A new year for fishing

As of today, Jan. 1, 2021, all of us who want to go fishing in California need to purchase a 2021 fishing license at You can also purchase them at Brocco’s Old Barn, the feed store on Arnold Drive, or online at ca.wildlifelicense.com/InternetSales. The cost of an annual license is $52.66. There is also an auto-renewal option available.

One-day licenses are $17, so it doesn’t take more than a long weekend to call the annual license a bargain.

Although the commercial season for Dungeness crab opened a week ago, fishermen and buyers were still fighting over the price, which is why you didn’t see any fresh crab in local markets.

You can still catch them yourself though, because the sports season remains open and the fishing for them has been outstanding. Capt. Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sportsfishing, 975-3344, whose party boat takes anglers out for crab, will continue to offer sports crab fishing tips, even though the season for rockfish and lingcod is now closed.

Rick’s crab-only trips are only $150 per angler and for that you are likely to bring home 10 fresh and tasty Dungeness crab for yourself and your family.

Striped bass fishing is still open in San Francisco Bay, the Napa River, mouth of Sonoma Creek and other bay waters. Sturgeon fishing is also open now, and should improve in the bay once we get more rain.

The best action will be in the ‘Sturgeon Triangle,” in the northern part of San Pablo Bay bounded by China Camp, Buoy 5, and the Pump House. The best resource for bay fishing is Keith Fraser, of the Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael.

Keith’s shop carries the best selection (sometimes the only selection) of live bait in the North Bay. He is also the best person to ask about where and when to fish. Call Keith at (415) 456-0321.

Fly-fishers can look forward to continued action in 2021, the closest being in the Napa River with Capt. Patrick MacKenzie, who guides on the bay and Napa River. Call Patrick at (707) 721-6700.

Fly-fishing for rainbow trout on the Sacramento River between Redding and Anderson is excellent during the winter months and there are a number of guides who work that area, including Kirk Portocarrero, www.sacriverguide.com,. and Another Carreuesco, actflyfishing.com.

Capt. Hogan Brown also guides on the Sac, and has special access to the lower Yuba River, which offers excellent winter trout action for fly-fishers. For more information, go to his website at hgbflyfishing.com.

It is definitely time to also book a steelhead trip on the Rogue River with Jim Andras of Andras Outfitters. Jim’s trips fill up early so you need to get on his schedule now. Go to Andrasoutfitters.com.