Sniffer Magazine Volume 42 Issue 15 | Page 11

Location : The Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers in the Delta and their myriad of sloughs , along with Suisun Bay and San Pablo bays , are the top for striped bass in California . The Delta also supports good populations of white sturgeon , white and channel catfish and smallmouth and largemouth bass . Salmon season is closed on all California rivers and ocean waters this year .

Camping and Lodging : Motels and r . v . camping facilities are available in the river towns of Isleton , Rio Vista , Antioch and Pittsburg . For more information , call California Delta Chambers & Visitor ’ s Bureau , 169 W . Brannan Road , Isleton , CA . 95641 , 916-777-4041 , http :// www . californiadelta . org . For information on Pirates ’ Lair in Isleton , call 916-777-6464 or http :// www . korthspirateslair . com

Fishing information : Fisherman ’ s Warehouse , Sacramento , 916-362-1200 ; North Pole Bait and Tackle , Rio Vista ; Vieira ’ s Resort , Isleton , 855-843-4727

Delta Striped Bass , Sturgeon and Salmon Charters :

• Zack Medinas , Gatecrasher Fishing Adventures , 925-497-7171

• James Soo Hoo , Soo Hoo Sportfishing , 925-899-4045

• Chris Ditter , Headrush Sportfishing , 916-284-9236

• Jerry Lampkin T . N . G . Motor Sports Guide Service , 530-320-0884

• Hayden Mullins , Dragon Sportfishing , 925-428-1103

• Brett Brady , Bare Bones Guide Service , 530-272-7137 , 530-263-4451

• Steve Mitchell , Hook ’ d Up Sportfishing , 707-655-6736

• Dave Hammond , Delta Pro Fishing , 916-479-3492 , 925-497-7171

• Rob Reimers , Rustic Rob ’ s Guide Service , 530-632-0051

• Joey Gamez , Golden State Sportfishing , 209-855-1847

Shiloh Rd .

Birds Ldg Road

Van Sickle Island

Shiloh Rd .

Montezuma Slough

Pittsburg

Railroad Av .

Love

Olsen Rd

Birds Ldg Rd

Birds Landing Montezuma

Collinsville Road

Montezuma

Solano , Sacramento and Contra Costa Counties

Talbert Lane

Collinsville

Montezuma Chain Island Is

Browns Island

New York Sl

E . 14th St

Ridge Rd

Buchnnan Road

Middle Sl .

Broad Slough

Winter Island

Sherman Island

Antioch

Rd

Hills Hills

Montezuma

The Sherman Island area between Pittsburg and Rio Vista is one of the most fertile fishing areas in California , with migrations of striped bass , sturgeon shad and king salmon taking place throughout the year .

Kemball Is .

Sacramento River

Sherman Island Waterfowl Management Area

Sherman Lake

Donlan

Is

West Is .

Wilbur Avenue E . 18th Street

Mayberry Sl

Sherman Island Rd .

Rd .

Sherman Is .

Cross

Antioch Bridge

Toll Plaza

Main

Rd

Brannan Island State Park

Sherman Island

Sherman

Street

Rio Vista

Decker Island

US Army Rio Vista Depot

Emmaton

Island

3 Mile Slough

East Leve

San Joaquin River

Big Break

Oakley

Fishing Notes

• Striped Bass are caught in this region year round with the best times being spring , winter and the late fall . Trolling is best when water temperatures are warm and the water is clear , while bait fishing is best when the water is colder and discolored .

• Sturgeon are also found here throughout the year , but the peak migration times are in the winter and spring . Use ghost shrimp , grass shrimp and lamprey eel for bait .

• White and Channel Catfish are found throughout the sloughs and river channels . Dunk clams , sardines and other baits .

• Black Bass offer world class action in a variety of areas , including Sherman Lake , Mayberry Slough and Big Break .

Dam

Road Brannan Is

Twitchell Is

This angler shows off a striped bass that he entered in the adult division of the Rio Vista Bass Derby on October 14 .

Photo by Dan Bacher

The Canevaro Family , including Tucker , Debbie and Laney Johnston . Ashlee Weller , Susie Weller , and Diana Canevaro , stands next to the plaque dedicated to Captain Barry Canevaro during the Rio Vista Bass Derby and Festival on October 14 .

Photo by Dan Bacher

Ivori Zepeda won first place with a 17.50 ” 3.2 lb . catfish . The angler took home a $ 100 gift card and fishing rod . Brayden Eck placed second with a 15.63 ” 2.0 lb . catfish . He won a $ 75 gift card and fishing rod . John Aguilar placed third with his 14.625 ” 1.6 lb . catfish . We won a $ 50 gift card and a fishing rod . Awards were presented at 4:00 pm on Sunday at the foot of Main Street in downtown Rio Vista . Information : https :// www . facebook . com / riovistabassderby / ‘ Plaque Dedication to Captain Barry Canevaro : As anglers checked in fish at the CSBA weigh in station at the derby , the California Striped Bass Association Isleton Chapter dedicated a plaque at the boat launch to honor Captain Barry Canevaro , a legendary Delta and Bay Area fishing captain , conservationist and fishing technique and tackle innovator . The Canevaro family , Rio Vista Mayor Ronald Kott and a crowd of friends and admirers of Barry gathered there to pay tribute to him . Bob Simms , host of the KFBK Outdoor Show in Sacramento on Saturday mornings , MC ’ d the event .

“ Simms shared many memories of Barry , as he had those present laughing and remembering Barry for the mentor and innovator he was to all ,” said Ken Baccetti , who organized the dedication event . Barry , the owner of Fish Hookers Sportfishing , was known for his acerbic , deadpan wit , his fishing expertise and the hundreds of hours of volunteer time he spent helping United Anglers of California ( UAC ) and the California Striped Bass Association ( CSBA ) fight for the preservation of striped bass , sturgeon , salmon and other fish species for over four decades . His favorite fish to target was striped bass on the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta , but he also was an expert on fishing for sturgeon in Suisun Bay and the Delta , trolling for king salmon outside of the Golden Gate and fishing for albacore in the ocean off Fort Bragg .

“ Canevaro helped to put Rio Vista on the map . He was an innovator who had done it all ,” said Baccetti . New sturgeon regulations will go into effect : The California Fish and Game Commission enacted emergency regulations on Oct . 11 to reduce white sturgeon harvest for the 2023-2024 season . “ The emergency action was taken in response to long-term declines in adult white sturgeon populations as well as impacts of a harmful algal bloom in San Francisco and San Pablo bays in summer 2022 ,” according to the CDFW in an announcement . The new regulations – enacted following a joint recommendation by CDFW and angling groups – will reduce the number of fish that can be kept to one per year , reduce the slot limit to 42-48 inches , cap the number of white sturgeon that can be possessed on a vessel at two per day and add seasonal closures to sturgeon fishing in key spawning areas . The regulations are expected to take effect in late October or early November following approval by the Office of Administrative Law . More information : https :// wildlife . ca . gov / News / Archive / white-sturgeon-harvest-reduced-for- 2023-2024-season