Saltwater anglers battle stripers, rockfish and lingcod as crab season nears
SAN FRANCISCO – While halibut fishing has been stellar on San Francisco Bay this year since early spring, it is only during the past few weeks that anglers have found top-notch striper fishing on the bay while drifting live bait.
“On a recent bay trip, Flash 1 came in early with limits of both bass and halibut,” said Capt. Steve Talmadge. “It was a light charter of two anglers.”
“We had a great day fishing today,” Talmadge reported after a previous trip. “Flash 2 had a full load of six fishermen for a half day trip. They caught limits of bass, a couple of halibut and a mess of rockfish. I ran Flash 1 with a light load of 3 fishermen on a half-day trip and we were three short of limits of halibut.”
The Flash I has moved to Pittsburg to target sturgeon, while Flash 2 will remain at Fisherman's Wharf targeting rockfish, lingcod, halibut, striped bass and sharks. Information: (510) 851-2500.
Capt. James Smith of California Dawn Sportfishing also reported excellent striper and halibut fishing.
“We ran a bay trip today and found lots of biting fish,” said Smith on Oct. 27. “Our final count was 13 limits of striped bass (26) and 17 halibut.”
Smith and other charter boat captains are gearing up for crab/rockfish combo trips outside the Golden Gate starting Saturday, Nov. 5 while using hoop nets.
The recreational take of Dungeness crab using crab traps will be temporarily restricted statewide when the season opens on Saturday, Nov. 5 due to presence of humpback and blue whales and the potential for entanglement from trap gear.
However, recreational take of Dungeness crab by other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, is not affected by the temporary trap restriction and is allowed statewide beginning Nov. 5, 2022, according to the CDFW.
Fishing for rockfish and lingcod outside the Gate is also great. On Oct. 29, the 12 anglers aboard the Lovely Martha caught 12 limits (120) of assorted rockfish on their half-day trip fishing along the beautiful Marin County coast. “We will be switching gears starting on Nov. 5 to our crab combo and crab only trips,” said Captain Mike Rescino. Information: (650) 619-6629.
The last salmon trip of the season aboard the Lovely Martha on October 30 produced 7 salmon to 22 pounds.
The California Dawn has also been fishing for rockfish and lingcod at the Farallon Islands. On Oct. 29, the boat finished up their trip to the islands with limits of rockfish and limits of lingcod for the 18 anglers on board. Information: (510) 417-5557,
Half Moon Bay Rockfish/Crabs
If you like to catch shallow water rockfish, it’s time to hit the San Mateo Coast.
“What a great day of shallow water rockcod fishing off of Pescadero with some regulars and representatives of the Bodega Bay CCFRP Research Team,” reported Captain Mike Cabanas of the New Captain Pete after his latest local rockfish trip. “We ended up with limits for 10 anglers, with 5 lingcod, 9 cabezon, 33 China rockcod, 15 gophers, and an assortment of other bottom dwellers and school fish.”
Cabanas will begin booking rockfish and crab combos starting Nov. 5. Information: (510) 677-7054.
The Queen of Hearts has been concentrating on rockfish and lingcod trips lately. A trip on October 28 produced 50 rockfish and 2 lingcod for 5 anglers. They will also begin crab/rockfish combos on Nov.5.
Bodega Bay Lingcod and Rockfish
Lingcod and rockfish action has been “off the hook” for anglers venturing out of Bodega Bay aboard the New Sea Angler, reported Rick Powers at the Bodega Bay Sportfishing Center.
On his most recent trip on Oct. 28, the 19 anglers aboard the boat landed 190 rockfish and 29 lingcod up to 24 pounds while enjoying flat calm seas.
“Anglers caught excellent quality canary, brown and vermilion rockfish,” noted Powers. “They went home with big sacks of fish. The fishermen used jigs, bars, swimbaits and squid-baited shrimp flies to hook the fish.”
The nine anglers going aboard the New Sea Angler the previous day bagged 90 rockfish and 18 lingcod to 17 pounds.
When the Dungeness crab season opens on Nov. 5, Powers said he will begin his crab/rockfish combos. Information: (707) 875-3495.
Lake Amador Trout
Trout plants have begun at Lake Amador, a popular Mother Lade trout fishery.
“With the release Thursday and Friday we have put 1000 pounds of monster trophy Amador Golds in the lake so far and there were a few trophy Cutbows in there, too,” said Lee Lockhart of the Lake Amador Resort on Oct. 28.
“The lake conditions are awesome with a surface temperature of 68 degrees and amazing clarity of over 12’ making great conditions to catch some trout,” he said. The lake level is 37’ from full. Information: (209) 274-4739.
Contact Stockton Record correspondent Dan Bacher at danielbacher53@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Record: saltwater anglers getting stripers, rockfish and lingcod
