(Berkeley) All in all, fishing is excellent as far as East Bay saltwater anglers are concerned. Outside the Golden Gate the lingcod and rockfish action is red hot. Inside anglers drifting with live anchovies and live mackerel are rounding up some impressive halibut.
As of press time there was no word when the delayed crab season would get underway, but most folks expect the season to kick off in the next three weeks or so.
Out of the Berkeley Marina, relief skipper Captain Chris Smith of California Dawn Sportfishing has been making regular runs out the Farallon Islands. Limits and near limits of lingcod and limits of rockfish have been the rule on these live bait adventures.
On one recent trip an angler hooked a mako shark and fought the fish for an extended period of time. Ultimately the fish was lost near the boat as Chris and crew prepared to gaff it.
Out of Emeryville the story is much the same with both the Sea Wolf and New Huck Finn making regular forays out to the island. Heavy sacks have been the result. Limits of rockfish are a daily occurrence, while lingcod scores range from a fish per rod to near limits.
For example, on a recent trip the New Huck Finn racked up 27 limits of rockfish and added 67 lings to 18 pounds.
An exciting shot of late season halibut action is taking place at Angel Island. Drifters and trollers are both hooking fish. Mackerel has been the best bait, since there is a huge abundance of mackerel both inside and outside the bay.
Most of the halibut being caught average about 10 pounds, but fish to 35 pounds have been reported.