North Freshwater
LAKE ALMANOR: There’s been little change since last week according to John Crotty of Quail Lodge. Trollers are targeting fish in deep water in the usual spots, Rec #1 to Big Cove, Big Springs, Rec #2 to the Peninsula and off the East shore. Fish water to 50 feet deep and go slow with your bait on the bottom. Anchor fishermen are targeting springs with crickets, crawlers or the Almanor cocktail off the bottom. Quality fish are being caught they are just far and few between. There are still pockets of Hex shucks around the lake and a few fly fishermen are out in the evening, but that bite is tough as well. Not many bass boats on the water as the majority of the boat traffic is ski boats and personal watercraft. The main story line here the past week was the Hog Fire off Highway 44 and 36 which had phone and internet service shut down for a couple of days and both roads closed for a period of time. Traffic to Susanville was being diverted through Quincy, adding a couple of hours to the drive.
AMADOR LAKE: Little change here as the campgrounds remain filled throughout the week, and fishing is a secondary option as trout plants will not occur until at least October depending on the lake temperatures. Catfish are taken on chicken livers or nightcrawlers, particularly at night, and the largemouth bass are hitting plastics on a finesse presentation over structure. The lake is 11 feet from spilling.
AMERICAN RIVER: Salmon fishing is slow as anglers are now awaiting the fall-run kings to arrive. A few stripers are being caught. Boat ramps are crowded.
BERRYESSA LAKE: According to Troy Barr of T-Roy’s Guide Service, it was a good week at the lake. The kokanee are starting to move to the bottom and orient on structure, although there are some smaller fish still in deeper water. Fish from Skier’s Cove along the cliffs to up around the island and up around the flats by the old town of Monticello. You can get fish in the morning around 55 to 60 feet, then when the sun is out look towards the bottom and do the chase the mark game. This week, RMT 5.5 Dodgers with Apex spoons and RMT or Uncle Larry’s Spinners with Pautzke Fire Corn worked for Barr and his clients.
BLACK BUTTE LAKE: Per Pflum Fun Rentals, action on bass and cats is still pretty good, but it has slowed due to excessive heat.
BOCA RESERVOIR: The water level is still low but catch and release fishing for trout at the inlet is fine sport. Try small Kastmasters and spinners or Panther Martins in yellow, white and silver. Expect crowds, Boca was ringed by shore anglers on Saturday and Sunday.
BULLARDS BAR: Anglers are still targeting and catching kokanee here, and it should be about another month before the fish begin to “turn,” according to Craig Newton of Will Fish Tackle in Auburn. Start at approximately 70 feet deep for the better fish. At those depths try darker colors such as purples and pinks and blues.
CAMANCHE LAKE: The lake continues to be heavily impacted by recreational boaters who arrive on the lake by 10:00 a.m. on a daily basis. The weekends are very crowded, and many boats are turned away due to the quota of boats allowed on the lake. Holdover rainbow trout are a possibility for those getting on the lake at first light, Robbie Dunham of Koke Machine Guide Service put two clients onto limits of holdovers to 5.2 pounds running brass/red or gold/red Speedy Shiners at depths from 35 to 60 feet in the main river channel. Bass fishermen have to be on either early or late to avoid the recreational boat traffic. The lake held at 67 percent.
CARSON RIVER, East and West: Todd Sodaro of the Alpine County Fish and Game Commission said the rivers muddied up, cleared, and muddied up yet again in the past week. There are plenty of fish left from the last 1,800-pound stock of trophy rainbows averaging over 4 pounds each. The West Carson is slow and was not stocked.
LAKE CHABOT: Shore fishing is allowed. Small bass and catfish are being caught.
CLEAR LAKE: Tournaments and more tournaments here according to Bob Myskey of Bassin’ with Bob. It’s been a busy lake and the bass have been getting pounded. The catching has remained good, as almost all 160 boats in the recent WON BASS California Open brought in limits each day, and the bigger fish were in the 6- to 8-pound range. Everything from drop-shot, jigs, wake baits, and a variety of topwater baits were used to catch their fish. The water temperature is hanging around the 81 degree mark and it is important to catch and release these fish and not carry them around in the live well if you are not in a tournament. The lake has algae blooms going on and water clarity and conditions vary widely around the lake. With Clear Lake recently being named the best bass fishing lake in the country for the past ten years by Bassmaster magazine and with tournaments every weekend, be prepared to share the water.
