By: The Fish Sniffer Staff November 18, 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
Just when everybody thought that albacore fishing was pretty much over for the season the tuna showed up 35 miles from Morro Rock on Friday, November 12.

"Captain Michele Rowley and four crew members picked up 16 albacore and 1 bluefin tuna," said June Davis at Virg's Landing. "The fish weighed 28 to 44 pounds, with an average weigh of 35 pounds. Matthew Lyon of Morro Bay landed the 44 pounder."

The anglers bagged the albacore on bait and the bluefin while trolling. The water temperature at the fishing grounds was 61 degrees, noted Davis.

Rockfish action continues to be great on "long range" 10 hour trips to Cape San Martin and daily 3/4 day trips to local reefs. The week's 156 passengers caught a total of 16 albacore, 1 bluefin, 545 red rockcod, 918 assorted rockfish, 1 sheephead, 13 ocean whitefish and 6 cabezon.

Big bottomfish honors go to Ernie Glenn of Santa Maria, who nailed a 17 pound sheephead on the Admiral. Matt Fidelbus of Fresno also landed a 10 pound halibut aboard the Princess, according to Davis.

MONTEREY
Foot traffic has been light in Monterey Bay, is spite of the great crab and sanddab fishing now available.

For example, over the last week, anglers fishing out of Chris Fishing Trips have been averaging five Dungeness crab per person. "Anglers are also taking home between 50 and 70 sanddabs each," noted Todd Arcoleo from Chris' Fishing Trips.

Anglers can load up crab from pots placed out in front of the harbor, while sanddabs are taken along local beaches, added Arcoleo. The sanddabs are falling for squid strips and other baits.

With Coast Guard inspections now over with, the crew from Randy's Fishing Trips is on vacation and will begin running crab and dab combos around Thanksgiving.

SANTA CRUZ
The Santa Cruz Harbor closed on November 9 and won't reopen until construction work to refurbish the ramp is completed in 2005. The harbor is expected to be out of commission for four months, according to Bill Roberts of Shamrock Charters.

Anglers wanting to launch a private boat 18 feet or under can use the hoist launch at Santa Cruz Boat Rentals or Capitola Bait in the meantime. Others will have to launch their boats at Moss Landing or Monterey.

Since the closure of rockfish season on October 31, fishing pressure has been very light out of Capitola and Santa Cruz. The crab fishing has been good for the anglers who worked near 4 Mile Beach in 240 feet of water and near Davenport in 200 feet of water before the harbor closed, reported Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine.

Virtually nobody has been fishing for sanddabs and the few anglers looking for white seabass are not reporting any success.

The biggest local news is a huge barred perch, estimated to be around 6 pounds, that was taken by a novice angler fishing off the Capitola Wharf, reported Anna Christian at Capitola Boat & Bait. Another angler nailed a 3 pound red tail perch while soaking shrimp off the pier. Jacksmelt are also grabbing pileworms and cut bait off the wharf.

HALF MOON BAY
With not much else to do now that rockcod and salmon seasons are closed, Captain Tom Mattusch of Hulicat Sportfishing is offering trips to pick mussels from local spots south of the harbor.

"I took a light load to pick mussels and everyone really enjoyed themselves," noted Mattusch. "The key to doing this trip is having a minus tide so that we can walk along the sea floor and pick up these tasty shellfish as we go."

Also, Mattusch is now booking crab and sanddab combo trips that will begin after Thanksgiving. "I'm putting a hydraulic lift on my boat for lifting crab pots and should be running within two weeks," he said. On these trips, anglers also catch flounder and halibut.

Anglers should look forward to improving perch fishing along the beaches of the San Mateo Coast in the coming weeks. Good perch prospects include Thornton Beach, the Pacifica Pier, Rockaway Beach, Linda Mar Beach and the Half Moon Bay State Beaches.

EMERYVILLE
Salmon boats fishing out of Emeryville Sport Fishing Center ran into tough fishing on the final day of the season, November 14.

Emeryville boats came in on Sunday, November 14, with between zero and two fish a boat, according to Craig Stone of Emeryville Sport Fishing Center.

"The C-Gull II, Rapid Transit and Dandy trolled near Duxbury for the final day of the salmon season," he said.

Emeryville is now switching gears to run Dungeness crab/sanddab combo trips for $75 per angler. The trips leave at 6 am and come back around 3 pm. Sanddabs and crabs are two of the tastiest delicacies to be found on the Pacific coast.

BERKELEY
Berkeley anglers wrapped up the salmon season with tough fishing on Sunday, November 14, with the top boat scoring one fish per rod. Anglers are now switching gears to catch light tackle sanddabs and traps full of Dungeness crab.

