Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3709 April 13-27, 2018 | Page 37

SALTWATER VOL.37 • ISS. 09 T April 13 - 27, 2018 37 Rockfish Season Below Pigeon Point Opens with Superb Fishing areas closer to the harbor starting then. he rockfish season below She also said she is waiting for the Pigeon Point on the San Mateo Pacific Fishery Management Council’s County coast opened on April 1 with official approval of the increase of the top-notch fishing for Half Moon Bay, canary rockfish bag limit to two fish Santa Cruz and Monterey boats. (now just one), since this formerly “We experienced really good fishing “overfished” population has in the waters below Pigeon been rebuilt. Point,” reported Sherri The 2019-2020 rockfish Ingles of the Half Moon Bay regulations will also be Sportfishing Center. “The approved at the April Queen of Hearts returned PFMC meeting in Portland, with full limits of rockfish Oregon. and 2 lingcod for 33 anglers. Boats out of Santa Cruz The Riptide came back with experienced solid rockfish 17 limits and 1 lingcod.” action in the deep water “Anglers hooked lots of near Wilder Beach and 4 to 5-pound yellowtail Davenport. rockfish,” said Ingles. “The “The inshore bite was fish were biting around good for keeper lingcod 80 feet deep in 150 feet of and vermillion near Natural by water. Many fishermen were said Todd Fraser pulling them in two at a time. Dan Bacher Bridges,” at Bayside Marine in Santa Anglers used mostly shrimp Cruz. “There were a few flies, tipped with squid, for halibut caught by anglers trolling and the fish.” drifting squid near the Mile Buoy. “The water in this area also looked The smaller halibut and striped bass decent for the salmon opener,” she are being caught near Capitola and noted. Manresa. The wind stayed down all She also noted that the Que Sera morning and some anglers were in early Sera, a six-pack charter boat, and the with limits of rockfish.” New Captain Pete, will also be booking The Monterey charter boats weren’t rockfish and salmon trips out of the able to get down south to Point Sur shop this season. because of wind on the morning of Ingles said that the regulations this the opener, but they were able to find year are back to the 2017 regulations, rockfish and lingcod success in the local with anglers able to fish down to 300 reefs. feet (50 fathoms) below Pigeon Point Out of Chris’ Fishing Trips, the Star and 240 feet (40 fathoms) above Pigeon of Monterey returned with 25 lingcod Point. “These depths are along the and limits of rockfish for 26 anglers contour lines,” she noted. on April 1. The Checkmate checked The groundfish season above Pigeon in with limits of lingcod and ¾ limits Point opens on June 15 – and the boats of rockfish for 26 anglers, while the out of the center will be fishing the Caroline came back with 18 lingcod and limits of rockfish for 20 passengers. “The wind was up in the morning,” said Troy Stokes of Chris Fishing Trips. “We tried fishing at the Carmel Highlands first, but the water was cold there and there wasn’t much action, so we fished the local reefs.” “Anglers caught a mixture of yellowtail, blue, vermilion, copper, bocaccio and canary rockfish while fishing off Point Joe and Cypress Point. They did best tossing out hardware and jigging shrimp This fisherman bagged this beautiful lingcod during a trip on the Chubasco flies, with no bait on them. out of J&M Sportfishing in Monterey. WHAT’S HOT SALTWATER Photo courtesy of J&M SPORTFISHING, Monterey. There isn’t any squid in local waters now,” Stokes explained. Katlyn Taylor at J&M Sport Fishing, also in Monterey, reported great fishing on the rockfish opener. The 22 anglers aboard the Sur Randy landed limits of good quality rockfish and 7 lingcod, while the 38 anglers on the Chubasco nailed limits of rockfish and 27 lingcod. “One of the anglers shook off a salmon, a good sign for the salmon opener,” Taylor said. The Kahuna sportfishing boat out of Moss Landing remains in the boatyard. This angler shows off a hefty cabezon caught on a flat calm day “We will not be down the Monterey County Coast aboard the Kahuna sportfishing back in water for the boat in December 2017. rockfish opener April Photo by CAROL JONES, KAHUNA SPORTFISHING, Moss Landing. 1,” said Carol Jones of Kahuna Sportfishing prior to the opener. Chinook minimum size limit will be “The work on the boat is getting close to 24 inches total length; and the same being done, but we don’t have a date yet. gear restrictions will apply as in 2017. We will keep you informed.” However, this fishery may be modified California’s recreational salmon at the March Council meeting, fishery will open in ocean waters on according to the PFMC. Saturday, April 7 from Pigeon Point The recreational salmon fishery will (37° 11’ 00” N. latitude) south to the remain closed in all other areas off U.S./Mexico border, according to California during the month of April. the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). The season in that region, ClearVu, SideVu and CHIRP Sonar. including both the Garmin’s echoMAP 94sv combination Monterey North GPS/Fishfinder offers a 9” keypad and Monterey controlled color display with Preloaded South management Bluechart G2 Charts for the Coastal US. area, will be Internal 5Hz GPS Antenna, NMEA2000 Connectivity and Panoptix Compatibility. open to fishing for all salmon except coho, with a limit of two 2855 Soquel Ave. fish per day. The Call For Details! MARITIME ELECTRONICS Santa Cruz, CA (800)582-1333 3623