Fishing report, Nov. 8-14: Lower temps are not bothering Delta stripers, trout action outstanding at New Melones.
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.
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Best bets
Delta stripers, bass and sturgeon bites responding to lower water temps, Randy Pringle reported. New Melones trout action outstanding, Monte Smith said. McSwain trout plants energize the bite, Dave Hurley reported. Isabella bass and catfish hitting , Cope’s Tackle said.
Valley
Westside waterways
Striper 2 Catfish 3
In the north section of the California Aqueduct, striped bass continue to be taken on 3/4-ounce Rat-L-Traps or umbrella rigs, but the key is to find the boils. Anglers are driving up and down the aqueduct looking for the boils around the headgates or areas with cover.
In the south aqueduct in Kern County, striped bass and catfish action is fair fishing with cut baits, lugworms, or jumbo minnows with the majority of action around moving water at the head gates. Catfishing is best with chicken livers, Triple S Dip bait, fresh shrimp, or cut baits.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis (559) 292-3474; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657.
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “Eastman continues to improve for largemouth bass with swimbaits such as 2.8- or 3.3-inch Keitechs on a ball head or with umbrella rigs. There is a spoon bite near the dam along with deep-diving crankbaits over submerged structure. Numbers of small bass have been the rule. Hensley remains slow for bass with bluegill or catfish the best option. Bluegill can be taken on red worms or meal worms while catfishing is best with chicken livers, cut baits, or stink baits.” Eastman dropped two feet to 549.8 feet in elevation and 61% with Hensley held at 473.17 feet in elevation and 17%.
Call: Eastman Lake (559) 689-3255; Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis (559) 292-3474; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam (559) 673-5151.
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 1 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
The trout troll bite continues to be a challenge, but a limit of holdover rainbows is possible working the shad schools with shad-patterned spoons at depths from 40 to 60 feet. The bass are suspended, and you have to find the bait. A 12.50-pound largemouth was reported on Sunday out of a group of big fish holding over a submerged island. The lake dropped 2 1/2 feet to 796.86 feet in elevation and 80%. Updates on the launch ramp are available at https://www.donpedrolake.com/. Trout plants are scheduled for the next two weeks.
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 3 Trout 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3
The lake held at 2,572.27 feet in elevation and 44% with steady releases of 2009 cfs at First Point. Cope’s Tackle and Rod in Bakersfield reported bass are showing in good numbers, and umbrella rigs, jigs, swimbaits, or crankbaits have all been scoring at depths from 8 to 16 feet. The crappie bite has improved with a number of limits reported on live minnows, Panfish Assassins, and Crappie Stingers. The catfish bite continues to be strong for whiskerfish to 10 pounds on Triple S Dip Bait, mackerel, or shrimp. Trout can be taken with Power Bait or spinners from shore while boat anglers are trolling around the Dam using lead core line with shad patterned spoons such as Needlefish or Tasmanian Devils.
In the upper Kern River, Cope’s said, “The trout bite has been great for some and slow for others. Anglers have been scoring fish with salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, or spinners. Fly anglers have been doing well with nymphs and dry-dropper combos in the 20-Mile stretch. The Lower Kern River continues to have a solid bass bite on crankbaits, jigs, and spinners. Catfish can be found on dip baits, nightcrawlers, or cut baits. Trout plants are scheduled in 4 and 6 with a double plant in Section 5 this week and another double plant in Section 5 next week. Brite Valley Reservoir and the River Walk are also scheduled to be planted next week. The Taft Chamber of Commerce Annual Trout Fishing Derby will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area, and lake will remain closed to all fisherman until the opening of the Derby at precisely 6 a.m. Nov. 18.
This year’s Derby will signal a return to the closure of Lake Webb for the days between the delivery of the 3,000 pounds of fish and the start of the fishing contest.The rules of the contest continue: all Derby contestants must have a valid California Fishing License unless they are under the age of 16 years, and all participants must be registered prior to fishing. The cost for adults (14 and older) is $30; children (13 and under) are $25.
