Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3903 Jan 17-31 2020 | Page 27

HALF MOON BAY cont. 25 Jan 17-31, 2020 VOL.39 • ISS. 3 HALF MOON BAY Crabs and Sanddabs Offer Winter Sport EL GRANADA - The rockfish season out of Half Moon bay ended on Tuesday, December 31, but the swell kicked up, bringing surfers to the area to work the huge waves and allow the party boats to take out observers. It’s amazing how these big wave surfers can drop everything and show up when the conditions are right. Sanddab/crab or crab only trips will fill the bill on the Huli Cat during the winter months. “The Hulicat finished the rockfish season with good fishing. “We went combo fishing off San Gregorio,” said Captain Tom Mattusch of the Hulicat. “Enrico Gutierrez landed a 10 lb .lingcod., while Robbie Marshall landed a 3 lb. vermillion. We ended up with 27 limits of rockcod and crab for the 27 anglers.” “There are still Dungeness crabs in Pillar Point Harbor! Jump on the Huli Cat or one of the other charter boats,” said Mattusch. “If weather has the charter fleet tied up, come down to the docks! Lots of commercial fishing boats selling off their boats. If you don’t want to cook them, Princeton Seafood Company Market and Restaurant will cook them for you!” The New Captain Pete out of the Half Moon Bay Sportfishing Center found top-notch crab fishing on December 21, ending up with 180 Dungeness Crab for 18 anglers on a crab-only trip. The anglers aboard the Queen of Hearts on December 29 found good rockfish and crab action. “It was another fun day on the ocean. We had some nice mixed bags of dwellers and school fish and even BAJA Dorado Battle Holiday Anglers “Dorado fishing has been off the hook, lots of nice dorado in the 18lbs to 20lbs class the fish are moving down from Mag bay with the colder water temperatures pushing them down,” reported Jerry Chapman of JC Sportfishing. “Most fish and bigger fish are caught on live mackerel ballyhoo and lures. Best action is at Margarita, Los Arcos and off Golden Gate. We caught 7 dorado last Sunday, 5 on Monday, 15 on Tuesday, 11 on Wednesday, 10 on Friday and 7 on Saturday,” Chapman exclaimed. “Marlin fishing has slowed this week. We are still catching some stripers at the Light House up to El Arco on mackerel and lures. We caught 1 on Tuesday, 2 on Wednesday and 1 on Saturday,” Chapman disclosed. a few lingcod. Everyone left with plenty of crabs for their holiday get-togethers,” reported Sherri Ingles of the Half Moon Bay Sportfishing. - Dave Hurley and Dan Bacher MONTEREY BAY Rockfish Season Finishes with Solid Fishing MOSS LANDING – The rockfish and lingcod season in the Monterey Bay area ended with top-notch fishing on December 31. The season will reopen in 2020 on April 1. The 25 people going on the final trip of the season aboard the Kahuna on December 31 landed 150 rockfish and 10 lingcod to 15 pounds, reported Carol CONTINUED ON PG 26 Packing & Preparing For A Summer Trip To Baja This Baja fishing tip comes courtesy of Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International in La Paz.-Editor Remember, La Paz is mostly a tropical place with a dry climate, which explains all the desert we have! Daytime temps range from the high 60’s in the winter to occasionally 100 in the summer. (But it’s a “dry heat!”) Dress accordingly. Our hottest month is July, but your most humid month is August, but these are also two of our busiest months. You can get away with shorts and t-shirts full time in La Paz. Socks are considered formal wear and slacks are for funerals, weddings and church! Everything is casual. Flip flops or tennis shoes are the footwear of choice. If you will be on the water, bring a sweatshirt or windbreaker just-in-case, but otherwise pack light. Packing for a trip south of the border can be confusing and a bit intimidating. This huge dorado was caught during Tailhunter International’s own Jonathan Roldan came up with these pointers to make a late November East Cape fishing your trip to La Paz or anywhere in Baja more enjoyable. adventure. Pack your fishing rods in plastic tubes. Wrap them in towels or clothes or something Photo courtesy of VAN WORMER RESORTS, East Cape, Baja. to pad them. Bring zip lock bags for fish and duct tape. We recommend freezer style 1 gallon size bags. Bring an ice chest (20-40 quart) is about right to bring home fish. When a 40-quart ice chest is filled with frozen fillets, it weighs just about 50 pounds which is the limit of most airlines. Remember that newer ice chests with wheels or thicker insulation walls weigh more too! Most international airlines allow two check-in bags of less than 50 pounds each. Rod tubes must be less than 8 feet long. You can carry-on two smaller bags on most airlines. I suggest you put your clothes in a soft duffle bag that goes in your empty cooler. When you go home, hopefully with fish, put the fish in the ice chest. Your duffle bag now becomes a carry-on bag! Check with your airline. Most charge now for the 2nd bag. Some charge for rod tubes. Others do not. There are extra charges for oversize and overweight so check first. This quality yellowfin tuna was caught during a late fall trip with the folks Don’t forget your passport or other ID. Make copies from Van Wormer Resorts on Baja’s East Cape. and pack them in a separate place in case you lose Photo courtesy of VAN WORMER RESORTS, East Cape, Baja. the original on your trip. Predator Sport Fishing GET ON BOARD! Small Groups • Great Rates 3408 Call for Details and Special Pricing! MARITIME ELECTRONICS (800)582-1333 3807 650-726-2926 Fish The Delta In Style Aboard Capt. Hayden Mullins’s 60’ Luxury Yacht! Powerful technology in the Ultimate Combo unit. 9” Chart Plotter with built in TrueEcho CHIRP Fishfinder. Featuring Multi-Touch Interface, internal GPS antenna, CMAP compatibility, Anti Finger Print and Anti-Reflective glass with excellent readability and brightness. 2855 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz, CA www.hulicat.com Want Sturgeon? Trophy Stripers? Call Dragon Sportfishing! GP 1971F Fishfinder/GPS Plotter of H earts HALF MOON BAY 707-342-8481 • www.crocsport.com Q ueen Rockfish & Crab Combos Available Now BOOK EARLY! Excellent Sturgeon, Bass and Shark Fishing! The Bay’s Best Crew! This young man hit Suisun Bay with Captain Hayden Mullins hoping to tag a sturgeon this December and ended up boating this beast! Photo courtesy of DRAGON SPORTFISHING, Pittsburg. Half Moon Bay Sportfishing and Tackle Light Tackle Rockfishing 650-728-3377 • Salmon Fishing (when allowed) • • Whale Watching • • Nature Trips • • Full Bait and Tackle Shop • Pillar Point Harbor 5 Miles North of Half Moon Bay www.fishingboat.com www.hmbfishing.com 925-766-7350 • www.dragonsportfishing.com Coast Guard Approved - Professional Crew 35+ years Experienced Captain