Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3812 May 24- June 7 2019 | Page 26

24 SALTWATER May 24 - June 7, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 12 SALTWATER REPORTS BERKELEY Halibut Scores Soar With Live Bait, Salmon Season To Re- Open! EAST BAY- Fishing is absolutely awesome for East Bay saltwater enthusiasts fishing both inside and outside San Francisco Bay. The centerpiece of the action right now is live bait potluck fishing inside the bay. Now that live has been available for a couple weeks, charter skippers have really dialed in on the fish and are posting some excellent halibut scores. For example, on the Happy Hooker’s most recent outing Capt. Jonathan put his 11 clients on 16 halibut and 21 stripers. On the same day, Captain Chris aboard the Pacific Dream rounded up 36 halibut and 22 stripers for his 16 anglers. Captain Quang of the Goldeneye 2000 has been putting up some incredible scores. On May 11, his anglers boated 17 limits of halibut and full limits of stripers. Captains Joe and Joey Gallia have been pounding away at halibut inside the bay during the short salmon closure, but they’ll be back outside the Golden Gate this week looking for kings. Salmon action was great before the break in the season and it is expected to still be outstanding once the skippers find the fish again. If you want a salmon dinner, jump aboard the New Easy Rider. Joe and Joey are two of the best when it comes to Norcal ocean salmon fishing. Rockfish and lingcod action at the Farallon Islands is very good, but the pressure has been light. There are so many close to port options right now that angler interest in taking a long trip to the islands is low. There will be plenty of time for targeting bottomfish later in the season! BODEGA BAY Salmon Fishing Reopens May 18 Jess Karraker nailed this quality halibut while drifting live bait in San Francisco Bay on May 4. Photo courtesy of HAPPY HOOKER SPORTFISHING, Berkeley. BODEGA BAY – The ocean salmon season has been closed since May 1st, and the local boats have been finding easy limits of rockfish with the occasional ling cod. The annual Big halibut have been hitting the deck of the Pacific Dream this month. This big flat fish inhaled a live anchovy during a May 4 outing. Photo courtesy of PACIFIC DREAM SPORTFISHING, Berkeley. Bodega Bay Fishermen’s Festival and Blessing of the Fleet was a huge success, and it’s all about fishing from now until the end of rockfish season on December 31st. After reopening, ocean salmon will close on October 31st, and the minimum size is now 20 inches for the remainder of the season. Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing and the New Sea Angler has been taking out light loads during the weekends for limits of rockfish along with up to limits of ling od. He still has the crab pots in the water, and they are pulling limits every time out. On Wednesday, May 8th, the seas calmed down, and 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! 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 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 This angler took a trip board the New Easy Rider on May 5 and ended up with a full limit of husky California halibut. Photo courtesy of NEW EASY RIDER SPORTFISHING, Berkeley.