Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3901 Dec 20-Jan 3 | Page 22
20
Dec 20, 2019 - Jan 3, 2020
VOL.39 • ISS. 1
SALTWATER REPORTS
BERKELEY
“We continue doing what we’ve
been doing, basically getting limits
of rockfish and some quality lings
either at the islands or up along the
BERKELEY - Anglers departing from
north coast,” related Happy Hooker
East Bay ports have been confronted
Sportfishing’s Chris Smith. “The
with rough conditions in recent days, but
quality is there. The rockfish are
anglers that make it out are still scoring
chunky and we are rounding up lots of
limits of big crabs along with limits of
commercial quality crabs. As is often
rockfish and some bonus lingcod.
the case this time
of the year, crowds
have been light.
If you’d like some
crabs and rockfish
fillets this is a
great time to jump
aboard.”
In the far
southern reaches
of the South Bay a
few sturgeon have
been showing.
Overall the action
ranges from slow
to fair depending
on the day. Ghost
and mud shrimp
have been the
best baits, but
herring fillets have
been effective too.
If you head down
to the southern
end of the South
Bay, navigate
Double fisted action! This angler went big on November 29 when he reeled up this pair of impressive
with care.
Golden Gate vermilion rockfish.
The water
Photo courtesy of CALIFORNIA DAWN SPORTFISHING, Berkeley.
is extremely
shallow in
many areas and it’s
with 30 limits of bottom-dwelling rockfish
BODEGA BAY
easy to get stuck.
along with Dungeness crab. He said, “The
Rockfish and Crab Fishing
swell was down, and we were able to find
quality bottom fish along with a much-
Superb When Boats Get Out
improved ling cod count. The weather is
BODEGA BAY - The first several weeks
Feng took a trip down to San Gregorio aboard the Huli Cat on November 29 and scored a
going to get good next week. It is a good
of the recreational Dungeness crab
limit of rockfish that included this big bad vermilion.
time to get out before the commercial pots
season
featured
spectacular
weather
Photo courtesy of HULI CAT SPORTFISHING, Half Moon Bay.
are set soon.”
conditions, but this all changed just prior
Mike Aughney of the six-pack, Reel
to Thanksgiving Day and has continued
Magic, said, “The weather has kept us
through the first week of December.
off of the water for the past week, but we
When the boats are able to get outside
will be running crab/rockfish combinations
of the harbor, limits of rockfish and crab
with a decent lingcod count have been the and crab-only trips throughout the open
rule, and the weather appears to be stable rockfish season before heading out for
the occasional crab-only after the first of
starting the second week of December.
the year. Limits of commercial-grade crab
Rockfish season ends on December 31st,
have been the rule along with limits of
but party boats will continue to operate
rockfish, and when the swell is down, the
crab-only trips on occasion along with the
ling counts have been climbing.”
possibility of adding sand dabs to the mix.
Both the Doran Regional Park and
Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay
Westside Landing launch ramps are open
Sport Fishing and the 65-foot New Sea
as Doran reopened on November 16. The
Angler went south to Point Reyes before
launch ramp is available to campers and
the recent storm for a healthy lingcod
count with 17 lings to 15 pounds along
CONTINUED ON PG 21
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Variety is the word for anglers targeting central coast rockfish aboard the Huli Cat. This
colorful vermilion was boated on November 23.
Photo courtesy of HULI CAT SPORTFISHING, Half Moon Bay.
PACIFIC
DREAM
Captain Chris Smith’s 58’ Pacific Dream
Captain Jonathan Smith’s 56’ Happy Hooker