COLLINS LAKE: It’s still the summer doldrums here, but there’s hope as catfish are starting to stir. They won’t be at their peak until late summer. Trout fishing as of this date takes special measures, chiefly a boat and a downrigger to target fish at 40 feet.
CONTRA LOMA: The lake is open to walk-in anglers. Trout fishing is slow.
DAVIS LAKE: The water is as warm as 72-74 at the surface, but fishing for rainbows is good. It’s best on bait. Ed Dillard of Dillard’s Fishing Guide Service has bene trolling in about 25 feet of water about 10 feet down and offering blue Baby Simons. Trout are best early and late. Bass and cats are still hungry at all the usual spots.
LAKE DEL VALLE: Fishing remains closed.
DON PEDRO: Few trollers have been targeting kokanee here, but Kenny and Tina McDonald of Manteca scored limits of quality kokanee on a early week trip working open water over the river channel at depths to 60 feet. For largemouth bass, Mike Gomez of the Bait Barn in Waterford reported a tough bite with the best action between 9:30 and 10:45 at night with Z-Man plastics on a Texas-rig at depths to 25 feet. Earlier in the evening, the Berserk Purple Hornet jigs was effective at depths to 55 feet. Big fish are scarce as they are reluctant to bite while suspended due to the dropping water levels. The lake dropped from 80 to 78 percent.
DONNER: Some bigger Mackinaw including a 15 pounder for a client of Shaun Rainsbarger, Shaun’s Guide Service, are biting. It appears to have been weeks since the last trout stock.
FEATHER RIVER: Salmon fishing is slow. A few kings are being caught, but most anglers are awaiting the fall-run fish to arrive, usually in mid-August. Some of the local guides are getting a fish or two a day on FlatFish plugs.
FOLSOM LAKE: Water levels are down 5 feet from a week ago, at 425 feet of elevation. The lake is 39 feet from full pool. The water temperature is up to 81 degrees. A few landlocked salmon are being caught, but crowded boating conditions are making fishing tough. The Hobie Cove ramp at Browns Ravine is open, along with Granite Bay and Folsom Point.
FRENCH MEADOWS: Trout have been consistent here, said Craig Newton of Will Fish Tackle in Auburn. Many anglers start their days here trolling Rapalas for an occasional brown, then switching to dodgers and worms once the sun comes up for rainbows.
GOLD LAKES BASIN: It’s been more than a month since the last trout stock. Lower Sardine, Salmon, Packard and Gold Lake are still giving up some rainbows in the 10- to 14-inch range. Limits are few but possible according to Mark Tielau of Montain Hardware and Sports in Blairsden.
HELL HOLE RESERVOIR: The kokanee are good-sized here, but you have to work for them according to Craig Newton of Will Fish Tackle. There are a lot of Mackinaw here. Newton said limits of 2 to 4 pounders come out consistently.
INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: The lake will not be stocked this year due to a pervasive algae problem.
JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park): There are rumors a 26-pound Mackinaw was caught and released here by a young man who was fishing a Rapala. The counts out of Sly Park Resort included smallmouth and more but smaller Mackinaw.
KLAMATH RIVER, Hornbrook: Trout and steelhead fishing has been good below Iron Gate Dam, although anglers are fishing early before the weather gets hot. Fly fishing has been good, along with small plugs. Flows from Iron Gate are 971 cfs.
KLAMATH RIVER, Happy Camp: Fall salmon are still a month away. Trout and steelhead fishing is slow with hot weather. Flows at Seiad Valley are 1,020 cfs.
KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen: Salmon fishing improved during the afternoons last week, as a school of fish moved into the estuary. Trolling anchovies is working best. Fishing is still slow upriver. One salmon a day can be kept until the fall quota kicks in Aug. 16, increasing the limit to two fish, including one adult salmon over 23 inches.
LEWISTON LAKE, Lewiston: Louise Baghin of Pine Cove Marina said some nice fish came in this week. Bait anglers are doing well on trout with sherbet PowerBait as well as by bouncing a nightcrawler off the bottom. A few kokanee have come in from Lake View Terrace for trollers using Sure Catch lures. Fly fishermen are doing best early and late on midges, woolly sand, sheep’s creek specials.
LOS VAQUEROS RESERVOIR: Stripers and catfish are being caught at South Cove and near the marina. Trout fishing is slow. Boat rentals have resumed.
McCLURE LAKE: Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook’s Fishing and Guide Service said, “The lake is dropping precipitously, affecting the bass bite, but the good news is that it may be stabilizing in the next week. The jig bite is improving, but the daytime topwater bite has died off. If you want to catch big fish, you have to fish at night from 10:00 p.m. through 3:00 a.m. with big baits such as jigs, spinnerbaits, topwater lures, or worms.” The Merced Bass Club held at night event on Saturday with the winning limit just over 11 pounds with less than 8 pounds cashing a check. Catfishing remains a good option swith chicken livers or nightcrawlers along muddy, sloping banks. The lake dropped from 62 to 58 percent.
McSWAIN LAKE: The focus has transitioned at this lake to primarily a recreational water park as trout plants have been limited. Intermittent holdover rainbow trout are possible in the early mornings or late evenings off of the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks, or the peninsula near the marina with trout dough bait or inflated nightcrawlers, but the lack of trout plants has affected fishing action.
NEW HOGAN: The lake is extremely crowded on weekends, resulting in the Army Corps of Engineers temporarily closing the Wrinkle Cove Day Use Area. This recreation area will be open to walk-in traffic only with visitors using designated parking spots outside of the Wrinkle Cove Day Use Gate. All other day use area at the lake remain open. The lake dropped to 52 percent.
NEW MELONES: Kokanee remains either feast or famine, but experienced trollers working near the bottom with Apex or J-Pex lures behind a big gold dodger are scoring solid numbers of kokanee to 18 inches. John Liechty of Xperience Bass Fishing Guide Service said, “We have been primarily using finesse techniques such as plastics on a Ned-rig, shakey head, or drop-shot as the bass are loading up on crawdads. The Zoom Z-Craw on a 3/16-ounce shakey head in crawdad pattern is a good option as the bass are working over the crawdads. If you feel the line stop or start swimming away, it is time to set the hook as the bass will swim away from others before spitting out and softening up the crawdads. The bass are shallow from 15 to 25 feet, and with the water turning off-color, it is important to use some contrast. Plastics in green pumpkin with a gold flake are also effective as the water is turning a greenish tinge, particularly in the river arm. There might be a swimbait, crankbait, and topwater bite on occasion, but we have been focusing upon finesse techniques for the most action. The bass are holding on straight vertical walls or steep banks, but they are also on long tapers and over the island tops.” The lake dropped from 70 to 69 percent.
NORTH BAY LAKES: Walk-in fishing is allowed at Lagunitas Creek, Alpine Lakes, Kent Lake, Bon Tempe Reservoir, Nicasio Reservoir, and Soulajule Reservoir, all managed by the Marin Municipal Water District. The parking lots are closed.
LAKE OROVILLE: Jamey Sorensen of North Valley Tackle in Oroville relayed an interesting report from the local River2Sea rep, who found great success on the Tactical Bassing edition of the company’s deep diving crankbait, catching a reported 67 bass. Sorensen said it was a surprise, as most anglers this time of year throw finesse baits on the shore to 30 feet or deeper – the bigger bass lurk lower in the water column.
