Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3708 March 30-April 13,2018 | Page 39

HALF MOON BAY Anglers Get Ready For Rockfish Opener South of Pigeon Point April 1 EL GRANADA - The news in this section of the coastline was a major disappointment due to postponement of the recreational ocean salmon season that was to start in local waters on April 7th. The determination as to which of the three salmon options presented to the Pacific Fisheries Management Council will be completed during their meetings in early April, but boats from Half Moon Bay will have the option to seek salmon south of Pigeon Point, 18 miles below the harbor as the salmon season will open below this landmark on April 7th. Also opening below Pigeon Point is the rockfish season on April 1st with the local season set to open on April 15. Captain Bob Ingles of the Queen of Hearts out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing and Captain Tom Mattusch of the Huli Cat are willing to make the long run south below Pigeon Point before the local season opens on April 15 along with ventures south for salmon. In the interim period of time, whale watching has been spectacular with the gray whale returning on their northward journey towards Alaska. When they are heading north with their calves, they swim much closer to the shore, and Mattusch and his crew observed the whales mating two miles off of the harbor on Saturday. From the beaches, surf perch and school- sized striped bass are the top species with sand crabs and Berkley Gulp! Grubs - Dave Hurley MONTEREY BAY Salmon Season Will Open April 7 MOSS LANDING - The rockfish season will open on April 1, while the salmon season will open for Monterey Bay Area boats on April 7. California’s recreational salmon fishery will open in ocean waters on Saturday, April 7 from Pigeon Point (37° 11’ 00” N. latitude) south to the U.S./Mexico border, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). The season in that region, including both the Monterey North and Monterey South management area, will be open to fishing for all salmon except coho, with a limit of two fish per day. The Chinook minimum size limit will be 24 inches total length; and the same gear restrictions will apply as in 2017. However, this fishery may be modified at the March Council meeting, according to the PFMC. The recreational salmon fishery will remain closed in all other areas off California during the month of April. The Kahuna sportfishing boat out of Moss Landing remains in the boatyard as the boat is prepared for the upcoming rockfish and salmon seasons that begin in April. “We will be closed most of March as we will be in the boatyard for a re-power on the Kahuna,” said Carol Jones of Kahuna Sportfishing. Boats out of J&M Sportfishing Savanna and Jesse had an outstanding central coast mixed bag kayak adventure that produced rockfish, cabezon and lingcod this December. Photo courtesy of KAYAK CITY FISHING TEAM, Kayak City, Citrus Heights. and Chris’ Fishing Trips in Monterey are pursuing sanddabs and crabs in Monterey Bay when the weather allows them to get out. The latest trip by the Check Mate of Chris’ Fishing Trips on March 18 returned with lots of sanddabs and 50 crabs for 12 anglers. The previous sanddab/crab adventure on March 17 by the Check Mate produced lots of sanddabs and 45 crabs for 10 anglers. - by Dan Bacher PENINSULA SHORELINE Perch, Crab Reward Surf Casters SAN FRANCISCO - Perch and crab continue to provide action for city anglers, while others make an early case for beach-run striped bass. Several reports Huge stripers have been showing up for anglers fishing the West Delta aboard the Dragon this winter. This 40 plus pound fish was caught on March 1. Photo courtesy of DRAGON SPORTFISHING, Pittsburg. 2912 Q ueen of made by anglers belonging to the More Than Fishing Facebook grou