30 April 27- May 11, 2018 VOL. 37 • ISS. 10 SALTWATER
SALTWATER REPORTS
BERKELEY
Halibut, Stripers And Bonus White Sea Bass Grab Baits
BERKELEY- An outstanding live bait potluck season is shaping up for Bay Area anglers. Quality live bait is available and several species of gamefish including halibut, striped bass and white sea bass are on tap.
Captain James Smith of California Dawn Sportfishing has been in the middle of the action putting up some of the best scores so far.
For example, on Saturday April 14, Smith’ s 24 anglers boated 24 halibut to 27 pounds, 14 keeper stripers and added an impressive 35 pound white sea bass to the tally while fishing the central bay.
The previous day the 28 anglers aboard the California Dawn boated 28 halibut to 18 pounds and 15 keeper stripers.
Captains Chris and Jonathan Smith of Happy Hooker Sportfishing have also been enjoying very good action while fishing both the south bay and central bay.
“ This is going to be a great season,” exclaimed Chris Smith.“ We are off to an early start. There are lots of bass and halibut in the bay already and some white sea bass too. We’ ve had live bait for a couple weeks. Typically, we don’ t get live bait until late April or even May. As good as things are right now, I think the fishing is going to get even better in the coming weeks. I’ m pretty excited.”
BODEGA BAY
Rockfish Season Now Open, Salmon Season Will Open June 17
BODEGA BAY- The rockfish opener began on Sunday, April 15th, but this was also the weekend for the 45th Annual Fishermen’ s Festival at Westside Landing. As a result, for the first time in 35 years, Captain Rick Powers of the New Sea Angler and Bodega Bay Sport Fishing didn’ t fish the opener.
Powers said,“ The New Sea Angler was the lead boat for the annual Blessing of the Fleet with a number of commercial boats participating in the parade out of the harbor, and this was the first time since I have established the business in Bodega Bay that we didn’ t go out on the opener. A rabbi, a priest, and a pastor blessed the fleet, but we are all ready to go out for rockfish until the salmon season opens on June 17th.”
The Bodega Bay Fishermen’ s Festival has its origin as a celebration of the start of the salmon fishing season, and all proceeds from the Festival benefit Bodega Bay Area community services. In 2017 the Fisherman’ s Festival distributed $ 66,000 to local non-profit organizations.
The start of the salmon season has been delayed from its traditional April opener, but it will open on June 17th and close October 31st from Point Arena to Pigeon Point with a 20-inch minimum size limit.
Captain Eric Holthouse of North Bay Charters also did not go out on the opener for rockfish, but he has his vessel, the‘ Take Five’ ready to go with plenty of upgrades for the current season.
Out of Lawson’ s Landing, a few halibut have been taken inside the bay and at the mouth of the opening, and surf perch action remains solid from the beaches.
– David Hurley
FISHERMAN’ S WHARF
Halibut, Stripers & White Seabass All Biting In South Bay
SAN FRANCISCO – Live bait trips on San Francisco Bay are producing an exciting array of halibut, striped bass and even white seabass for anglers venturing out of Fisherman’ s Wharf.
The Bass Tub made a half-day trip on Sunday, April 15 that yielded 12 halibut to 11 pounds, five striped bass to 6 pounds and six white seabass to 12 pounds for 25 anglers.
“ We drifted live anchovies in 25 feet of water in the Candlestick area of the south bay,” said Captain Aaron Anfinson.“ It was a tough morning; we hooked most of the fish on two drifts during the incoming tide just before we left at 12:30 p. m.”
The fishermen also released lots of undersized halibut and three undersized white seabass, according to Anfinson.
On the previous day, a full day adventure, the six anglers aboard the Bass Tub caught 10 halibut to 12 pounds and four striped bass to 5 pounds, also while drifting live bait on the south bay, said Anfinson.
- Dan Bacher
HALF MOON BAY
Local Rockfish Opener Produces Limits
EL GRANADA- Sherry Ingles of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing said,“ There was a big swell and a fast-moving current, but those who were able to keep contact with the bottom were rewarded with limits of quality bottom dwellers. The Riptide produced limits for 10 anglers with a number of vermilions and coppers and the Queen of Hearts was able to put together limits of what we call the‘ Half Moon Bay
Julie Hilton tempted this jumbo halibut with a live anchovy while fishing San Francisco Bay with Captain James Smith. Photo courtesy of CALIFORNIA DAWN SPORTFISHING, Berkeley.
New Easy Rider Sportfishing
Departures from Berkeley Marina
3425
There have been good numbers of white sea bass showing up for anglers drifting live bait in San Francisco Bay. This keeper was caught aboard the Happy Hooker on April 7.
Photo courtesy of HAPPY HOOKER SPORTFISHING, Berkeley.
Fish ALASKA
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The Raiders didn’ t win the Super Bowl, but this happy lady angler scored a touchdown when she landed this big San Francisco Bay halibut aboard the California Dawn on April 10.
Photo courtesy of CALIFORNIA DAWN SPORTFISHING, Berkeley.
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