VOL . 36 • ISS . 19
Marin Coast / Farallon Islands Facts
Rockfish Regulations : The recreational fishery for rockfish ( Sebastes sp .) is open to divers and shore-based anglers yearround . This fishery is open to boat-based anglers from April 15 , 2017 through December 31 , 2017 . These species may only be taken or possessed in waters less than 240 feet ( 40 fathoms ) deep . The daily bag and possession limit is 10 fish in combination of all species within the RCG Complex ( includes all species of Rockfish , Cabezon and Greenlings ) per person , with a sub-limit on black rockfish ( 3 per person ) and canary rockfish ( 1 per person ), also included in the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit . Yelloweye rockfish bronzespotted rockfish , and cowcod may not be retained ( bag limit : zero ).
Lingcod Regulations : The recreational fishery for lingcod ( Ophiodon elongatus ) is open to divers and shore-based anglers year-round . This fishery is open to boat-based anglers from April 15 , 2017 through December 31 , 2017 . Lingcod may only be taken or possessed in waters less than 240 ft ( 40 fm ) deep . The daily bag and possession limit is 2 fish , with a minimum size limit of 22 inches total length .
Other Species :: Fishing for halibut , striped bass and leopard sharks is open year round in San Francisco Bay and outside of the Golden Gate . The bag limit for striped bass is two fish 18 inches or over ; halibut , three fish over 22 inches ; and leopard sharks , 3 fish over 36 inches . There are seasonal closures for salmon , sturgeon and soupfin sharks in San Francisco Bay .
Charter boats : Sportfishing boats from throughout the Bay Area target rockfish , lingcod , halibut , striped bass and king salmon on San Francisco Bay and outside of the Golden Gate during their respective seasons . Contact Captain James Smith of the California Dawn , ( 510 ) 417-5557 . Other boats booking trips out of the Berkeley Marina include the ; New Easy Rider , ( 707 ) 422-2050 ; Captain Hook , ( 510 ) 322-0493 ; Happy Hooker , ( 510 ) 773-4158 , Hook ’ d Up Sportfishing , ( 707 ) 655-6736 ; Goldeneye 2000 , ( 510 ) 610-0888 , or Bay Charter Boats , 510- 850-2285 or cell 510-672-6913 , For more information , call the Berkeley Marina Sportfishing Center , ( 510 ) 849-3333 . The New Huck Finn , Sundance , Superfish , C-Gull II , New Seeker , New Salmon Queen , Sea Wolf and Wet Spot depart from the Emeryville Sportfishing Center , ( 510 ) 654-6040 . The Bass Tub , ( 415 ) 456-9055 , and Silver Fox Sportfishing , ( 415 ) 367-5600 , depart from Fisherman ’ s Wharf in San Francisco , while the Predator , ( 707 ) 342-8481 , is berthed at the Vallejo Marina .
MAP FEATURE
US
Coast Guard Point Reyes Light Station
Point Reyes
Estero de Limantour
Drakes Bay
Marin County
Coast Pt . Reyes National Recreation Area
Limantour Spit
Limantour Beach
Santa Maria Beach Coast Camp
Sculptured Beach
Point Resistance
Limantour Rd
Kelham Beach Arch Rock
Wildcat Camp
Alamere Falls Double Point
Abalone Point
Sky Camp
Glen Camp
Palomarin Trailhead Pt . Reyes Bird Observatory
US Coast Guard
Fishing Notes
• Rockfish action is excellent on this coast throughout the season . Blue , Black Bonitas , Brown Point , Vermilion , Gopher , China , Widow , Olive and Olive Rockfish are the main varieties caught , while cabezon and greenling also spice up the catches . Anchovies on three-way live bait set-ups are effective , as are Super Flies and other shrimp flies either fished alone or tipped with strips of squid or anchovies . Many anglers like to toss out bars ranging from 1 to 8 ounces . Among the better bars and jigs are Gibbs Minnows , Mega Baits , River2Sea lures and Horizon Pirk Minnows in a variety of colors . Berkley Gulp swimbaits , Fish Traps and plastic grubs in a range of sizes produce lots of rockfish every year . Point Reyes , Double Point , Duxbury Reef , and Point Bonita are among the many productive areas to pursue rockfish .
• Lingcod roam the reefs of this coast . The top live baits are anchovies , mackerel , sardines , kingfish , sanddabs and squid , while many lingcod will " hitch hike " on hooked rockfish as they are being reeled up from the depths . The same bars and jigs used for rockfish will work for lingcod , though you may want to use these lures in larger sizes than you do for rockfish . Berkley Gulp 10 inch squid and other large swimbaits and the P-Line Ling Cod rigs are also good lures to have in your lingcod arsenal .
• King Salmon fishing is traditionally best off this coast in June , July and August when the fish are fattening up with anchovies , krill and other forage as they get ready to run up the Central Valley rivers to spawn . However , the fish appear to be late this year . Trollers use anchovies , herring and a variety of lures , including Pro-Troll E-Chip lures , Apex lures and Krocodiles . Rotary Salmon Killers , Franko Bullet Rotators and hoochies are used in conjunction with bait to entice big salmon . Mooching can be great when the fish are schooled over concentrations of bait . Popular salmon spots include Muir Beach , Stinson Beach , Duxbury Reef , Double Point and Point Reyes .
