Fishing report, May 3-9: Porterville angler catches 31-inch brown trout at Shaver Lake
Compiled by California Outdoors Hall of Fame member Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake.
Photo gallery
Show off your success! Share your fish photos and videos with Bee readers. Please share only jpeg images and Mp4 video files. Include “Fishing Report” in the subject line and a full caption and email to sports@fresnobee.com
Best bets
Eastman and Pine flat cranking out good bass bites, Michael Crayne said. Don Pedro bass hitting and McClure crappie and bass active, Ryan Cook reported. New Melones kokanee and bass busy eating, Monte Smith said. Shaver trout action good, Dick Nichols reported. Delta bass, stripers and sturgeon hitting, Alan Fong said.
Roger’s remarks
Roger George’s column will return.
Roger George: rogergeorge8@protonmail.com , Rogergeorgeguideservice on Facebook and @StriperWars
Valley
Westside waterways
Striper 2 Catfish 2
Bill Sterling of Striperz Gone Wild said, “The California Aqueduct improved this week due to the hot weather, and the best technique has been to bait and wait for a bite with anchovies, sardines, or chicken liver. Fishing in the aqueduct south of the O’Neill Forebay has been somewhat easier due to the water movement slowing down to some degree. I was out two days this week for striped bass to 22 inches. The aqueduct north of the forebay has been flowing rapidly, making it very difficult to stay down, even with heavy weight. Jose Pena Sr. landed a limit of linesides in the evening, and Teddy Toaz of Merced picked up a 28-inch striper on a Zoom Fluke. If you are baiting and waiting, the east side of the aqueduct has been producing more fish as they seem to be moving to shallower parts of the aqueduct.”
In the south aqueduct in Kern County, catfishing is the best thing going with cut baits, chicken liver, or Triple S Dip Bait while largemouth bass are taken on Keitech swimbaits or jerkbaits. Cut baits or jumbo minnows are working for striped bass, but you have to find the schools.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 3 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
The parking lot remains filled with boat trailers at Eastman, particularly on the weekends, and boaters need to get to the lake early to find a spot. There were reportedly 180 kayaks on the lake during a weekend tournament, and the conditions have been crowded. Michael Crayne of Valley Rod & Gun in Clovis said, “There is a good topwater bite in the mornings along with swimbaits, and flipping in the brush piles in the afternoons with Brush Hogs or similar creature baits are working, as well. Jerkbaits have also been effective. The crappie are moving into the shallows, and they are holding in the brush.” Hensley remains slow, but carp are all over the shallows along with some small largemouth bass. Eastman rose 2 feet to 576.20 in elevation and 88% with Hensley also rising 3 feet to 520.08 in elevation and 68%.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255; Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 3 Trout 3 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 3
For bass, Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook’s Fishing said, “We have been finding some quality largemouth bass as the better fish are holding in the deeper water in the shallows. My client, Derek Allred, landed his personal-best largemouth at 8.13 pounds. We had a 24-pound limit this day, and we have been averaging limits in the 17-pound range. The bite has been the same as weightless 5-inch Senkos on a wacky-rig, stick baits, Lunker Daddy plastics on either the drop-shot or Carolina-rig or Baby Brush Hogs are all working at depths from 5 to 20 feet in the cuts.” For rainbow trout and kokanee, Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing said, “The bite has been getting tougher with the water releases, but it is reported that the reservoir will completely fill this summer. We are picking up a few small king salmon, several rainbow trout, and kokanee in the 11- to 13-inch range at depths from 40 to 50 feet. The water is warmer at Don Pedro than it is at New Melones for some reason, and the 54-degree water is found between 40 and 50 feet. The kokanee remain scattered, but it is still very early in the season for them to group up.” The lake dropped 10 feet to 789.29 in elevation and 76%. Debris removal has started in Moccasin Bay and in the Tuolumne River Arm, but boat launching is still permissible, but access to the main lake is closed from Moccasin. Boaters are advised to continue to use caution and be aware that there are workers removing the debris. Suntex Marinas will be working to reopen operations at the Moccasin Point Marina this summer.
Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Kyle Wise, Head Hunter Guide Service (209) 531- 3966; Ryan Cook, Ryan Cook’s Fishing (559) 691-7008
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass 2 Trout 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2
The lake rose 4 feet to 2,582.13 in elevation and 58% as snowmelt is flowing down from the upper Kern River even though the flows are relatively balanced at 5,932 cfs at Kernville with 5,532 cfs below the dam at First Point. A trout plant occurred last week, and spoons or blade/’crawler combinations are working for trollers around French Gulch. The crappie bite is picking up at depths from 10 to 20 feet with minijigs or live minnows while the bass bite is fair at best off of main or secondary points with 7- to 10-inch plastic worms, deep-diving crankbaits, or swimbaits in rainbow trout patterns. Catfishing is improving with Triple S Dip Bait, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, or live minnows. The 32nd annual Kern County Chamber of Commerce Trout Fishing Derby has been postponed from its April 1 start, and it will now occur from May 20 through June 4. Registration is $40/angler with youth at $15/angler, and there are 500 tagged trout worth between $20 and $10,000 and over $55,000 in cash and prizes. Registration and information at kernrivervalley.com/isabellalakefishingderby. Boaters are reminded to proceed with caution due to debris that’s gathered in the lake from the Upper Kern River. Three boat docks are back in service – South Fork Recreation, Old Isabella Road and Camp 9.
Trout fishing in the upper Kern River is on hold with the high water levels.
Call: Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812; Golden Trout Pack Station (559) 542-2816
Lake Kaweah
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake held steady, rising a foot to 634.60 in elevation and 22%. The stable water level will greatly assist the largemouth bass spawn, and the recent cold weather front will slow down the snowmelt arriving into the lake from the Kaweah River. A trout plant occurred a few weeks ago. The Kaweah River at Three Rivers went from 2,584 to 3,772 cfs.
Lake Success
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
Success rose 3 feet to 642.31 in elevation and 74%. The relatively stable water levels have assisted the spawn as the bass are in all stages of spawning with a large wave of fish expected on beds during the coming full moon. Bass action remains best with plastics on the drop-shot, Senkos, or twin-tailed Hula Grubs at depths from the banks to 25 feet. Crappie are taken on live minnows or minijgs near structure in the shallows.
Call: Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 3 Catfish 2
Ryan Cook of Ryan Cook’s Fishing said, “The shad spawn is happening, and there is a solid topwater bite along with flukes, spinnerbaits, or underspins with a ¼-ounce G-Money underspin with a 3.25- or 3.75-inch Strike King’s Rage Swimmer in shad patterns. Both sides of the lake are fishing well, and we have been averaging from 12 to 13 pounds per day which is a respectable McClure limit.” Crappie are found in the submerged brush in the shallows with minijigs or small Keitech swimbaits. The lake rose slightly to 803.52 feet in elevation and 63%.
Call: Ryan Cook, Ryan Cook’s Guide Service (559) 691-7008
McSwain Reservoir
Trout 2
The lake continues to spill over at 106%, and it is anticipated to remain high through August with all of the snowmelt coming down the Merced River through the Exchequer Dam at upstream Lake McClure. The water clarity is limited, and most bank anglers continue to struggle for a fish or two per trip.