PARDEE LAKE: The kokanee remain thick for experienced trollers working off the mouth of the river arm into the south end at depths from 55 to 70 feet, and green Apex or J-Pex lures behind a gold dodger are working. The kokanee remain small, but they are plentiful as early limits are the rule for those in the know. A short leader is most effective to gain the most movement. Trout plants continue with 1000 pounds of Mt. Lassen rainbow trout released this week, and Speedy Shiners on a fast-troll in the south end are producing mixed limits of rainbow and Lightning trout. Gate hours are 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The lake held at 99 percent.
PYRAMID LAKE: Still closed to non-tribal members through October 21, 2020.
QUARRY LAKES: Walk-in fishing is allowed.
RANCHO SECO LAKE: The recreation area is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Trout fishing is slow.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Dunsmuir: Trout fishing has improved above Shasta Lake. Flows were down to 220 cfs over the weekend.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding to Red Bluff: The Barge Hole opens to salmon fishing Saturday. Fishing is expected to be good for anglers running T55 FlatFish with sardine wraps. Flows from Keswick Dam are 11,700 cfs. Fishing is now closed above the Highway 44 bridge. Wild rainbows are feasting on daily bug hatches, and also hitting roe or crickets in the Anderson area. Anglers are reporting trout from 16 to 23 inches, with the best action early in the day.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff to Colusa: Guides are reporting one to three salmon a day on FlatFish plugs between Red Bluff and Woodson Bridge. Schools of salmon are trickling through, but the best fishing won’t happen until later in August and September as the main fall run moves through.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Verona to Colusa: Salmon fishing is slow. A few keeper stripers and lots of shakers are being caught near Verona. Fishing for catfish is very good at night near Knights Landing.
SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento: Salmon fishing is slow. Heavy pressure and just a few kings trickling through are moving fishing tough. The best bet is trolling Silvertron spinners. Expect more salmon to move in from the ocean by mid-August.
SAN PABLO RESERVOIR: The lake was planted with catfish twice last week, along with lightning trout from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms. Fishing is good for both, along with crappie and bluegill. A 17-pound catfish was caught last week.
SHADOW CLIFFS RESERVOIR: Walk-in fishing is allowed.
LAKE SHASTA: There’s still an all-methods bass bite at Shasta according to John Boitano of Phil’s Propeller (and tackle shop). The reaction bite is still going, best early, and spinnerbaits are beating out cranks. Smaller swimbaits are also working well on points and shallow flats, and of course on the extensive mud line. The lake elevation is falling quickly. Finesse anglers will do well with all manner of plastics including Roboworms, Senkos, Zmans, Hula Grubs and 6-inch worms from the shore down to 30, 35 feet. Trout and landlocked kings are deep, approximately 100 feet. Mid-arm where shad are busting, topwaters are working.
SOUTH BAY LAKES: Boating is allowed at Calero and Coyote. Bass fishing is fair at Anderson and Coyote lakes, where water levels are now low and warm. Anderson Lake is being drained for dam work. Catfish and a few crappie are being caught at Chebro and Uvas lakes. Anderson Lake is 28-percent full. Coyote is 47-percent full. Calero is 43-percent full, while Chebro is 45-percent and Uvas is 61-percent full.
LAKE TAHOE: When reached on Sunday, Zach Gordon of Tahoe Sportfishing was slaying the kokanee salmon on the South Shore at 60 to 80 feet. It’s just getting better for these small landlocked salmon. Gordon said he was trolling flasher setups from Al Wilson Tahoe Trolling Company. Tougher Mackinaw fishing in the North Shore area, with small bite windows but the fish are bonus sized if they bite.
THERMALITO AFTERBAY: The informal Tuesday North Valley Tackle Bass-Off enjoyed good weather, good times, and good fun! Ten-year-old Ian Stewart was the champ with a beautiful 21 ½-inch largemouth bass. Kirby Faulkner came in second with an 18-inch largemouth fish.
TRINITY LAKE: John Boitano of Phil’s Propeller said the bass are biting on finesse baits but sadly there’s little in the way of a reaction bite. Plastics effective to 35 feet on points and rocky shorelines. Bass size ranges from 10 inches to 4 pounders, with the former common and the latter fewer and farther between.
