Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3709 April 13-27, 2018 | Page 38

38 April 13 - 27, 2018 VOL.37 • ISS. 09 SALTWATER SALTWATER REPORTS BERKELEY Live Bait Now Available for Potluck Anglers BERKELEY - Halibut and striper fishing in San Francisco Bay got a boost this week, when live bait became available. As of press time anglers were averaging about a fish per rod while drifting. “Today was our first official day of drifting live bait,” reported Captain James Smith of California Dawn Sportfishing on March 31. “We started out the day working in muddy water and it was pretty slow. As the day went on we got dialed in on some clearer water and fish started coming over the rail. In the end our anglers scored just over a fish per rod today on a mix of mainly halibut with some stripers mixed in.” “There were lots of shaker halibut released along with some shaker bass and a white sea bass that was just short of being a keeper. From here on out I think things will get better and better. The water quality is an issue now, but that will clear up. There are plenty of bass and halibut in the bay, with a big concentration of schoolie size bass stacked up in the south bay,” said Smith. Captain Chris and Jonathan Smith of the Happy Hooker are slated to kick off their live bait potluck season on April 7. BODEGA BAY Sonoma Coast Fishermen Gear Up for Rockfish Opener April 15 BODEGA BAY -  April 15th can’t get here soon enough for the party and private boats out of Bodega Bay as the rockfish season opener will mark the end of a 105- day closure from January 1 through April 14th. There was anticipation of an April 7th ocean salmon opener, but this was squelched when the ocean salmon season was postponed pending review of three options by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council during their meetings in Portland, Oregon from April 5th through 11th. The earliest the local salmon season could open will be June 1st with possible alternative Halibut are on the bite for trollers working San seasons lasting from 45 to 60 Francisco Bay. This big fish was caught aboard the days at the most. California Dawn on March 24. Fortunately, the Sonoma Photo courtesy of CALIFORNIA DAWN SPORTFISHING, Berkeley. County coast is a prime location for rockfish and lingcod with reefs from Point Reyes north to Timber Cove. Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing will be running rockfish/lingcod trips on the 65-foot New Sea Angler with a number of six-pack operators in the area including Captain Eric Holthouse of North Bay Charters. Other than the anticipation for the rockfish opener, shore Sturgeon were the target, but this lady angler picked up this husky bonus flounder while fishing San Pablo Bay this March. Photo courtesy of HAPPY HOOKER SPORTFISHING, Martinez. anglers are picking up surf perch from the beaches with topwater lures, Berkley Camo worms, or sand crabs. Tyler Aughney of Sebastopol landed a legal lingcod and several rockfish from the shoreline north of Bodega Bay. Although the rockfish season is closed for boat-based anglers until April 15th, shore fishing for rockfish and ling cod is open all-year long. – David Hurley FISHERMAN’S WHARF Live Bait Season Begins! SAN FRANCISCO – The live bait season begin in San Francisco Bay on April 1 with solid fishing for halibut. “Our first half day trip on April 1 produced 7 halibut and 1 striped bass for 8 anglers,” said Aaron Anfinson, captain of the Bass Tub. “We also released around 10 undersized halibut.” “The halibut averaged 8 to 10 pounds each, with the top fish weighing 12 pounds,” said Anfinson. “We fished all over San Francisco Bay, including Paradise Cay and the Emeryville Flats.” “This is the first day live bait became available out of Fisherman’s Wharf and we’re looking forward to good live bait halibut, striped bass and rockfish season,” he added. HALF MOON BAY Rockfish Action Fantastic Below Pigeon Point EL GRANADA - With the local rockfish season opening on April 15th, and the opener of ocean salmon season in local waters in limbo until the completion of the meeting of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council on April 11th, party and private boats will have to make the long 18-mile run south below Pigeon Point for both rockfish and salmon. Out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, the Queen of Hearts and Riptide will make the run south of Pigeon Point for rockfish and/ or salmon. Sherry Ingles of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing reported a combined 50 limits New Easy Rider Sportfishing Departures from Berkeley Marina 3425 N OW B OOKING Halibut • Bass Rock Cod & Lingcod Devin took a S.F. Bay halibut trip aboard the California Dawn on March 17 and rounded up these dandy keepers. Photo courtesy of CALIFORNIA DAWN SPORTFISHING, Berkeley. • Rock Cod & Ling Cod • Bass • Sturgeon • Live Bait Trips Reservations & Information [phone] [email protected] www.neweasyrider.com These incredible keeper sturgeon were pulled out of Suisun Bay during a March trip with Capt. Steve Mitchell. Photo courtesy of HOOKED UP SPORTFISHING, Martinez.