Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3810 April 26- May 10 2019 | Page 26

24 SALTWATER Apr 26 - May 10, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 10 SALTWATER REPORTS BERKELEY Halibut Scores Climb, Live Bait Expected Shortly EAST BAY- Halibut and striper scores have increased significantly as charter skippers and private boaters spend more time on the water and get the areas the fish are holding in more defined. The bite in the South Bay has been especially productive. Most of the fish are being caught on trolled frozen herring and anchovies, but some guys are scoring while drifting mudsuckers and perch. The average keeper halibut is going just over the 22-inch minimum but fish to 12 pounds are common. There are solid numbers of 18 to 22 inch stripers in the mix, with big bass topping out at 21 pounds. Along with the keepers there have been huge numbers of shaker halibut showing that range from 16 to 21 inches. South Bay shore anglers hoping to hook a striper with ghost shrimp have even reported hooking a few shaker halibut. “On some trips, we’ve landed over 70 fish,” reported Capt. James Smith of the California Dawn. “There are lots of shakers around right now. I’m expecting live bait to be available shortly and that will make a big difference in how and where we are fishing.” More charter boats will be up and running in the coming days including Berkeley’s Happy Hooker and Pacific Dream. As well as Capt. Quang Vo’s Goldeneye 2000. BODEGA BAY Trollers Battle Salmon on Opening Day These happy anglers doubled up on halibut during a recent San Francisco Bay adventure. Photo courtesy of BASS TUB SPORTFISHING, San Francisco. Celebrating 61 years of “The Unsinkable Legend”!! 2019 Models HAVE ARRIVED! Boston Whaler 130 Super Sport Trollers and bait drifters are hooking solid numbers of halibut in San Francisco Bay. This awesome fish was landed on March 31. Photo courtesy of BASS TUB SPORTFISHING, San Francisco. BODEGA BAY – There has been great optimism for the salmon opener along the Sonoma coast as Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing and the New Sea Angler has been reporting anchovy schools off of the coast for the past several weeks. The prediction came true on the April 13th opener as Powers was in the mid-30 fish range for his passengers with at least three hours of fishing time left in the day. He said, “We are more than a fish a rod right now, and we have hooked over 50 fish by the early afternoon. This is a fantastic sign since the water is clear after seven days of a hard northwest blow. Normally, after such a hard wind and clear and cold water at 49 degrees, the salmon don’t want to bite, but there are fish here, and they are biting. We are fishing right out in front in 40 fathoms, and with the 24-inch size limit, these are all quality fish.” Powers will be concentrating on salmon trolling trips at the present New Easy Rider Sportfishing Departures from Berkeley Marina 3712 N ow B ookiNg SALMoN, HALiBUT, BASS LiVE BAiT TRiPS Rock & Ling Cod and Sturgeon Reservations & Information (707)422-2050 captainjgallia@neweasyrider.com www.neweasyrider.com Get Your Fish On! (shown with optional equipment) Completely redesigned for 2019 with fiberglass console with lockable storage, helm bench seat, aft swim platforms, bow locker, SS bow rails, 40 hp Mercury 4 stroke, galvanized trailer and more! Now Only $15,999 With The Bay Area’s Premier Sportfishing Family… Halibut Now Booking S.F. Bay Halibut & Striper Stripers Live Bait Potluck Trips! Lingcod Salmon Sharks & More Charters & Open Loads Available Departing Daily From The Berkeley Marina Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388 Pacific Dream (Including Freight & Prep) (800) 726–2848 3810 (510) 533–9290 1926 – 2019 Your Bay Area Dealer For 93 Years 333 Kennedy Street Oakland, CA 94606 www.outboardmotorshop.com All Prices INCLUDE freight & prep, plus tax & license only. 3807 (510) 993-4414 Follow Us On Facebook Building On The Legacy of Capt. Jim Smith! Two Boats To Turn Your Fishing Dreams Into Reality! PACIFIC DREAM Captain Chris Smith’s 58’ Pacific Dream Captain Jonathan Smith’s 56’ Happy Hooker