Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3804 Feb 1-15 2019 | Page 29

SALTWATER VOL.38 • ISS. 4 SALTWATER REPORTS: 27 MONTEREY BAY CONTINUED FROM PG 23 HALF MOON BAY Feb 1-15, 2019 Surf Casters Lay Into Perch cont. a couple of pots that came up empty, but these were the exception,” he noted. Out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, the party boats will focus on nature trips along with whale watching in the interim months before the rockfish and salmon seasons are anticipated to open in April. Captain Jerad Davis of the Salty Lady will also be running whale watching trips on Saturdays and Sundays through April. Dungeness crab are still available from the commercial boats in the harbor, and Captain Dennis Baxter of the New Captain Pete is selling live crab off of the boat on the weekends. Further north in Pacifica, rough weather has kept the pier closed on occasion, and the overall size of crowds has diminished, particularly during the week. Rock crab along with the occasional Dungeness crab are taken on snares loaded with squid, anchovies, or sardines. The pier is open daily from 4:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m., weather depending. - Dave Hurley MOSS LANDING – Fishing pressure since the end of the boat-based rockfish season on December 31 has been very light. Surf fishing enthusiasts are pursuing surfperch along the Monterey Bay shoreline, while boaters have been catching sanddabs, Dungeness crabs and an occasional halibut when the weather allows them to get out. “The inshore fishing was good today for surfperch,” said Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine in Santa Cruz on Saturday, January 1. “The anglers are having great luck on the perch due to all the sand bars that have built up.” Use plastic grubs, Gulp! Sandworms and Sand Crab Fleas, pileworms and other baits for the scrappy perch. “The crab and sanddab fishing has been decent for the anglers who have been getting out of the harbor. There was a new sounding of the entrance today and there is about 4 feet in most areas. I would use caution when going out of the mouth during big swells,” Fraser tipped. “There have been a few nice steelhead caught on the San Lorenzo River on Mad River Pink Worms and Little Cleos,” he added. The Kahuna out of Moss Landing will be available for sanddab trips through the end January and then will going into the boatyard for the annual maintenance in February. Anglers boarding boats out of Chris’ Fishing Trips in Monterey continue a mixture of sanddabs, sole and Dungeness crabs Michael Kidwell of Fisherman’s Warehouse landed and released his when weather conditions allow. biggest ever striped bass while fishing the North Delta from his kayak on A trip by 8 anglers aboard the December 28. Checkmate on January 20 Photo courtesy of FISHSNIFFER.COM. produced “lots of sanddabs” and 52 Dungeness crabs. Steve got his first ever sturgeon after years of trying when this handsome fish came knocking on January 4. Photo courtesy of STEVE AMERAL, Diamond Getters Club, Facebook. Ahi Saltwater Jigs Produce Big Results! T he folks from American Maple/ Promar turn out the hottest line of saltwater jigs in California with their Ahi Assault Diamond Jigs and Ahi Live Deception jigs. Live Deception Jigs are designed with real fish images laser printed (not wrapped) onto jigs to highlight the highest level of accuracy and realistic definition. These jigs are available in the 3 most popular baits on the California coast – Sardine, Mackerel, and Anchovy. Imagine this….. when fish are keyed in on pinhead anchovies, grab a 2” long, 1 oz Live Deception Anchovy and you’ll be sure to hook up. Live Deception Jigs are made with heavy duty hardware, including Mustad 3X hooks, welded rings, and fully wire through construction to ensure you land that trophy fish. This is as real as an iron will get! Ahi Assault Diamond Jigs are a modern take off on an old school favorite. These diamond jigs boast optimized shape, enhanced rigging, and a variety of colors. The jigs come in sizes ranging from 1oz up to 14oz. Assault Jigs use welded rings to 3X Mustad Treble Hooks. The welded ring not only allows for a much more solid connection than split rings, it helps the hook reset to vertical position, preventing it from getting hung up on the main line. To learn more, go to the Ahi website at www.ahiusa. com. Kenji Nakagawa used a Phenix Rod and a Delta Wood Bomber to tempt and battle this impressive Delta striper during a recent outing. The fish was released after the photo. Photo courtesy of FISHSNIFFER.COM.