Deep water anglers nail limits of lingcod and rockfish off California Coast
BODEGA BAY – Since the rockfish season opened in the San Francisco Management Area on May 15, anglers fishing the deep water off the Sonoma County Coast have caught limits of rockfish and limits of lingcod when the weather has allowed them to get out.
“On our past four trips, we caught limits of extremely large lingcod averaging in the mid-teens, with lots of fish in the upper teens and lower 20s,” reported Rick Powers, Captain of the New Sea Angler, at the Bodega Bay Sportfishing Center. “We also caught limits of extremely large limits of vermilion, bocaccio, yellowtail, widow and other rockfish at 320 to 330 feet deep while fishing different spots each day. “
“Anglers are using jigs for the rockfish and chrome bars and swimbaits for the lingcod,” noted Powers. “It’s the best fishing we’ve seen in over 20 years. We have also been catching lots of petrale sole.”
A trip by the New Sea Angler on May 30, the last day before windy conditions prevented the boat from getting out, produced 60 lingcod to 19 pounds and 300 rockfish for 30 anglers. A trip by the boat on May 29 yielded 310 rockfish, 62 lingcod up to 22 pounds and 51 petrale sole up to 5 pounds for 31 anglers.
A trip on May 27 produced 270 rockfish and 43 lingcod up to 24 pounds for 27 anglers. A trip on May 26 yielded 280 rockfish, 56 lingcod up to 25 pounds and 41 petrale sole up to 5 pounds for 28 anglers. Information: (707) 875-3495.
Fishing for rockfish has also been excellent off Half Moon Bay, with full limits of rockfish taken on every trip out of the harbor since the groundfish season started on May 15
The Queen of Hearts returned to the harbor with 110 rockfish for 11 anglers on May 30. They also boated 13 sanddabs, 5 lingcod. 5 sand sole and 2 rock sole while fishing baited shrimp flies, bars and other lures out past the 50-fathom line.
The Queen of Hearts came back in with 110 rockfish and 1 lingcod for 11 anglers on May 29 and 120 rockfish and 1 lingcod for 12 anglers on May 28. Information: (650) 728-3377.
Charter boats out of Monterey are also coming into Fisherman’s Wharf with limits of rockfish and some lingcod after fishing the deep water at the edge of the Monterey Canyon.
The Checkmate out of Chris’ Sport Fishing checked in with limits of rockfish (220) and 1 lingcod for 22 anglers on Saturday, June 3. The Caroline returned to the harbor with limits of rockfish (200) and 1 lingcod for 20 anglers the same day. Information: (831) 375-5951.
Delta Black Bass/Striped Bass: Black bass fishing on the North Delta has been great for experienced anglers.
“We were going striper fishing today, but the wind was blowing too hard so we changed plans and went bass fishing,” said Alan Fong of Fisherman’s Warehouse in Sacramento after his latest trip on the Delta. “My friend Dave and I had a very good day catching over 25 bass, including some big ones to 7 pounds. We flipped with Brush Hogs and D Bombs in the Liberty Island area.” Information: (916) 362-1200.
After a very good spring fishing for stripers, the striper fishing has slowed down over the past week.
“Fishing was very tough on my last trip on the San Joaquin River from Prisoner’s Point to Pittsburg,” said Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo Sportfishing. “We ended up catching limits of stripers for four people, but it was a grind. I had to cover the most water on any trip I’ve done this season. We released only 8 shakers all day long.”
“This was the first trip I’ve done this year where I had minnows left in the bait tank at the end of the trip,” noted Soo Hoo. “On every trip before that, we experienced fantastic fishing and ran out of bait between 9 and 10 a.m. and then switched over to spooning. We did lots of catch and release on my previous trips.” Information: (925) 899-4045.
Colusa Area Striped Bass – Striped bass fishing has been “very good” on the Sacramento River near Colusa, according to Bret Brady of Bare Bones Guide Service.
“On my last trip, we caught 30 fish, including 8 keepers up to 6 pounds. We were drifting minnows and throwing white swimbaits on the Sacramento River out of Colusa,” said Brady
“The river is still full of fish, including both fresh fish and those returning from spawning,” he reported. “There is at least another week of good fishing left.” Information: (530) 263-4451.
San Francisco Bay Halibut: The halibut and striper fishing in San Francisco Bay has tapered off a bit over the past few days because of big tides after limits of both striped bass and halibut were the rule earlier in the week.
“Today we had a very slow start,” reported Captain Mike Rescino of the Lovely Martha on Sunday, June 4. “With only 2 fish in the box at 11 a.m. we decided to make a couple moves and it paid off big time in the central bay between the Berkeley Flats and Richmond. “
“We finished up with 27 halibut to 15 pounds and 5 striped bass to 6 pounds for our 17 anglers while using live bait,” he stated. Information: (650) 619-6629.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Deep water anglers nail limits of lingcod and rockfish off California Coast