Call: Angler’s Edge Market (209) 226-4416; McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 0 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
With the rapid drawdown of the lake, the bass are suspending off of the shorelines at depths from 15 to 20 feet. Michael Crayne of Valley Rod & Gun in Clovis said, “There have been some quality spotted bass in the 6- to 7-pound range landed, and most anglers are tossing plastics or crankbaits around the edges of the shorelines. Crappie are found in submerged structure on the Madera side with minijigs or small Keitech swimbaits.” The lake continues to release water in anticipation of incoming snowmelt, and it receded 15 feet this week to 482.69 in elevation and 32%. The rapid drawdown has threatened the spawn for both spotted and largemouth bass as beds have been left high and dry. Heavy water releases continue at 8,930 cfs down the San Joaquin River at Friant.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3
The largest kokanee in the state are coming out of New Melones at 16.5 to 17 inches, and the word has been getting out with trollers coming from as far as Reno to get in on the early season action. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing found three different grades of kokanee ranging from 9 to 10 inches, 13 to 14 inches and 16 to 17 inches at depths from 17 to 45 feet with the best action in the 30- to 35- foot range. He said, “I moved away from the fleet to fish open water, and the kokanee are scattered. We scored with a little bit of everything including T-Bone’s Tackle along with Paulina Peak’s spinners. The action has been solid, and the water is clear, but there is a lot of grass in the lake coming from the flooded ground. Boaters still have to be cautious as there is still plenty of big logs floating around.” Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service has been finding the kokanee for weeks, and he said, “We have been finding kokanee routinely to 17 inches, and these fish are as fat as footballs. There is tons of plankton in the lake, and these fish will grow a few more inches over the next few months. Our best action has been from 7 to 30 feet with Paulina Peak’s orange spinners behind a Paulina Peak gold hammered dodger. The water temperature has been warming at 63 degrees.” For bass, John Liechty of Xperience Bass Fishing Guide Service said, “60 to 70 fish days have been routine, but many of the bass have been cookie-cutters in the pound range. Our best fish on Sunday was 4 pounds 3 ounces with another decent one at 2.25 pounds. Plastics on a shaky-head, flukes, or Keitech swimbaits are all working at depths from 5 to 15 feet. The bass are in all stages of spawning as I have seen skinny, post-spawn fish with a ragged tail already. The water temperature has risen in the shallow water from 68 to 72 degrees.” The lake rose 5 feet to 1,004.57 in elevation this week and 63% with the start of snowmelt coming down the Stanislaus River.
Call: John Liechty, Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932; Ryan Cook, Ryan Cook’s Guide Service (559) 691-7008; Kyle Wise, Headhunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 3 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 0 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod & Gun in Clovis said, “Pine Flat is excellent for bass right now as there is a good topwater bite early or late near the docks at Deer Creek or in the Windy Gap area; 3.8- to 4.3-inch Keitech swimbaits are working, but the dropping water has been a deterrent to the spawn. The crappie bite has slowed.” The lake dropped 17 feet to 832.34 in elevation and 43%. The flows on the lower Kings at Trimmer have risen from an already high level of 6,698 cfs to 10,226 cfs. Bank angling for planted rainbows has slowed to a crawl with the lack of plants and the high, dangerous water levels.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 3 Crappie 1
The lake remained extremely high at 99%. Limits of school-sized striped bass remain the rule in the main lake for those drifting jumbo minnows, trolling Lucky Craft Pointer 128s, or spooning with 1.75-ounce Duh! Spoons in deep water.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said, ”The fish are holding shallow along the shoreline in the brown murky water taking jerkbaits and some early topwater. The deeper fish are very suspended and hard to get to react. I would suggest reaction lures far above minnows right now since the fish have to be able to find something making noise. Trolling has been tough, but we are hoping the water clarity will improve. We believe that all the dying submerged grasses and weeds are causing the off-colored water with only 2 feet of visibility. I also suspect that the die-off may be creating a low oxygen situation that’s temporarily affecting the fish.“
The water clarity is improving in the O’Neill Forebay, and flukes, 5-inch Keitech Easy Shiner swimbaits, or Rat-L-Traps are working for stripers. The bass are bedding up, and the bite has slowed. The forebay rose to 88% due to releases down the California Aqueduct.
Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George, rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954; to check the wind conditions, windfinder.com/forecast/san_luis_reservoir
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0
Veteran Bass Lake guide Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing said, “The Bass Lake Trout Derby was a tale of two days. Thirty trout came in to Miller’s Landing on Saturday with five before noon at the Forks along with another five at the Pines Resort. The two $10,000 fish are still out in the lake. We fished until noon on Saturday for nine rainbows, releasing two using Dick’s Mountain Tubes or Trout Busters tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind either a blue/silver or gold Mountain Dodger. Rocky Mountain Tackle’s Radical Glow Tubes in pink or orange are also working. It was slower on Sunday with only eight tagged fish brought in as many anglers left early.” A webcam of the launch ramp is at basslakeca.com. The lake rose to 86%. With the recent trout plants, Huddleston swimbaits in rainbow trout patterns are finding some large bass in the shallows.
Call: Mike Beighey, Bass Lake Fishing 676-8133
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
The Kaiser Pass Lakes are out of play still because of heavy snow.