The places to register for the Derby (and to receive your wristband) are:
Taft Chamber, 400 Kern Street, Taft
Cooper’s True Value, 407 9th Street, Taft
Bob’s Bait Bucket, 2131 Chester, Bakersfield
Cope’s Tackle and Rod, 1654 Calloway, Dr., Bakersfield
Poor Man Aqueduct Fishing Tackle Shop, 4 Monterey St, Bakersfield
The Kern River at Kernville is at 511 cfs.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; 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 1 Catfish 2
The lake has stabilized at 600.54 feet in elevation and 11 %. Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported fair bass fishing with topwater lures or crankbaits first thing in the morning, before heading to the bottom with plastics on the drop-shot or jigs with the best action near the dam. On windy days, jerkbaits or umbrella worked along points. Catfishing is steady with cut anchovies, dip bait, or chicken livers while crappie fell for small live minnows over submerged rock piles. The flows in the Kaweah River are stable at 1 cfs.
Lake Success
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
Water releases have begun in earnest as the lake receded another 7 feet this week to 607.54 feet in elevation and 21%. Cope’s Rod and Tackle reported fair action for bass with either finesse or reaction baits as crankbaits or jerkbaits have been working early and late in the day while plastics on the drop-shot, Senkos, or jigs have been working throughout the day. Many of the bass have been holding on points and near rocky structure in 5 to 25 feet of water. Catfish anglers reported a good bite using cut baits, dip bait, and chicken liver.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
The 3rd Annual Ed Lacy Memorial Tournament drew 59 boats on Saturday, Nov. 4, raising $8,400 for the Reel Warriors veteran’s foundation. The bite was very tough with the bass suspended at depths from 40 to 75 feet. Plastics on the drop-shot, small swimbaits on an underspin, or spoons are best for the deep fish, but there is a spinnerbait or jig bite in the shallows first thing in the morning. The key, as it is as most lakes, is to find the bait. Trout plants are scheduled for the next two weeks, and there are holdover rainbows taken near the dam with shad-patterned spoons such as Kastmasters in black/silver, blue/silver, or Cop Car. Catfishing remains solid at night along sloping banks with chicken livers, nightcrawlers, or cut baits. The lake dropped about six inches this past week to 807.68 feet in elevation and 65%.
Call: Ryan Cook, Ryan Cook’s Guide Service (559) 691-7008.
McSwain Reservoir
Trout 3
About 2,500 pounds of Department of Fish and Wildlife catchable rainbow trout were released into the lake last week, and trout fishing has been solid from the banks in the early mornings or late afternoons as holdovers from the recent Merced Irrigation District’s Fall Trout Derby are found at the Brushpile, Handicapped Docks, or peninsula near the marina with Power Bait, nightcrawlers, or Kastmasters in blue/silver or gold. The water level will remain relatively stable throughout the year as it is currently at 92%.
Call: Angler’s Edge Market (209) 226-4416; McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
The Big Valley Student Anglers hosted California High School Angler’s Tournament Trail on Sunday, and club advisor, Michael Spencer of Roosevelt High School, said, “Despite the very low water and a very muddy ramp at Millerton on Sunday, 42 student teams competed in the CAHSATT Open hosted by the Big Valley High School Anglers. This was the third 2023-2024 event for the circuit, and the biggest event held in the Fresno area since the Student Angler Federation tournaments started in 2013. Only two of the 168 bass weighed in were over three pounds, but the overall bite was fair with 29 of the 42 teams catching limits, and only five teams finding no keepers at all.
The big fish at 3.29 pounds came on Robo Worm’s Morning Dawn worm on a drop-shot in 25 feet of water. The highest finishing Fresno area team was Jaese Moua from McLane High School and Adonovan Moua from Hoover High. The reaction bite was slow, and the best technique was ‘dead sticking’ plastics from the banks to 25 feet. Volunteer boat captains: Pierre Mathews, Bob Jones, Rusty Barron, Mike Pawlowski, Daniel Lopez, Rob Peele, Michael Murphy, Aaron Vang, Dan Marshall, Pang Vang, Mike Her, Mitch Mitcheltree, and Ron Red without whom there would be no BV HSA. Also, Special thanks to Brian Orange and Todd Hayes who come out early to help make sure the events start well and stay to run the weigh table. In addition to event sponsors, the BV HSA is also supported by Manchester Center, Clovis Tub and Tile, The Boat Shoppe, Cressman’s, Visionomyx, Stitch Masters, and Edd Allen’s Marine Solutions.
The next event for the CAHSATT will be Dec. 3 at Lake McClure.”
