By: The Fish Sniffer Staff October 21, 2004 Last Issue Austin caught this bright 12lb King while fishing a Kwik Fish on the Sacramento River in the Freeport area with his Dad on October 18th. This was Austin's first Salmon and also was the first time he put dinner on the table! Judging by his reaction and smile I know I will have a fishing partner for a long time. Gobble Gobble, Brian Steck

MORRO BAY
While the rockfish season above Point Lopez closes on October 31, boats fishing out of Morro Bay and Avila Beach will be able to fish for rockfish through December 31. However, lingcod fishing will be closed in this area in November and December, according to June Davis at Virg's Landing.

"The rockfish action and the weather have both been great," revealed June Davis at Virg's Landing. "Anglers are catching limits and near-limits of rockfish in shallow water along the coast."

The week's 360 rockcod passengers caught 8 lingcod, 1217 red rockcod, 653 rockcod and 1,619 assorted rockfish. Adrian Van Doorn of Bakersfield and Dan Holtzman of Atascadero tied for this week's jackpot by each catching a 13 pound lingcod aboard the Admiral.

The long-range 10 hour trips to the Cape San Martin area are yielding the top action. The Admiral's long range trip on Friday, October 15 yielded 6 lingcod, 78 red rockcod, 32 rockcod and 150 assorted rockfish for 26 anglers.

The albacore fishing remains slow. "There is green water with algae out 113 miles and this has kept the albacore way off shore," said Davis. "Our last exploratory trip two weeks ago didn't produce any tuna."

MONTEREY
When the rockcod season closes for Monterey anglers on October 31, the fleet will be breaking out light tackle for sanddabs.

Anglers fishing out of Chris' Fishing Trips hauled in easy limits of assorted yellowtail and red rockfish during recent light tackle trips south of the harbor towards Point Sur in 100 feet of water. "Everyday this week has produced a boat limit of assorted rockfish and a few keeper lingcod per boat," noted Todd Arcoleo. Anglers are catching the school fish using shrimp flies, rubber Fish Traps and swim baits.

"We'll be offering dab/sandcrab combos aboard the Checkmate and Caroline around mid-November," he added.

"The rockcod are still on a great bite, with every trip producing limits of beautiful rockfish and 2-3 keeper lingcod as well," remarked Pete Bruno at Randy's Fishing Trips. "The lingcod we're keeping range from 12 to 20 pounds."

According to Bruno, the fleet is fishing outside of Carmel Bay and from the Highlands to Point Sur. "Mega Baits have been very effective for the bottomfish, but a few anglers continue to do well with squid and shrimp fly rigs," he offered.

SANTA CRUZ
Most anglers fishing Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz County are concentrating on rockcod and lingcod fishing now, since the season closes on October 31.

"The rockcod and lingcod fishing was decent for the anglers who worked the local reefs before the storm hit on Sunday," reported Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine. "The Mile Buoy area produced some nice rockcod and keeper lingcod in 75 to 90 feet of water. The anglers at South Rock caught near-limits of smaller rockfish in the morning."

The rain hit in the mid morning and the wind came after that. "It looks like it will be stormy for a few days," added Fraser.

Anglers fishing with Joe Stoops of Chartle Charters enjoyed solid rockfish action over the weekend of October 16-17.

"Our 6 anglers on Saturday boated 1/2 limits of quality vermilion rockfish to 7 pounds and 4 lingcod to 12 pounds," said Stoops. "We fished the reefs around the Lighthouse in 100' of water."

On Sunday, Stoops' 5 anglers boated 30+ vermilion and brown rockfish to 5 pounds and one 12 pound lingcod while fishing South Rock.

The 15 fishermen aboard the Sea Stag III caught limits of assorted rockcod and 2 legal lingcod on October 16. "We cancelled Sunday's trip because of bad weather," stated Captain Ken Stagnaro of Sea Stag Sportfishing. "We will have trips for rockcod daily through October 31 if we have good weather."

"We haven't been albacore fishing in over two weeks," said "Grandpa" Bob Schmidt at Shamrock Charters. "The rockcod fishing has been great when we get out. Anglers are catching limits of rockfish, along with some lingcod, while fishing shrimp flies and bars at Año Nuevo Island."

A groundswell has slowed down the halibut action over the past week, but that didn't stop Alfons Van Adrichem of Capitola Boat & Bait from nailing a 14 pound halibut on October 17. Adrichem bagged the big flattie wile using a live jacksmelt in 65 feet of water off Pleasure Point. On the same day, Dennis Hickey landed a 14 pound lingcod at Surfer's Reef

HALF MOON BAY
Most of the Half Moon Bay Fleet is focusing on rockcod and lingcod now, since the season ends on October 31.