Call: Road conditions 297-0706; Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Kokanee 2 Trout 3
Dick Nichols, Shaver Lake guide emeritus, said, “After predicting a great weekend of trout fishing at Shaver, it did not happen as I thought. The evidence is that the Department of Fish and Wildlife did not make their scheduled plant at Shaver. If they had, reports of 25 hookups would have been rampant. Instead, it was a couple limits per boat of holdover rainbows to 18 inches. Experienced Shaver angler Jay Irvine and his neighbor, Scott Bosler, both of Visalia, picked up their limits of trout along with a couple of kokanee on a midday trip on Friday before Irvine returned on Satuday with his wife, Delinda, and Bonnie Bosler for five rainbows. Irvine said, “The best setup was trolling with fly rods loaded with orange Woolley Buggers at a setback of 125 feet from the surface to 3 feet. We also ran Dick’s Trout Busters in orange/chartreuse with either an orange, yellow, or gold Mountain Dodger at a setback of 125 feet at depths from 5 to 8 feet. The trout are definitely in the top 10 feet of the lake, and you won’t see many using your electronics.’ Other anglers reported yearling rainbow trout mixed with 16- to 18- inch browns at surface to 18 feet down. The positive trips were in the Shaver Marina and Dorabela areas which are not in the DFW plant area at Sierra ramp. A few kokanee in the same area were also reported, but there have been few reports of kokanee so far this year.” Nichols added that snow arrived at Shaver Lake on Monday, and it is expected to snow for 24 hours.
It will take some additional time for higher-elevation Huntington to dig out, but it is getting closer. Huntington is low at around 30%. A webcam of the Shaver launch ramp is at sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html.
Call: Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100; Jerad Romero, Jrods Guide Service 392-6994; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing 802-8072
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 0
The heavy snowpack is melting rapidly, but the traditional road opener on McKinley Grove Road could be pushed further into early May. However, a trout plant is scheduled for this week.
Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Striper 2 White seabass 1 Crab 2 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 2
The 2023 salmon closure has limited this section of the coast to perch or striped bass from the shorelines until the local waters open for rockfish on May 15 seaward of the 50-fathom curve until July 15. On July 16, rockfish is open at any depth until Dec. 31. For the next two weeks, a few boats will make the 18-mile trip south of Pigeon Point for rockfish since the rockfish season opened at any depth on May 1. The New Captain Pete has left the harbor to target halibut inside of San Francisco Bay out of Oyster Point. Crab limits are possible off of the Pacifica Pier with snares loaded with anchovies, squid, or sardines.
Call: Captain Michael Cabanas, New Captain Pete (510) 677-7054; Captain Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819; Captain Bill Smith, Riptide (650) 728-8433; Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, Queen of Hearts (510) 581-2628
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Striper 3 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
At last, saltwater anglers out of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Moss Landing have something to target from a boat, and Chris’s Fishing in Monterey took their first trip on Monday’s opener. The rockfish season opened on Monday from Pigeon Point south to Point Conception until Sept. 30 at all depths. From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, take of shelf and slope rockfish and lingcod is open seaward of the 50 fathom RCA line. Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom RCA line.
Striped bass have been making a solid showing along the beaches from Monterey north to Half Moon Bay with Lucky Craft Pointers or similar jerkbaits. Perch action is also improving, but many surf anglers are targeting the linesides.