For details about high school fishing, contact Mike Spencer at (559) 261-5296. Due to the low water, the Tulare Police Activities League Fundraising Bass Tournament on Nov. 4 is postponed until Dec. 2 due to the current low water conditions.
This tournament boasts a guaranteed $5,000 first-place payout. Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis added, “Umbrella rigs, jerkbaits with a gobi or craw trailer, or small spoons are working over main lake points or flats as there is a tremendous amount of shad in the lake” The launch ramp is down to the last boat ramp. The lake continues to recede, dropping an additional 3 feet over two weeks to 470.17 feet in elevation and 27%. Sycamore Park is open seven days per week. A trout plant is scheduled at Woodward Park in Fresno the week of Nov.12. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant are steady at 410 cfs.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun (559) 292-3474.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 1
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing said, “Trout trolling is outstanding for holdover rainbows with shad-patterned spoons at depths from 50-to-66 feet in the main river channel over the shad schools. Limits of rainbow trout have been the rule, and interest in trolling has ramped up considerably.” Bass fishing is on the upswing with quality, healthy spotted bass loading up on shad. The bait schools are scattered, but if you land on a pod of bait, flukes, plastics on the drop-shot, small Keitechs, or topwater lures are all working. The fish are out in open water at depths from 30 to 45 feet, and you will find boils over submerged island tops or main lake points. These fish are footballs, and they are very healthy and fun to fight on 4-pound line on a medium rod. The lake is at 1042.50 feet in elevation and 79%. A double trout plant is scheduled for the week of Nov.12 with a double plant at downstream Lake Tulloch this week.
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 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 0 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “Bass fishing has been slow, but the key is to locate the bait balls with spoons, plastics on the drop-shot, or jerkbaits.” Holdover rainbow trout are chasing shad, and trollers are working shad-patterned spoons such as Needlefish in Cop Car through the baitfish schools near the Power Lines. Crappie can be found around the docks or in the submerged brush. The flows on the lower Kings at Trimmer have dropped to only 419 cfs, and a trout plant is scheduled this week. A trout plant at the lake is scheduled the week of Nov. 12. The lake continues to release water, dropping 4 feet in the past two weeks to 865.03 feet in elevation and 56%.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; Sequoia Fishing Co. 539-5626.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported, “Striped bass fishing continues to be outstanding for all techniques with shore anglers scoring with jumbo or large minnows, topwater lures, or jerkbaits. Limits of school-sized striped bass have been the rule for those willing to walk far from Dinosaur Point. . Working the flat at depths to 60 feet with P-Line’s Predator Minnows or Lucky Craft Pointers have proven successful for trollers. The O’Neill Forebay is producing with the same lures, primarily around the Twin Islands, Check 12, or the launch ramp in the northern portion of the lake as the Highway 33 side has been slower. Pile worms, anchovies are the top baits.”
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that he fished two days this week and he reported that the overall trolling bite was tough. “ I talked to over 15 very good fisherman on the water - who either work the shore or are experienced trollers and it has not been that good at all compared to a few weeks ago.These are all longtime regulars, as well as the checkout aide at Dinosaur getting tough fishing reports from angler’s leaving the lake. The falling water has shutoff a lot of the fish.
“I guided a couple from Fresno on Thursday , Robert and Gina Shermer and we trolled for 2 1/2 hours without a bite in some normally good areas- and I could see the fish were very suspended and inactive. When we finally got the first hit- it turned out to be 37 1/2-inches, 20 pounds , that we released and a new personal best for Robert. We only got about 10 total schoolfish that day. My guests on Friday released 12 fish to 24” but I had to work for them. They are not easy to find right now. I would only rate the Bite at a three to four out of 10 right now . Anglers need to consider releasing all the big spawners, and selectively harvest the smaller ones. The proposed slot limit talked about last year would help too! George said.
The main lake dropped to 64 with the O’Neill Forebay at 88%.
To check the wind conditions on the lake - use windfinder.com/forecast/san_luis_reservoir.
To check the wind conditions on the lake - use windfinder.com/forecast/san_luis_reservoir.
Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George, rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0
A trout plant is scheduled the week of Nov. 12, and this will help spur on the shoreline bite near the Sheriff’s Tower along with the troll bite. Bass fishing remains fair near the docks with crankbaits, small swimbaits, or finesse presentations. A webcam of the launch ramp is available at https://basslakeca.com/.