TRINITY RIVER: Spring salmon fishing is slow because of low water, moss and hot weather. Flows at Lewiston are 450 cfs, while flows at Douglas City are 467 cfs and flows at Junction City are 565 cfs. Flows at Hoopa are 747 cfs, with a water temperature of 76 degrees.
WEST WALKER RIVER: Fishing is good for trophy trout as the “How Big is Big?” free fishing derby winds down. It ends July 31. Fish weighed at the Walker General Store were 5s and 6s, and caught largely on nightcrawlers and Rapalas.
WHISKEYTOWN: Kokanee here are down to 70 feet according to John Boitano of Phil’s Propeller, on smaller baits such as wedding rings and hoochies in oranges and pinks with a little Fire Corn sweetener. The bass are biting down to 25 feet, mostly on finesse baits such as Senkos, Zmans and Hula Grubs. Topwater late evening and early morning. The same goes for deep diving crankbaits on rocky points.
Cencal Lakes
BASS LAKE: Recreational boating remains very high, but Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing has been finding good action for the occasional large kokanee over 18 inches along with quality rainbow trout running the pink or blue Radical Glow Tube behind a purple Moonshine dodger at depths to 35 feet. Rainbow trout in the 15 to 17-inch range are possible, and the Mag spinner hoochie has been an effective option. With the boat traffic and the Sheriff’s Motor Fee enforced, few bass fishermen are launching boats. With the warmer water, the weed growth is forming. A webcam of the lake is available at basslakeca.com. The lake is at 95 percent.
COURTRIGHT: Kelly Brewer of the Wishon Village RV Park and Store reported a trout plant occurred this week, and trollers are finding quality rainbows and brown trout at depths to 30 feet with Wedding Rings tipped with a piece of crawler behind a dodger, blade/’crawler combinations, or Rapalas. With the plant, bank fishing is solid with trout dough bait or inflated night crawlers along both side of the dam. The lake is 10 feet from spilling, and boats are easily launched.
EASTMAN: The largemouth bass bite has improved with big plastic worms from 7 to 10 inches over the rockpiles or submerged island tops. Power Worms in black/red flake or blue/red flake have been effective along with big jigs for numbers of largemouth bass in the 2-pound range. The winning 4-fish limit for the River Rats recent night tournament was only 10 pounds, less than the normal standard for this lake as the big fish have been primarily on hiatus. The lake dropped from 29 to 26 percent.
HENSLEY: The lake has dropped to only 20 percent, and the low water levels are a deterrent for those with larger bass boats. Kayak fishermen have been scoring with reaction lures such as the Strike King XD10 or Mega Bass 7.5 deep-diving crankbaits in craw patterns at depths from 25 to 30 feet over rockpiles. The dam area has not been productive.
HUNTINGTON: A smaller grade of trout and kokanee remains available for trollers working from the north shore with orange/green or pink/green spinners along with hoochies in pink/white with a purple stripe or pink/green at depths to 40 feet. The lake is at 98 percent.
MILLERTON: Jake Figgs of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported finesse techniques remain the best option, particularly in the river arm as the main lake has been very slow. The river arm around Finegold Creek has been the top area at depths to 15 feet for those dragging wacky-rigged Senkos or Strike King’s Fat Finesse worms on the bottom. The reaction bite remains slow as the fish are suspended with the dropping water levels. The lake dropped from 61 to 58 percent. Park hours are 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and boats can remain on the water after 8:00 p.m., but navigation lights and the 5MPH speed limit are required after dark.”
O’NEILL FOREBAY: Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported good action with cut baits such as anchovies along with pile worms for undersized striped bass. A few linesides are taken on Zoom Magnum Flukes or topwater lures. The moving water near the Highway 152 Bridge or Check 12 remain the top locations.
PINE FLAT: Jake Figgs of Valley Rod and Gun reported a finesse bite in the main lake near the day with plastics on a Neko-rig in watermelon/red or watermelon/greenpumpkin. He said, “Anglers are observing the suspended bass are dropping down on them with light weights, and they are biting on the drop. There is also a topwater bit in the early mornings or late afternoons with the River2Sea Whopper Plopper in Powder White. In the river, the bass are oriented into the submerged willow tries, and similar finesse techniques are effective in the shallows around structure. The lower Kings is running high with the water releases and may be unfishable. The lake dropped from 47 to 40 percent.
