Email  Print

Ocean and Bay fishing improve

Fishing and hunting

 

Capt. Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sportfishing managed to find a soft spot between two big storms this week to make one very productive dungeness crab trip with 30 anglers on board, and found limits for all 30 in less than two hours and got back to the dock before the next big blow.

Other than that, most boats stayed home this week, but Rick said that improving weather means he has trips scheduled for today (Friday) through Monday, Dec. 31, for anglers wanting to go after crabs and rock fish. The rock and lingcod season runs through December 31, so this is your last shot for a while.

Rick will also start hunting giant squid after Jan. 1. Call him at 875-3344.

Keith Fraser had a few hardy souls go out on Christmas Eve and one found the fish ready to party near the Pump House. He caught the limit of striped bass and hooked seven sturgeon, three of which were over the size limit and one of which he estimated to weigh at least 200 pounds.

Keith said that the sturgeon and bass fishing from now through Monday should be excellent if the wind and weather permit anglers to get out. Keith books party boats for Bay fishing. Call him at 415-456-0321.

I've heard that there is a group of dedicated anglers still finding lots of sturgeon and bass action at the mouth of Sonoma Creek near the Highway 37 Bridge. The water is chocolate, but the fish are somehow finding the bait.

Fishing the Napa River and Petaluma River hasn’t been as easy with the added water. I saw no updated reports on local lakes and expect that they won’t be good for several more days. The same for most of the rivers. The runoff has to come down before the Trinity, Klamath and Sacramento rivers will be fishable, although I'm sure some folks will be out there this weekend.

Mark your calendars for the annual International Sportsman's Expo at the Cal Expo State Fairgrounds in Sacramento starting Thursday, Jan. 10, and running through Sunday, Jan. 13. Tickets are $15 for adults; while kids under 16 years of age get in free, and active military personnel also get in free. This is a great way to spend a day or two if you love fishing, hunting or camping. There are seminars, events, exhibits, outfitters, lodge operators and more. For more information, go to sports expos.com.