Call: Mike Beighey, Bass Lake Fishing (559) 676-8133.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
The Kaiser Pass lakes are starting to release water with fewer anglers heading over the pass to fish the small impoundments. Edison has dropped to 49, Florence at 35, and Mammoth Pool at 48%.
Road conditions 297-0706.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Trout 2 Kokanee 2
Shaver guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters said, “Another good week of mixed fish limits and weather at Shaver Lake as
Jay and Delinda Irvine of Visalia took guests from the Netherlands and Africa out this past week for a mid-morning trip for 6 mixed trout and kokanee home for dinner using Dick’s Mountain Tubes in purple/black or yellow spinners with corn behind Dick’s Mountain Dodgers in rainbow color. On another day, David Geil Jr. of Clovis fished with his dad, David Sr., and sons Owen and Austin for a 2-hour trip. The Geil’s kept 4 kokanee to 15 inches and 4 trout to 16 inches using Dick’s Mountain Hoochies in purple, pink or orange with special garlic scented corn behind a Sunset model Dick’s Mountain Dodger. Geil Jr. said the best depth for both kokanee and trout is 25 feet. They fished along the Fisherman’s Club houses to Stevenson Creek marking a bunch of fish. On another day, Dave McGlothlin of Clovis returned for another solo trip for a total of 8 kokanee keeping his limit, running Dick’s Mountain Tubes in purple/pink, a Mountain Hoochie in orange/yellow, or a purple hoochie behind a Doom model Dick’s Mountain Dodgers He also tried a black/purple smaller dodger. The Fisherman’s Club and Stevenson Creek areas at 20 feet found the most fish. McGlothlin marked many fish in the area and saw other boats catching fish. The best advice is to begin from the island to Stevenson Bay, connecting with all points at 20 to 25 feet down using purple, orange, or pink colors behind dodgers.”
The Shaver Marina closed on Oct. 15. A webcam of the Shaver launch ramp is at sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html and for Huntington at http://www.shaverlakewebcams.info/huntington.html. Huntington remains very slow for both rainbow trout and kokanee. Shaver is at 87 with Huntington at 72%.
Call: Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service (559) 288-8100; Jerad Romero, Jrods Guide Service (559) 392-6994; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing (559) 802-8072.
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 2
The Wishon RV Park and Store is closed for the season, and Wishon is very low, making launching a boat problematic. Courtright has been producing holdover rainbows and browns from the shoreline at the dam with nightcrawlers or inline spinners. and although there are holdover rainbows in both lakes and the lakes remain high, few anglers are heading to the high country.
Call: Wishon RV Park (559) 865-5361.
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Rockfish 3 Bluefin tuna 3 Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3 Crabs 3
It started as a ‘mania’ in early July, transitioned into ‘hysteria’ in October, and into a full on ‘pandemonium’ in early November. We are talking about northern California bluefin tuna, as Steve Carson, aka ‘Senor Tuna’ of Penn Fishing University said, “They are biting, and it’s time to get out there. There is a 1600-mile bluefin bite off of the West Coast from the Oregon border to nearly Cabo San Luis, and the majority of the big fish are from Monterey north, and these fish are all over 100 pounds to close to 250 pounds. We are still waiting for the first 300-pound Nor-Cal bluefin, but it is only a matter of time. According to Dr. Barbara Block, the world’s foremost expert on bluefin tuna, the time of year that most bluefin are in northern California is during the month of November. This isn’t unusual that the fish are here, but what has changed is that so many northern California anglers have caught the ‘bluefin fever’ by fishing out of San Diego, purchasing the proper gear for these trips, and using this gear in their own waters.”
Captain Jerad Davis of the Salty Lady out of Sausalito had another successful trip this past week, landing two bluefin south near the Half Moon Bay Weather Buoy. He said, “It was a tough bite the week prior, but there were tuna all over the place with foamers, jumpers, and breezers. These are funny fish because if they only bit in relation to the amount of fish out there, it would be something. We hooked three bluefin, landing two from 120 to 180 pounds, losing another huge fish within sight of the boat. This fish was pushing 300 pounds, and the hook just came out. There is so much life out there, it is amazing.”
