SALTWATER
28 August 21,, 2020 VOL.39 • ISS. 18
SALTWATER REPORTS:
CONTINUED FROM PG 27
FISHERMAN’S WHARF cont.
anglers aboard the Bass Tub bagged 100
rockfish (limits), 2 lingcod and 18 halibut
while drifting live anchovies outside of the
Golden Gate.
- Dan Bacher
HALF MOON BAY
Bluefin Mania Strikes the San
Mateo Coast
EL GRANADA - Bluefin tuna appeared
at the Deep Reef in late July, setting off a
wild week of activity around the Half Moon
Bay harbor. The rare occurrence of the
huge bluefin tuna brought out hardcore
saltwater anglers from throughout
northern California, but the chances of
hooking and actually landing these elusive
giants remained limited.
Captain Tom Mattusch of the Huli Cat
was out at the Deep Reef the day the tuna
arrived in force, and he was able to land a
100-pound bluefin during the subsequent
week after a lengthy fight involving several
anglers manning the rod. Robbie Giraudo
of Pacifica landed a 155-pound tuna on
the private boat, Fishing Luhrs, but most
tuna aficionados returned empty-handed.
The wind during the first week of August
kept the private boats off the water for
a few days, but when calm reappeared,
the boats were back out searching for the
giants. A few six-packs are available to
chase down the bluefin tuna.
Salmon fishing rebounded north of the
harbor off of the Pacifica coastline, as
scores ranged from limits to near-limits of
2nd year fish off of Egg Rock, Pedro Point,
and Mussel Rock. Captain
Dennis Baxter of the New Captain Pete
said, “We are waiting for the next wave of
salmon in local waters as there are 10,000
shearwaters out in the bay, but the bait has
been absent and the water is green. The
best location here has been at Pedro Point
as the six-pack Reel Screamer put in 9
limits on at the end of the week.”
Second captain Michael Cabanas of the
Huli Cat went north on Friday, August 7th in
80 feet of water for 19 salmon to 12 pounds
for 13 anglers.
The boats out of Half Moon Bay
Sport Fishing have been focusing upon
rockfishing, and limits have been the rule
for their limited loads on the Queen of
Hearts and the Riptide.
Over the last few years, the Coastside
Fishing Club Net Pen salmon from the
Mokelumne River Hatchery show up outside
of the harbor late in the season. They have
yet to arrive this year so it is a matter of
seeing what the future brings.
- Dave Hurley
MONTEREY BAY
Rockfish Offer Top Sport Off
Monterey County Coast
MOSS LANDING – The salmon bite
remains spotty, inside Monterey Bay, but
anglers fishing off the coast from Monterey
to Big Sur are hooking good numbers of
quality rockfish and some lingcod.
The 14 anglers aboard the Kahuna on
Friday, August 7 landed 140 rockfish and 6
lingcod while fishing an array of jigs, bars
and shrimp flies off the Monterey Coast. On the previous trip
aboard the Kahuna, 12 fishermen landed 120 rockfish and 2
lingcod, reported Carol Jones of Kahuna Sportfishing.
“The wind was bad over
the past week, so we
had to cancel a bunch
of trips,” said Jones, “It
calmed down today and
yesterday, so we were
able to target rockfish.”
The boats out of Chris’
Fishing reported solid
rockfish action on calm
seas on Saturday, August
8. The 21 anglers aboard
the Star of Monterey
caught 210 rockfish
(limits) and 2 lingcod;
the 17 anglers aboard
the Checkmate nailed
170 rockfish (limits); and
the 17 anglers aboard
the Caroline landed 170
rockfish (limits).
“The fishing was decent
for salmon near Natural
Bridges in 220 feet of
water,” said Todd Fraser
at Bayside Marine in
Santa Cruz on August
7, “The halibut and
seabass are being
caught in Capitola in
40-60 feet of water.
The rockfishing was
good near Davenport.
In addition, there
were some bluefin
tuan caught below
Monterey. The wind
was not bad..”
- Dan
Bacher
Big kings are on the chomp offshore of Bodega Bay. This fish was
landed during a late July outing.
Photo courtesy of BODEGA TACKLE, Petaluma.
2912
SALMON •- ROCKFISH •- ALBACORE
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Mobile app with charts showing
MPAs available for download.
Central coast rockfish action has been very good, but with tuna and salmon in the
mix few folks have been looking for bottom fish.
Photo courtesy of HULI CAT SPORTFISHING, Half Moon Bay.
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