Captain Yogi of Gravy Sport Fishing is currently running both the Gravy and Huli Cat for Captain Tom Mattusch while he is on a hunting trip. "If we have a small load of six or under, I run my boat. When we get a higher number of passengers, I run the Huli Cat to accommodate everyone," noted Yogi. In the past two trips out for rockfish, Yogi's passengers nailed limits of assorted rockfish and several lingcod.

"Were catching a mixture of vermilion rockcod to 7 pounds, blacks running 1-3 pounds, five pound browns and a few blues while using shrimp fly rigs with squid strips," he explained. The anglers are also releasing several dozen undersize lingcod.

Captain Yogi has experienced some of his better fishing off Montara near the lighthouse in 70-80 feet of water. "I've also been running down towards Pescadero for limits of rockcod," he added.

Anglers fishing out of Huck Finn Sportfishing returned with full limits of rockfish and several cabezon during recent bottom fishing trips south of the harbor down to Pigeon Point, according to Bill Beckett.

On Sunday, October 17, the five anglers aboard the Queen of Hearts caught their limits of rockfish and one keeper ling. Also, Ankeny Street checked in with 23 limits of assorted rockfish, 3 cabezon and 3 legal lingcod. On the following day, the six-pack boat Que Sera Sera returned with limits of rockfish.

SAN FRANCISCO
The San Quentin Flats are the hot spot for live bait drifters and trollers in search of striped bass.

Fifteen anglers drifting live bait aboard the Bass Tub on Sunday, October 17 bagged 12 stripers to 8 pounds. "The weather was good until the wind picked up and it started raining in the afternoon," reported Captain Erik Anfinson. Anfinson hasn't fished rockfish lately, but he said the bottomfish action remains very good at the Farallon Islands and the Marin County coast. Don Franklin, captain of the Soleman, returned with 6 limits of rockfish after fishing the Farallon Islands on Sunday, according to Anfinson.

Anfinson will keep live bait fishing out of Fishermen's Wharf as long as bait is available, probably through the end of October. After that, Anfinson will move his boat to Western Boat Shop in San Rafael for the fall/winter striped bass and sturgeon fishing season in San Pablo Bay.

SAN RAFAEL
Trolling for striped bass in San Pablo Bay has been very good on the small outdoing tides, in spite of blustery weather, according to Mike Andrews of Predator Sportfishing.

The 6 anglers fishing with Andrews on Sunday, October 17 landed 10 stripers to 9 pounds. They fooled the fish while trolling chartreuse worm tail jigs and blue/silver Rat-L-Traps in the Pumhouse area.

On Saturday, the 6 anglers fishing on the Predator bagged 6 stripers in the 6 to 12 pound range above the Pumphouse. "We also released a 44 inch sturgeon," added Andrews.

"I expect San Pablo Bay to turn over by mid-November, just like the water in lakes does every fall," observed Andrews. "The combination of north winds and big tides causes the warmer salt water on top to mix with the cooler fresh water on the bottom. When this happens, the anchovies move out of the bay and anchor fishing becomes the top method for catching bass."

Sturgeon fishing has been real tough. "You can see a lot of sturgeon jumping now, but the sharks and rays will usually take your bait before a sturgeon does," added Andrews.

Live bait drifting remains productive on San Pablo Bay. "Bill Nelson took four shiner patrol boys out trolling on October 17," stated Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Live Bait and Tackle. "They caught and released 20 bass to 7 pounds while fishing in the San Quentin Flats."

EMERYVILLE
Lingcod catches improved this week for light tackle anglers fishing with Emeryville Sportfishing. Anglers also brought in full limits of assorted rockfish.

"Throughout the week our boats returned with limits of rockcod and several lings per boat after fishing the islands," reported Rob Taylor with Emeryville Sportfishing. "Our best trip this week produced limits of rockfish and 17 lingcod for 21 people."

The salmon bite has been sporadic, with anglers boating anywhere from under a fish per rod to limits, he added. "Our boats are trolling anchovies at Duxbury Reef and Double Point for kings weighing up to 31 pounds," he stated.

On Saturday, October 16, the Captain Hook checked in with 160 rockfish and 4 lingcod to 16 pounds for 16 anglers, while the New Huck Finn reported back with limits of rockfish for 25 guys. The New Seeker weighed in limits of rockcod and 2 lingcod for 32 passengers.

The Rapid Transit finished the day off with 8 salmon for 9 anglers, while the New Salmon Queen checked in with 8 salmon for 15 passengers On Sunday, Captain Hook boated 1 halibut and 150 assorted rockfish for 15 guys. They also hauled in 4 keeper lingcod for their efforts. Also, the New Salmon Queen finished off the day with limits of rockcod for 18 anglers and 6 lingcod.

BERKELEY MARINA
n between moving the Happy Hooker from Berkeley Marina to Martinez, Captain Jim Smith of Mr. Bass Sportfishing has kept his clients catching limits of bass, a few halibut and limits of rockfish.