Phillip Talkington was out with his friend, Timmy Green and son, Jesse, on the Codfather out of Alameda, and they had a banner day trolling Nomad Design’s Madmacs 35 miles south of the Farallon Islands for two bluefin weighing in at 160 and 200 pounds. The Dungeness crab opener was a hit with the New Captain Pete loading up with 13 limits of jumbo Dungeness crab. Hoop nets or snares are required for recreational anglers until at least Nov. 27. The trips will mostly likely be limited to rockfish-only or crab-only due to the closest water deeper than 50 fathoms is at least 18 miles from the harbor. The Pacifica Pier was extremely crowded on the opening weekend with shoulder-to-shoulder conditions seeking Dungeness.
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
Rockfish 3 Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching in Monterey has primarily been focusing upon whale watching, but rockfishing continues to be outstanding for limits of quality vermilion, canary, widow, or yellowtail rockfish at depths over 300 feet south at Point Sur or in the canyon. They will be running rockfish trips until the close of the season on Dec. 31, and will offer crab trips once the trap restriction is lifted in Zone 4. Currently only hoops or snares are allowed in Zone 4 from Point Arena on the Sonoma/Mendocino County line to Point Lopez south of Monterey.
Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported good surf perch action along the. Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay beaches with Lucky 13 or McKinney grubs on motor oil, Lucky Craft Flash Minnows, or Duo Realis 100 Tide Minnows.
Call: Chris’ Landing (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732.
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay
Halibut 2 Striper 2 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2 Crab 3
A flat calm ocean greeted party and private boaters on Saturday, Nov.4, the opening day of Dungeness crab season, and the long run offshore out of San Francisco and Bodega Bay became far more doable for those desiring the extremely popular crab/rockfish combination trips. Since access to deep water greater than 50 fathoms requires at least a 20-mile or more run out of Half Moon, San Francisco, and Bodega Bays, a flat ocean is necessary to complete the rockfish portion of the combination. The hold until at least December 1 on commercial crabbing along with the emergency provision allowing for crab fishing inside of the 50-fathom Rockfish Conservation Area boundary permitting hoop nets when legally taken groundfish are on board qualify as good news for recreational anglers already limited by hoop nets in Zones 3 and 4 along with the 50-fathom rockfish restriction that went into effect Sept. 1. Hoop nets are required in Zones 3 and 4 stretching from Point Arena on the Mendocino/Sonoma County line to Point Lopez south of Monterey due to the continued presence of endangered humpbacked whales. Fortunately, the creativeness out of necessity has allowed party boat captains and their crew to find success with hoop nets through trial and error over the past three seasons. The only real limiting factor on limits of rockfish and crab limits are the ocean conditions.
The ocean was kind, and the rockfish and crab came flying over the rail. Captain Rick Powers of the New Sea Angler out of Bodega Bay took advantage of the flat ocean to make the 23-mile run to Rittenburg Bank for limits of huge rockfish along with 10-crab limits of jumbo Dungeness for 61 passengers over the weekend. The California Dawn 1 and II out of Berkeley also ran to deep water for a combined 152 limits of rockfish and crab on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday while Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions in San Francisco ventured outside the Gate for limits of Dungeness after his clients landed a number of striped bass inside San Francisco Bay. The Pacific Dream out of Berkeley also hit the deep water for near-limits of rockfish and limits of big crab for 24 anglers. When the weather is right, the long run for rockfish will be possible, in the event of inclement weather offshore, the only fishing options will remain inside the bay. One private boat even completed the previously unheard of ‘bluefin tuna and crab’ combination trip on the opener so inventive captains are finding ways to succeed in spite of the various restrictions. The Salty Lady out of Sausalito will offer combination or crab-only trips out of their Marin County port instead of Emeryville this season while Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing will offer crab-only trips twice per day out of Berkeley Marina. The biomass of Dungeness crab is predicted to be one of the best in years, and the only way to get fresh crab for Thanksgiving is to jump on a party or private boat.