SAN LUIS: Roger George of Roger George Guide Service, the only licensed guide on the lake, said, “Striper fishing at San Luis is finally picking up due in part to the recent stable water levels at about 48% of capacity . The water levels had fallen for the last couple months so having some stability is turning things around with the fish moving back into areas like Portuguese Cove as well as putting the fish up shallower where shore anglers are scoring limits on bait and shrimp from the lake points. Trollers are scoring limits of school fish to 24 inches working the Portuguese Cove channel at the 40-foot level with Lucky Craft Pointers or P-Line Predator Minnows all the way back into Lone Oak. We picked up nine stripers to nearly 10 pounds trolling at 40 to 60-feet with shad-patterned Lucky Crafts. I was surprised by the size and condition of the fish. The water temperature is between 72 and 74 degrees depending on the weather and wind, and the wind has pretty much mixed up the algae into the water leaving visibility somewhere in the couple of feet range. There have been several reports of over limits and undersized striped being removed from the lake.” The lake held at 48 percent.
SHAVER: The kokanee bite has become more challenging, but guides continue to score mixed limits working the triangle from the Shaver Lake Marina to the Point to the island at depths to 60 feet with a variety of gear in pinks, purples, blues, or orange. Trout fishing is decent with the occasional trophy to 22 inches taken on kokanee gear. Smallmouth bass are abundant in the rocks, but the larger bass are hard to find. Recreational boat traffic is extremely heavy on the weekends. The lake rose to 88 percent.
WISHON: Kelly Brewer of the Wishon Village RV Park and Store reported a trout plant spurred on the action for both trollers and banks fishermen, and the quality of the plant was exceptional with large rainbows landed this week. Trollers are working from the surface to 30 feet with blade/’crawler combinations, Rapalas, or Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler behind a dodger. The lake rose 10 feet this week as power generation is occurring with the water run back and forth from Courtright to Wishon through the Helms Tunnel. Shore fishing has improved at the mouth of Short Hair Creek, the boat launch, the dam, and across the lake at the inlet. The boat launch is back on the concrete with the lake rising.
Delta
DELTA, Sacramento Side: The river salmon season showed some glimpses of life with the very occasional chrome-bright salmon taken from the Freeport shoreline with Mepp’s Flying C’s or the new Silvertron Rocket casting spinner. Trolling has produced a few salmon on Slammer or Silvertron spinners. Undersized striped bass are abundant with cut baits, pile worms, or blood worms, but the larger, legal stripers have been scarce. The minus tides slowed down the action for trollers this past week, but the tides are far more favorable this week. Punching the weeds with Missile’s Craw Father on a 1.5-ounce tungsten weight is producing largemouth bass while smallmouth bass are holding along the rocky banks along with Sacramento River with Robo Worms on the drop-shot, live crawdads, or deep-diving crankbaits. Catfish are found in the sloughs in the Sacramento River both above and below Freeport with chicken livers or nightcrawlers.
DELTA, San Joaquin side: The first of two specialty topwater lure tournaments took place this weekend out of Russo’s Marina with the Ultimate Frog Challenge 5 featuring only hollow body frogs. The cool weather along with wind limited the frog action, and a punch tournament would have been more appropriate as the overall weights were limited due to the conditions. The weights should improve at this coming weekend’s first annual ‘Delta Blow Up’ hosted by the Best Bass Tournaments featuring any time of topwater lure by any manufacturer. The variety of lures should add to the totals. The striped bass bite also slowed down for trollers with the minus tides as the floating and submerged grass made conditions impossible. In the south Delta sloughs, bluegill, red ear perch, catfish, or barely-legal striped bass are available for those soaking a variety of baits from the access areas along Eight Mile Road, Whiskey Slough, or Bacon Island.