Alan Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service said, “A little more than one year ago, this column was lamenting the loss of a long-time charter boat that operated out of Moss Landing. The Kahuna was the only charter fishing vessel working from Moss, and was renowned for 30 years as a fast, clean fishing machine. Owner Carol Jones was famous for her adventurous approach to chartering, including long-range trips beyond Big Sur, albacore forays, dedicated halibut trips as well as the ever-popular salmon and rockfishing charters. The boat was sold and moved to San Diego, most thought never to return. Well, we have some good news to share. The Kahuna is back! Turns out the new owners of the boat are Santa Cruz natives and high school sweethearts Angie and Nate Lackey. Earlier this year the couple decided to bring Kahuna back to Monterey Bay and resume fishing charters from Moss Landing. Key elements in their decision were the valuable advice and support of Jones and the addition of Joey Stagnaro as skipper. Nate Lackey is excited about sharing this endeavor with Joey saying, “We basically grew up together here in Santa Cruz. We’re the same age and played on the same Little League teams. I’ve known the Stagnaros and Joey forever!” Stagnaro has 30 years of charter fishing boat experience on Monterey Bay, ranging from his famed family boats and including the Kahuna. He most recently has been captaining whale watching tours in the bay and jumped at the chance to get into the wheelhouse of the Kahuna upon its return to Moss Landing. The operation will begin chartering trips on Monday, when this year’s rockfishing season kicks off. With his unbroken lifetime history of fishing Monterey Bay and having grown up in the industry, Stagnaro is well situated to get on the hunt for deepwater rockfish that we are allowed to pursue this year. Fishing depths will not be constrained this season, opening up a vast amount of area past the 300-foot line that has not been disturbed for over 20 years. Deepwater species such as the chili pepper rockfish are favorites of old school long-time anglers. “I know where the spots are out there,” Stagnaro said. He added, “People forget what it was like to get 100-pound bags of rockfish limits. Dust off your 4/0 reels, this is not light tackle fishing!” The Lackeys and Stagnaro plan to continue the winning blueprint established by Jones for Kahuna Sportfishing. Jones is on board as an adviser. In addition to the deepwater rockfish trips, the charters will include long-range trips past Point Sur and Ano Nuevo, dedicated halibut trips, tuna hunting for bluefin and albacore when productive and of course, trolling or mooching for salmon once that fishery reopens. “This boat has speed and it has legs,” Stagnaro said. “Twin Turbo Ecodeisels make cruising at 18 knots a breeze, and with full tanks the range is well over 500 miles.” In addition, the Kahuna is fully stocked and prepared with tackle and gear for any sort of local fishing.
Call: Chris’s Landing (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay
Halibut 3 Striper 2 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2
Halibut fishing couldn’t be much better with three-fish limits being the rule. The opening of the live bait receiver at San Francisco’s Pier 47 has allowed boats to work a wider variety of the bay, and it really hasn’t mattered if it was a large party boat, a six-pack, a private boat, or a kayak as limits are coming over the rail. J and P Bait in at Pier 47 San Francisco is open from 6 to 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday and from 5 to 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday, but expect up to a 50-minute wait for private boats on the weekends. Even with the epic halibut action, the number of anglers on the party boats and six-pack charters during the weekdays has been extremely limited with competition reducing the price of a trip.
Captain Jerad Davis of the Salty Lady said, “I know that this is getting monotonous, but it has been limits, limits, and limits of halibut on every trip. The halibut are getting bigger as it seems like a new wave of fish has come into the bay. I haven’t been around the mass of private boats from Oyster Point over to the Alameda Rockwall as we have been fishing in a different area. We have had husband/wife or father/son combinations come off of the boat with 35 to 40 pounds of fillets. There are also striped bass showing up in the south bay, and although they are scattered, once you find them, the bite is on.”
Captain Chris Smith of the Pacific Dream out of Berkeley Marina put his customers on to great action all week with a combined total of 26 limits of halibut and several striped bass on full day trips and came up one fish shy of limits on a midweek ¾-day trip. He said, “The halibut will actually follow the boat with as many baits in the water. We have been trolling herring behind a dodger. With live bait, we will even have more of an advantage by being able to comfortably work with large loads of anglers along with opening up the ability to fish deeper water. It is a challenge to troll with 20 rods when the wind and current is pushing you. The boat traffic has been very heavy, and I went and found some new fish on Saturday later in the day.”
Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco took his first live bait trip on Sunday, and he said, “The wind came up by mid-morning, and the bay conditions deteriorated, but we stuck with it and came up with limits of halibut and a handful of quality striped bass.”
The incoming cold front and all of the boat pressure made for a challenging bite on Sunday, and after day after day of returning with as many as three-fish limits, the Pacific Dream out of Berkeley Marina returned with 44 halibut and 10 striped bass for 23 anglers. Captain Chris Smith said, “We fell off our roll of getting limits today but the action is still red hot and the fish are of great quality.”
With all the pressure on the halibut in the south bay due to the salmon closure, the Department of Fish and Wildlife will propose a reduction in the daily bag limit for halibut from three to two fish over 22 inches during the May 17 Fish and Game Commission teleconference. If action is taken, the bag limit may change prior to June 1.