• Halibut can be good in both sandy and rocky areas in this area . The Marin Coast is known for producing big halibut in the 20 to 30 pound range every season at a number of locations , including Stinson Beach , Bolinas and Drakes Bay . Drifting live bait is the top method . Striped bass are often caught by anglers fishing live bait for halibut or trolling for salmon . Regardless of the species you fish for , make sure that you review the current Ocean Sport Fishing regulation booklets and suppements .
Duxbury Reef Preserve
Tomales Bay
Bear Valley
Sept . 1-15 , 2017
Bear Valley Rd .
Duxbury Pt .. Bolinas Bay
To Bodega Bay
Point Reyes Station
Inverness Park
Bolinas
Tocaloma
Jewell Jewell
Stinson Beach
Rocky Point
Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Gull Rock
Muir Beach Overlook
Nicasio Nicosio Reservoir
Lagunitas
San Geronimo
Kent Lake
Mount
Tennessee Cove Tennessee Pt ..
Nicosio Nicasio
Hwy .
Tamalpais Muir Woods National Mon .
State
Muir Woods Rd
Muir Beach Golden
Pirates Cove Gate
Rodeo Cove
Forest Knolls
Pt . Bonita Lighthouse Pt . Bonita
Woodacre
Fairfax-Bolinas Rd .
Petaluma Pt . Reyes Rd .
Nicasio Valley Rd .
Bon Tempe Lake
Panoramic
Park
Alpine Lake
Lagunitas Lake
National
Homestead Valley Tamalpias Valley
Marin City
Recreation Area
Fairfax
Point Diablo Kerby
Cove
Larkspur
Corte
Madera Mill Valley
19
Stafford Lake
Lucas Valley Rd .
Lucas Valley
Sleepy Hollow
San Anselmo
Ross Kentfield
Richardson Bay
Sausalito
Fort Baker
Lime Pt . Cavallo Pt .
To San Francisco
Hefty lingcod like this one are the reward for anglers fishing both the Marin County coastline and the Farallon Islands ..
Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .
is that it is not allowed to function as a Delta by the state and federal government water agencies . This facilitates the grow of non native plants , such as egeria .” CSBA members are among the stalwart defenders of the Delta and its fisheries – and the most vocal opponents of the Delta Tunnels . Over the past couple of decades , I ’ ve been with CSBA members at everything from protests against the Delta Tunnels , to legislative hearings on bills designed by agribusiness to exterminate striped bass , to Fish and Game Commission meetings addressing striped bass regulations , the Marine Life Protection Act ( MLPA ) Initiative and other issues .
The CSBA also strongly supports efforts to introduce children and families to fishing . The CSBA ’ s late member , Uril “ Compy ” Compomizzo started the “ Hooked on Fishing , Not Drugs ” fishing program and kids fishing derby . The West Delta Chapter continues that tradition and conducts a Kid ’ s Free Fishing Derby every year at Contra Loma Reservoir or the San Joaquin River in Antioch .
The derby this year will be on October 14 from 8 am to 11 am at the Antioch Fishing Pier , located at the north end of L Street , by the old Humphrey ’ s Restaurant . For more information , go to : http :// www . csbawestdeltachapter . org / or their Facebook page .
The Farallon Islands , or Farallones ( from the Spanish Farallon meaning “ pillar ” or “ sea cliff ”), are a group of islands and sea stacks in the Gulf of the Farallones , off the coast of San Francis- co , according to Wikipedia . The islands and the gulf of the Farallones that it has created are one of the richest ecosystems in the world , sustaining an array of birds , fish and invertebrates , ranging from giant Great White Sharks to tiny kill and other forage that provide forage for a variety of fish species .
Anglers and other boaters often refer to the Farallones as the “ Devil ’ s Teeth Islands ,” in reference to the many treacherous underwater shoals in their vicinity . The islands lie 30 miles outside the Golden Gate and 20 miles south of Point Reyes , and are visible from the mainland on clear days . The islands are officially part of the City and County of San Francisco .
The only inhabited portion of the islands is on Southeast Farallon Island ( SEFI ), where researchers from Point Blue Conservation Science and the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service stayThe islands are closed to the public
The Farallon National Wildlife Refuge is one of 63 National Wildlife Refuges that have congressionally designated wilderness status . In 1974 the Farallon Wilderness was established ( Public Law 93-550 ) and includes all islands except the Southeast Island for a total of 141 acres .
George White of Antioch holds up a just-caught lingcod aboard the California Dawn during the CSBA , West Delta chapter , charter on August 8 .
Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .
The islands were long known by the name “ Islands of the Dead ” to the Ohlone Indians who lived in the Bay Area prior to the arrival of Europeans . They are not thought to have traveled to them . This was either for practical reasons , since the voyage and landing would be difficult and dangerous , or because of Indians ’ belief the islands were the abode of the spirits of the dead , noted Wikipedia .