North Saltwater
EUREKA: The Pacific halibut bite was epic and the good fishing has lasted for 3 months now, according to WON Field Reporter Lonnie Dollarhide. Boats like Sea Weasel II and Reel Steel limited out by mid-morning, allowing an opportunity to search for salmon which by the weekend had moved inshore south of Eureka. California halibut bit for skiff and kayak fishers who scored about two fish per rod. Shellback fished reefs 20 miles north of Trinidad all week for limits of lingcod and limits of rockfish.
FORT BRAGG: Good salmon fishing occurred off Albion with fish in the teens and twenties. Runs up near Mendocino meant sure-fire limits of rockfish to 7.2 pounds plus some large lingcod for passengers aboard Sea Hawk. The big excitement for the week was early when a weather window allowed offshore exploration and albacore of 15 to 20 pounds were hooked 35 to 45 miles out, above Noyo Canyon.
BODEGA BAY: Salmon and rockfish were within a short run of Bodega Bay Harbor, so boats like New Sea Angler made 20-minute runs out, caught limits of salmon, visited nearby reef zones for limits of rockfish and a few lingcod. The boat was back to dock by noon over the weekend with limits of salmon and rockfish. Tomales Bay halibut wanted to play, so live bait drifters and bounce-ballers made catches near the Bay entrance and at Hog Island.
SAN PABLO BAY: Shore and skiff anglers made lots of catches of halibut and striped bass at Loch Lomond Marina and near the Marin Rod & Reel Club Pier. Boats from SPB ran down to fish halibut in Central Bay or try for salmon outside the Gate. Vallejo Waterfront fishers connected with numerous stripers and a couple sturgeon using ghost and grass shrimp baits.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY: The salmon fleet of San Francisco Bay had scores from just under a fish per rod, up to full limits. Most fish were taken from the Marin Coast to Point Reyes, but the biggest units (to over 30 pounds) were caught off Double Point. Successful boats included Salty Lady, New Rayann, Outer Limits, Lovely Martha, Bass Tub, New El Dorado III, El Dorado, New Easy Rider and C Gull II. Rockfish trips on Bass Tub, Sea Wolf and others resulted in reliable limits. Halibut boats like California Dawn, Pacific Dream and Happy Hooker scored better than a halibut per rod plus striped bass.
HALF MOON BAY: Pedro Point showed salmon sign like whales, birds and bait, but only a handful of salmon catches. Queen of Hearts put aboard a 24 pounder in the vicinity. The boat focused primarily on rockfish and lingcod down the coast. Huli Cat had the same game plan with runs to Pescador for high counts of rockfish and lingcod to 12 pounds from shallow water between 60 and 100 feet. Surf perch and striped bass bit for surf casters from Linda Mar to Mussel Rock.
CenCal Saltwater
MONTEREY: A few salmon were caught by the Monterey party boat fleet and by private boaters. Most party boats like Chubasco, Star of Monterey, New Horizon and Checkmate fished rockfish between Cypress Point and Point Sur. Private boaters paid attention to the halibut potential nearshore, from Marina State Beach to Moss Landing. Surf fishers south of town near Pacific Grove caught rockfish, cabezon and perch. North of town beach fishers got surf perch and striped bass.
SANTA CRUZ: Santa Cruz party and charter boats ran up the coast to fish the reef zones off Davenport. Miss Beth went farther up and fished Franklin Point for bigger average fish. Charter boat Sentinel and some private boats ran offshore in search of bluefin and found some 70 to 80 pounders 15 to 20 miles out in the Canyon. Local skiff fishers enjoyed some great catches of halibut between Santa Cruz Harbor and Capitola.
MOSS LANDING: Trips to Point Sur aboard Kahuna were rockfish and lingcod producers. Limits of rockfish were a certainty and there were yellow tail rockfish to 7 pounds. Some hefty lingcod came up, some with teeth planted firmly into rockfish. Kahuna made an early-week salmon run but it was a day the salmon did not want to eat and only a few fish were hooked. Local skiff fishers drifted or bounce-balled inshore for good halibut catches.