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
The rockfish season in this section of coast is open seaward of 50 fathoms through December 31 in both the Central Management Area above Point Conception and in the Southern Management Area below Point Conception. Similar to the other ports in northern California, the boat-based nearshore rockfish season above Point Conception ended on September 1, forcing boats out of Morro Bay to either fish nearshore below Point Conception or deep water of 50 fathoms or more. Out of Morro Bay Landing, the Avenger was on a ½-day trip with the Starfire on a 3/4th
-day trip on Sunday with combined 35 anglers for 55 vermilion, 117 assorted rockfish, and 52 Boccaccio for a total of 224 fish. The Black Pearl out of Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay was on a 1.5-day trip on Sunday with 10 anglers for 76 vermilion, 61 assorted rockfish, 22 Boccaccio, and 7 lingcod. The Fiesta and Rita G were on ½- and 3/4th-day trips on Sunday with a combined 45 passengers for 99 vermilion, 60 assorted rockfish, 67 Boccaccio, 8 canary rockfish, a Petrale sole, and a solitary lingcod. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, the Flying Fish and Phenix were out on Sunday with a combined 28 passengers for 112 vermilion, 18 Boccaccio, 115 assorted rockfish, and 5 lingcod. Webcams of many of the coastal locations are available at https://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 2 Bluegill 3
The waters of the California Delta are cooling, currently in the 58- to 61-degree range, but there is still some distance to go for ‘prime time’ for striped bass with the temperatures in the mid-50’s. Striped bass can be found in both the Sacramento and San Joaquin sides of the Delta, but you have to put some time in to locate the fish. Largemouth bass action has been excellent for some while others continue to struggle, but the waters of the south and central Delta are increasing in clarity. Sturgeon continue to be on a tear in Suisun Bay, but the emergency regulations should be in effect by the time this issue hits the newsstands. Salmon have been finding their way into the back sloughs in the San Joaquin, Mokelumne, and Sacramento Rivers, and bass anglers have been hooking salmon using lipless crankbaits or jerkbaits intended for largemouth bass. Salmon must be released without being taken out of the water. Unfortunately, as the salmon have become disoriented and getting lost in sloughs and small waterways, poachers have been snagging the fish for their roe.
For striped bass, Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo’s Guide Service out of Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor said, “There is a combination of local fish along with new stripers pushing in from the bay, and we found linesides drifting live minnows everywhere we went on Saturday from above the Antioch Bridge into the San Joaquin River. We found the right part of the tide, and we didn’t have to deal with the weeds. Some of these fish are really chunky.”
Alan Fong of Alan Fong Outdoors said, “The water temperatures dropped to 58 degrees, and the fish are biting! The crappie are starting to school up big time, and we shot a video on how to locate structure and how I use Live Target to position the boat and use Spot Lock. The next day, we targeted bass for an 18-pound-plus limit on spinnerbaits or flipping in the north Delta. It’s only a matter of time before the striper bite turns on up north. The crappie video can be viewed on my You Tube channel soon.”
Johnny Wang, manager of Turner’s Outdoorsman in Stockton, added, “Striped bass are found in the San Joaquin system by trolling over the shoals along with drifting minnows or bluegill in Mildred Island. There are stripers working the moving water at the pumps on the Mokelumne River as the duck clubs are filling up their ponds. Disappointment Slough is also kicking out stripers for those casting lures along the weed line.”
Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, was out of B and W Resort on the Mokelumne River this week, and he said, “My clients wanted stripers, but we landed more largemouth bass than stripers. It was a hot day without wind, and we tossed ima Glide Flukes and Optimum’s Bubba Shad swimbaits for linesides to 5 pounds, but we really need some weather to bring in more fish. I went toward Sherman Island and checked out the shoal off of Eddo’s Marina, but there was no bait there as the tide was very small. The key was finding moving water, and we worked the banks from Donlon Island throughout Sherman Lake, targeting any opening with moving water.”
Kenji Nakagawa of Lodi found a school of big striped bass on the Sacramento River, but the window was short-lived, catching and releasing linesides to 22 pounds on a Megabass topwater lure. He said, “It’s been pretty slow the past couple of weeks, but we found a school that was willing to play, but only for a few minutes.”
Nakagawa took second place during Saturday’s Central Valley Anglers Fall Striped Bass Derby at Brannan Island State Park with a lineside at 26.25 inches. Club spokesman, Ted Handel said, “It was a good turnout with 52 anglers participating and 40 fish weighed in. The target was 26.75 inches, and I heard of 3 oversized fish that were released. There were several different methods used as bait on anchor, trolling, casting topwater lures, or drifting jumbo minnows all caught fish. Florbela Kinsey took first at 26.50 inches.”
For largemouth bass, Fresno native Vince Borges of Vince Borges Outdoors has been on a tear for the past three weeks during the Tracy Oasis’s Thursday night tourneys, with two first place finishes and one second place.