The next opportunity for boat-based fishing in the ocean will start on May 15 seaward of the 50-fathom line until it opens at any depth beginning July 16 until Dec. 31. Both Captains Smith and Davis will be targeting deep water rockfish starting May 15, and there is great curiosity as to what lies in the deep as these locations haven’t seen gear dropped on them for decades. A key to fishing deeper than 300 feet will be either an electric reel or a high-capacity reel with 20-pound braided line. The 20-pound line will be heavy enough to hoist anything out of the deep along with cutting through the water with minimum scope or drag.
Call: Captain Ron Koyasako, Nautilus Excursions (916) 704-4169; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388
San Luis Obispo
Rockfish 3 Surf perch 3
Boat-based rockfish season opened on May 1 from Pigeon Point in San Mateo County to Point Conception south of Morro Bay at all depths through Sept. 30. The Endeavor out of Morro Bay Landing was out with 16 anglers on a half-day trip, and they returned with 64 vermilion, 26 Boccaccio to 10 pounds, and 60 assorted rockfish for near-limits. Also out of Morro Bay, the Fiesta and Black Pearl were also out on the opener, and the Rita G will rejoin the Virg’s Landing fleet on Saturday, May 6.
From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, the take of shelf and slope rockfish and lingcod is open seaward of the 50 fathom line. Take is prohibited shoreward of the 50 fathom RCA line. Boats out of Morro Bay and Port San Luis are filling up for the opening week. Webcams of many of the coastal locations are at 805webcams.com.
Call: Virg’s Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing
Others
Delta/Stockton
Bass 3 Striper 3 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3
Another wave of muddy water is on its way from the upper Sacramento River, but striped bass and sturgeon fishing remains solid while largemouth bass action continues to improve. In the north Delta, Alan Fong of Alan Fong’s Outdoors has been finding great action for both largemouth and striped bass in the shallows with chatterbaits or umbrella rigs. There have been some larger female striped showing up as they will be spawning in the upper river on the coming full moon.”
Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo Sport Fishing has found great action on both the Sacramento and San Joaquin sides of the Delta, but he said, “The bite is good, but it is consistently inconsistent. We found the fish spooning on the San Joaquin side one day, but they were gone the next. You can’t put all of your eggs in one basket as you have to be willing to move around and look for the schools. There were loads of males previously, but recently, it has all be females coming up the river, and we landed stripers from 9 to nearly 14 pounds trolling this week. After experiencing great action on the San Joaquin earlier in the week, the bite went belly-up on Saturday so we moved over to the Sacramento side near Collinsville for quick limits. There haven’t been many birds working, but I saw a couple of terns circling and marked fish in the area. It is a matter of finding the fish right now, but they are around, in good shape, and putting on some size. There are already stripers coming back downstream from the upper river, and this action should last for months with the high water conditions.”
Dave King of Nor Cal Bass participated in an 11-boat Turkey Shoot out of Ladd’s Marina in Stockton on Sunday, and he said, “We came in fourth at 9.63 pounds as the winning weight was over 23 pounds, but the limits dropped off to the 11-pound range after this. The bite was good in the morning on white/chartreuse spinnerbaits as the wind came up, and it came up. I was picking up four to five fish on the spinnerbait while my partner was finding one on plastics, but after the wind picked up around 10:30 a.m., and the worm bite died. The key is to find clear water, and it is clearest in the back sloughs as the main channel of the San Joaquin is very dirty with only 6 inches of visibility. The water temperature has risen to 65 degrees in the back sloughs. Finding giants was difficult as our largest bass came in at 3 pounds on a Senko. There are bed fish to be found in some locations, and the winning limit was reported to come off of the beds.”
Few anglers are targeting white sturgeon, but the bite remains spectacular outside of Pittsburg as Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing has been averaging from 7 to 10 sturgeon to the boat per trip of various sizes: shakers; slot-limit; and oversized. Mitchell is one of the only six-pack operators remaining in Pittsburg, and he is running a sturgeon special for the entire boat for six anglers for $1,000 on Tuesdays through Thursdays.
There are proposed changes in regulations for white sturgeon starting in January 2024, and anglers will have the opportunity for participation in a virtual public meeting by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on the white sturgeon fishery on May 16 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. At this meeting, white sturgeon biology, fishery history, current status and management, and challenges they face will be discussed. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask CDFW scientists questions about sturgeon and provide input on their present and future hopes for the fishery. The link to the online meeting is at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Fishes/Sturgeon or wildlife.ca.gov/Notices.
Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Vince Borges, Vince Borges Outdoors (209) 918-0828
Lake Nacimiento/San Antonio/Santa Margarita/Lopez
Bass 2 White bass 1 Striper 0 Catfish 2 Crappie 2 Bluegill 2 Trout 2
Lopez Lake received a trout plant last week, and this should help with the swimbait bite. The lake is still spilling (for the first time in 25 years) at 100.3%. A live webcam of the lake is at 805webcams.com/lopez-lake-webcam. Santa Margarita is also spilling at 100.3%, but bass action remains decent with an emerging reaction bite. A webcam of the lake is at 805webcams.com/santa-margarita-lake-webcam-california. At Nacimiento, the lake remains high at 94%, and the bass are in all stages of spawning with a large wave expected during the coming full moon. Plastics on a shaky-head, Texas-rig, or drop-shot remain the best techniques. Crappie are found on structures with small Keitech swimbaits or minijigs. A webcam of the lake is at 805webcams.com/lake-nacimiento-live-webcam. At San Antonio, the lake continues to rise slowly, and it is currently at 69%. The lake is muddy with debris on the surface, and it will take some time to clear before fishing is back in action. Once the lake clears, fishing could be as good as it has been in recent memory for bass, catfish, and crappie.
Reminder: consuming white bass, black bass, crappie, catfish, or carp are subject to safe eating guidelines due to excessive mercury.
Events
May 27 – Fishermen’s Expo at Modesto Toyota from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fishing pond for youth, seminars and product giveways.
Tournament Results
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – American Bass Association – April 29: 1st – Marc Jang/Christian Ostrander – 20.08 pounds; 2nd – Eric Wetherington/Clint Warren – 16.69 (Big Fish – 6.62); 3rd – Ken Mah/Jason Austin – 16.50.
New Melones – Christian Bass League – April 29: 1st – Angelo Queirolo/A.J. Azevedo – 15.50 pounds (Big Fish – 4.40); 2nd – James Parker/Jason Divird – 13.74; 3rd – Keith Freisen/Kirk Sakamoto – 13.22.
Pine Flat – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments Cen Cal Open – April 29: 1st – Joe and Mike Ploharz – 19.14 pounds (Big Fish – 4.91); 2nd – Brandon Turner – 15.66; 3rd – Tim and Timmy Wells – 15.60.
Pine Flat – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments High School Event – April 29: 1st – Trenton Housey – 13.24 pounds (Big Fish – 4.18); 2nd – Riley Bradford – 10.33; 3rd – Austin Burns – 9.57.
Pine Flat – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments Youth Open – April 29: 1st – Bear Demacablin – 11.79 pounds (Big Fish – 2.76); 2nd – Coleton Rader – 7.70; 3rd – Kyle Rader – 7.45.
Upcoming Tournaments (Dates and locations subject to change)
May 5-6
Delta/Big Break Marina – CA Bass Nation Kayak
Success – Cen Cal Elite Tournaments
May 6
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Kerman Bass Club
Lake Pardee – Angler’s Press
McClure – Best Bass Tournaments
Bass Lake – Kerman Bass Club
Nacimiento – Best Bass Tournaments
May 13
Delta/Big Break Marina – California Bass Federation
Don Pedro – Best Bass Tournaments
Bass Lake – Bass 101
Nacimiento – Central Coast Bass Bash
Santa Margarita – Golden Empire Bass Club
May 19-21
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Wild West Bass Trails Pro/Am
May 20
Delta/Contra Costa County – Sierra Bass Club
Camanche – Riverbank Bass Anglers
Lake Pardee – Kokanee Power Youth Derby
Tulloch - Nor Cal Bass
McClure – Yak-A-Bass
Pine Flat – Central Valley Kayak Fishing
Isabella – American Bass Association
Brite Valley Reservoir – Tehachapi Valley Recreation
Nacimiento – Bakersfield Bass Club/SLO Bass Ambushers
Santa Margarita – Kern County Bass Masters
May 21
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Modesto Ambassadors/Kings River Bass Club
Camanche – Fresno Bass Club
New Melones – Kings VIII Bass Club
Don Pedro – Slay Nation Tournaments
May 27
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal Bass Club