"My most recent trips out for rockfish resulted in limits each day while fishing the south side of Mussel Rock," noted Smith. "We also caught several halibut while drifting live anchovies."

Jim has also found good bass fishing near the Carquinez Bridge. For example, on a recent live bait drift, Jim and his 17 passengers scored limits of bass to 16 pounds and 5 halibut to 22 pounds. "We caught the jackpot-winning halibut at Elephant Rock, while Larry Nelson boated the big bass near the Bridge. "

Jim also caught fish in South Hampton and the Channel near Point Pinole. Smith is currently booking live bait trip for stripers, shark and sturgeon out of the Martinez Marina.

POINT SAN PABLO
Drifters and trolling working the San Francisco Bay from China Camp to San Quinton Flats reported limits through much of the week and weekend. A few rough days were hampered by fronts moving through.

On October 17 at 1 p.m., Captain Frank Miller of Fury Sportfishing was at the dock with limits of bass for 14 people (28 striped bass). "The bass were mostly schoolies, with the big fish going 8 pounds."

Miller caught the fish drifting live bait at San Quentin Flats in the San Francisco Bay.

On the previous day, Miller fished off China Camp to boat 5 stripers to 15 pounds. The bass were taken on live bait.

Earlier in the week, a light load of 6 anglers fishing in San Francisco Bay bagged one fish per rod.

"I also got into some seven gill cow sharks at Yellow Bluff in 150 feet of water," said Miller. "We caught five sharks to 64 pounds on squid."

I made a mistake on a recent report for Captain Miller on a contact number. The correct contact number for trip bookings is 800-499-6465.

RICHMOND
The sturgeon bite turned on in the backside of Grizzly Bay the past week. Anglers heading outside the Gates also found good action for salmon, rockfish and halibut.

On a night trip to Grizzly Bay for sturgeon, Captain John Badger of Barbarian Sportfishing and three passengers boated three keeper diamondbacks ranging from 50 pounds to 68 inches, 70 pounds. "We caught the fish on salmon roe in six feet of water and we had our limits within five hours of fishing," he noted.

John is currently booking trips for salmon until the season ends and is also offering sturgeon or striper trips out of Benicia.

"I also made a run to Duxbury for salmon with three guys on Friday, October 15," said Badger. "We caught three salmon and then ran to the islands for limits of assorted rockfish. We also stopped at the Berkeley Flats and picked up three halibut to 20 pounds."

BODEGA BAY
You don't have much time left to fish for rockfish and lingcod this year off the Sonoma County coast, since the rockfish season closes on October 31.

The New Sea Angler returned from a trip to Fort Ross on Sunday, October 17 with limits of rockfish and 8 legal lingcod Andy G. won the jackpot by nailing a 29 pound lingcod, according to Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sportfishing.

"Most of the rockfish were big vermilions, coppers and browns," noted Powers. "The anglers also bagged two cabezon to 10 pounds. We released 52 undersized lingcod."

Anglers caught most of the rockfish on shrimp flies, while the lingcod grabbed 8 ounce chrome bars, tipped with squid. The fish hit best in 70 feet of water.

Saturday's rockfish trip yielded 31 limits of rockfish and one legal lingcod. "Most of the fish were black and blue rockfish," explained Powers. Thursday's combo salmon/rockfish adventure produced 3 king salmon to 17 pounds, 3 lingcod to 18 pounds, 4 cabezon and limits of rockfish for 12 anglers. "We picked up the salmon trolling at the mouth of the river, while we nailed the bottom fish off Fort Ross," said Powers.

After the crab season opens in mid November, the Sandy Ann and Rumblefish will begin crab only trips on the weekends.

FORT BRAGG
"We took advantage of the calm weather before this year's first big storm to catch limits of rockfish off the coast," reported Rick Thornton of Anchor Charters.

The 23 anglers aboard the Trek II nailed limits of black, blue and red rockfish while fishing with Thornton on Saturday, October 16. They fished shrimp fly teasers and 6 ounce hex bars in 80 feet of water off Hardy Creek. The 18 anglers nailed near-limits of rockfish on October 17 while fishing the same area. "We also landed six keeper lingcod," said Thornton.

Anchor Charters will be available for crab fishing adventures when the season opens on Saturday, November 27.

"The salmon season is open through November 13 and we might give it a try before the season closes," added Thornton. "The water and bait conditions looked very good for salmon on our rockcod trip yesterday and we've released some salmon on bottomfish trips this week."

Randy Thornton of Telstar Charters has also experienced great rockcod action on his latest fishing adventures. The Telstar ended up with limits of big blues after fishing right next to the buoy on Saturday. "They landed limits in only two hours," said Thornton.