On Sunday, November 14, the New Easy Rider made the run out to Duxbury to capture three fish to 25 pounds. "Yesterday, the Silver Fox with Captain Chris Duba was the top boat, scoring three fish for three guys to 17 pounds," noted Chris Nelson at Berkeley Marina Sports Center.

On a prior trip to Duxbury, Duba and four clients trolled anchovies at 75 feet deep about one mile outside of Duxbury and caught five king salmon to 27 pounds. Duba is now booking trips out of Berkeley for sturgeon and striped bass.

The center is now booking trips for Dungeness crab and sanddabs aboard the New Goldeneye. "The New Goldeneye ran today with 41 people and caught limits of crab (6 crab each) and 1230 sanddabs," he said. "Some flounder and halibut have also been caught."

Another good bet now is casting pile worms or shrimp off the Berkeley Pier for rubber lip and walleye surfperch. "Target areas with rocks," Nelson tipped.

SAN RAFAEL
Striped bass fishing is "very" good for boaters using a variety of methods on San Pablo Bay, said Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Live Bait and Tackle.

Bob Van Gren of San Ignacio and Kelly O'Ward caught and released 8 striped bass to 12 pounds and one shaker sturgeon on Saturday, November 13. On the following day, the angling duo caught and released 9 bass to 10 pounds and 2 sevengill sharks.

"They anchor fished with ghost and grass shrimp combos north of the Pumphouse in 10 to 12 feet of water," said Fraser.

The Predator also had a good day of anchor fishing on November 13. The 8 anglers nailed 12 stripers to 12 pounds while fishing grass shrimp and bullheads in 10 to 15 feet of water at the Pumphouse.

"Drifting and trolling is still productive at the Marin Islands," added Fraser. "I took two shiner patrol boys fishing with me at the islands this week and they caught and released limits of bass in the 22 to 24 inch class."

MARTINEZ
The bass and sturgeon bite is heating up in San Pablo Bay, with anglers scoring one fish per rod to limits of stripers and 1-3 keeper sturgeon per outing.

For example, Captain Jim Smith of Mr. Bass Sportfishing ran the charter boat Happy Hooker to Carquinez Strait on Saturday, November 13 to catch 15 bass for 13 passengers. "We fished live bait," noted Smith.

On Sunday, Jim took a light load to fish for sturgeon around the Big Cut and landed three legal sturgeon to 75 pounds. "All of the fish were caught soaking roe," he added.

During previous week, Captain James Smith of California Dawn Sportfishing filled in for Jim and ran the Happy Hooker to Point Pinole for limits of striped bass to 15 pounds for 17 anglers. Later in the week, James again ran the Happy Hooker to fish for bass at the Sisters and caught 34 bass for 22 anglers.

In between running the Happy Hooker, James took the Cal-Dawn out for bass and limited out for 17 passengers. James followed up that trip by landing three keeper sturgeon to 71 inches while fishing in Big Cut.

BODEGA BAY
Since the opening of crab season on November 6, private boaters and charter boat anglers have caught limits every day, according to Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sportfishing. The bag limit is 10 crab per person for private boats and 6 crab per person for charter boats.

"The first week of crab season produced limits in the outer bay," said Powers. "Although private boaters are still getting plenty of crabs in the outer bay, boaters are now going up the coast between Salmon Creek and the mouth of the Russian River."

The Sandy Ann has returned with full limits every day on both its morning and afternoon trips. They are taking the crabs in 60 to 180 feet of water, noted Powers. The trips leave at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, perch fishing is improving around the local docks. Powers recommended using shrimp and pileworms for the light tackle battlers.

FORT BRAGG
Private boaters and party boat anglers are gearing up for the opening of crab season on November 27. Rick Thornton of Anchor Charters, Randy Thornton of Telstar Charters and the Noyo Fishing Center will begin crab-only charters when the season opens.

Meanwhile, anglers will have to settle for shore fishing for rockfish or boat fishing for sanddabs.

"Shore fishing and spear fishing for rockfish will remain open through December 31," said Jim Martin, author of "How to Fish the Mendocino Coast."

"The best places to fish for rockfish from shore are areas with access to deep water, such as Mussel Rock."

Anglers should use surf leaders with two hooks and tobacco bag sinkers. A variety of baits, including squid strips, anchovies and shrimp, will work.

For tasty sanddabs, Martin recommended fishing squid strips and other baits in 180 feet of water off Pudding Creek, right in front of the "Green Can."