Striped bass action fantastic everywhere

Bill Lynch’s fishing column, Dec. 1|

Now is the time to fish for striped bass in San Francisco and San Pablo Bay. Keith Fraser, at Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael, said the fishing is fantastic, particularly when the tides are right, which will be this weekend.

The best action right now is near the Pump House where anglers fishing from boats with live shrimp, mud suckers and pile worms are catching lots of bass to 25 pounds.

There is also lots of action drifting live bait near Red Rock, the Sisters and in Raccoon Straights.

Keith added that this weekend’s tides should also greatly increase the sturgeon bite, which is just starting to come around.

If you don’t have a boat, Keith can book you a spot on Captain Trent Slate’s party boat, “Bite Me” for Bay fishing. If you prefer fishing from shore, then head for China Camp or McNears Beach Park in Marin County east of the Marin Civic Center.

Call Keith at 415-456-0321. He also offers gift certificates for your favorite angler, including certificates for tackle, bait and even a day’s fishing on the Bay.

Over in Bodega Bay, anglers on Capt. Rick Powers’ party boat, “New Sea Angler,” are coming home from every trip with big smiles and bigger ice chests full of rock cod, lingcod and Dungeness crab. Rick says the fishing has been outstanding and he is booking all the way to Christmas Eve. Call him at 875-3344.

If you want a unique gift for your favorite angler, Rick offers $130 gift certificates good for a full day’s fishing trip with him out of Bodega Bay.

If you have a child or grandchild who is a real fishing nut, I suggest a gift certificate for Camp Fly Fish, a five-day, fishing day camp near Ashland, Oregon, offered by my friends Rachel and Jim Andras of Andras Outfitting.

The camp, which takes place in June after school is out, costs $375.

If this camp existed when I was a kid, it would have been at the top of my Santa’s gift list every year.

Most of the details about what is included can be found at andrasoutfitters.com.

Many years ago, I visited Rachel while she was teaching one of the early kid’s fish camps. Those kids were in heaven, having lots of fun and learning about the outdoors, bugs and fishing.

Rachel can also arrange for family accommodations in Ashland, so that the parents or grandparents can enjoy the Shakespeare Festival, shopping and fine restaurants it offers.

In addition to the kids’ camp, your favorite adult angler would love a day’s guided trip with Jim Andras, fishing for steelhead on the Rogue River. A full day on the river for two anglers is $450.

Finally, Rachel offers fly-casting lessons for $75 per person for a 1-1/2-hour lesson.

Check out the andrasoutfitters.com website or call Rachel at 530-227-4837.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.