He said, “We took first place with a 16-pound limit this week as the bite was a bit tougher as our weights were 18 and 22 pounds previously. Reaction Innovation’s Skinny Dippers along with chatterbaits with a Bloody Mary Sweet Beaver trailer have been working for us along with punching the weeds. I lost a big fish on top of the grass estimated at 8 to 9 pounds punching on our last venture. The water is starting to clear up in the south Delta, and with the rock dams removed this week, it should clear up even more. The water in the central Delta has around 6 feet of clarity, and I did take a trip out of Viera’s Resort on the Old Sacramento River this week with clients for numbers of bass to 3 1/2 pounds using ripbaits or Z-Man’s Jackhammers.”
Nor Cal Bass will be holding their Delta Tournament of Champions out of Ladd’s Marina in Stockton this coming Saturday.
Sturgeon remain on a tear in Suisun Bay as the diamondbacks can be found from Port Chicago to Pittsburg. Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing out of Pittsburg put his clients onto a total of four sturgeon on Saturday consisting of slot-limit and undersized fish. Cured salmon roe remains the key.
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 3 White bass 2 Striper 0 Catfish 3 Crappie 3 Bluegill 2 Trout 1
At Nacimiento, the
lake held at 56%. Cope’s Tackle and Rod in Bakersfield reported a solid finesse bite for spotted bass at depths from 5 to 25 feet with plastics on the drop-shot, Neko-rig, or jigs along with vertical spoons over the shad schools. There is a morning and evening window for topwater with Whopper Ploppers or walking baits. The white bass bite has slowed, but anglers hooked a few with spoons after locating a school. Catfishing is best with cut sardines, anchovies, or dip baits. Crappie were reported in abundance on crappie jigs over submerged structure.
Reminder: consuming white bass, black bass, crappie, catfish, or carp are subject to safe eating guidelines due to excessive mercury.
Tournament results
Nov. 4
Delta/Brannan Island State Park – Central Valley Anglers Fall Striped Bass Derby (26.75-inch target-length)
1st - Florbela Kinsey -26.50 inches; 2nd - Kenji Nakagawa 26.25 inches; 3rd - Farrell Hicks 24 inches.
Lake McClure – 3rd Annual Ed Lacy Memorial Tournament
1st – Johnny and Ryan Grissom – 11.47; 2nd – Eddie, Eddie, and Tim Eagleton - 11.22; 3rd – Tim Chase/Tony Lopez - 10.66
Nacimiento – Golden Empire Bass Club
1st – Sam Mead/Jeff Mitchell – 9.50 pounds; 2nd – Larry and Mike Merlo – 9.45 (Big Fish – 3.10); 3rd – Jerry Estep/Don Douglas – 9.40.
Nov. 5
Millerton – California High School Angler Tournament Trail
1st – Landon Matson/Logan Dekleva of Hughson High School – 8.18 pounds; 2nd – Jaese and Adonovan Moua of Big Valley High School Anglers – 7.73 (Big Fish – 3.2); Tanner Cleghorn/JD Farage of East County Student Anglers – 7.70.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
Nov. 11
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal Bass
Delta/Contra Costa – Delta Bass Club
Delta/B and W Resort – Santa Clara Bass Busters
Don Pedro – Sonora Bass Club/American Bass Association/
McClure – Fresno Bass Club/Angler’s Press
Pine Flat – Cope’s Tackle and Rod 2nd Annual Motor City Throwdown
Nacimiento – Bakersfield Bass Club
Nov. 12
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Hook, Line, and Sinker
New Hogan – Riverbank Bass Anglers
Don Pedro – Stanislaus County Sheriff’s
Kaweah – Kings VIII Bass Club
Nov. 18
Camanche – Yak-A-Bass
Don Pedro – Sierra Bass Club
McClure – Gilroy Bassmasters
Pine Flat – California Bass Nation
Buena Vista Lake – Taft Chamber of Commerce Trout Derby – information
Nov. 19
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Delta Teen Team
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – American Bass Association
Nov. 24th –
Nacimiento – 805 Bass Addicts
Dec. 2
Millerton – 3rd Annual Tulare Police Activity League Fundraising Bass Tournament – contact Mark Corrente at 284-2768 or Sgt. Ed Hinojosa at 331-4920 for details. $180 per team with a huge number of prizes available
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
