(East Bay) Crabbing is starting to wind down for East Bay anglers, but no one is complaining now that rockfish and lingcod season is underway.
Out of the Berkeley Marina, Captain James Smith of California Dawn Sportfishing enjoyed solid crab and halibut action over the weekend. On Saturday April 17, his 22 anglers scored limits of crab and added 4 halibut and a striper.
Smith confided that crabbing is now entering its final stages for East Bay anglers, but added that live bait is expected to be available any day now. Once live bait arrives, anglers can expect to see both halibut and striper scores ramp up.
Captain Chris Smith of Captain Hook Sportfishing has been spending much of his time running his brother’s boat, the California Dawn, but when he runs his own six pack boat, he has been doing very well while trolling for halibut.
For example, on April 15 Chris headed out with three anglers and they ended up just one halibut short of full limits.
In Emeryville, the New Huck Finn with Captain Jay at the wheel has been rounding up limits of crab and some very nice halibut. Like most skippers Jay is anxious for live bait to become available so that he can more efficiently target halibut.
The Sea Wolf started off the bottomfish season in style on April 17 with 23 limits of quality rockfish and 44 lingcod to 15 pounds. On the rockfish front, anglers had 3 to 5 vermilions per sack!
Emeryville’s New Salmon Queen headed out the same day and rounded up full limits of quality rockfish including an impressive tiger rockfish and added 15 lings to 11 pounds.