March 2021 Fishing Report from Ken Baccetti!

My name is Ken Baccetti. I’m the President of the California Striped Bass Association, Isleton-Delta Chapter. As a lifelong fisherman, fishing the California Delta, San Francisco Bay and Ocean waters, I will be your fishing reporter. Now on to the fish report:

The arrival of stripers in the Delta continues to baffle everyone. The bite is still somewhat sporadic, even for the most seasoned guides and anglers. Captain Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo Sportfishing tells me that he’s catching a few fish (see the attached photos), but the bite isn’t what it should be this time of the year. He’s had his best fishing drifting jumbo minnows in Connection Slough off the San Joaquin River. Meanwhile Delta angler Mark Wilson continues to put miles on his boat trying to locate these elusive fish. He advises me that he recently fished from the Deep Water Channel of the Sacramento River all the way to Potato Slough off the San Joaquin River. He caught and released 2 salmon in the Deep Water Channel trolling ¾ oz. Rattle Traps, and a 10 pound striper in Potato Slough while trolling a deep diving Yozuri. The water temperature has risen in most locations, and grass issues seem to be improving, so now we can only hope the stripers aren’t far behind.

Sturgeon fishing, on the other hand, continues to be outstanding off of Pittsburg’s PG&E power plant and in Big Cut according to Captain Chuck Delucci of Delta Fishing Charters. Captain Chuck told me his last trip produced double and triple hook-ups for his clients, that included 5 slot fish and 3 oversized (see the attached photos). They’ve been using salmon roe, as that seems to be the most productive bait.

Moving on down to the Bays and Ocean. Captain Don Franklin of Sole-Man Sportfishing shares with me that the sturgeon fishing in San Pablo Bay is spotty to say the least, but the halibut bite continues to improve. Most anglers are catching the halibut in the South Bay trolling or drifting frozen herring or anchovies from Hunters Point to the San Francisco Airport, and from the Alameda Rockwall to the Oakland Airport. Some fish are also showing at the Berkeley Flats and behind Treasure Island. Live bait isn’t available yet, but the receivers at Fisherman’s Wharf are expected to be open sometime in April. This early arrival of the halibut is a welcomed sign that the live bait potluck season will again be as good, if not better, than last year.

Unfortunately, the recreational ocean salmon season will be curtailed on most of the California Coast. Heavy fishing season restrictions are likely for this season. In speaking to Mr. John McManus, President of the Golden State Salmon Association, he tells me that the low salmon numbers are primarily traced to unbalanced water practices that regularly divert too much water needed by salmon. About 80 percent of the water used in California goes to agriculture. Our salmon season off the Golden Gate was originally scheduled to open in April, but on the advice of salmon fishery representatives, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) made the decision to delay the opener in this area to limit ocean fishery impacts due to poor stock forecasts. Final salmon season dates will be decided during the virtual PFMC meeting to be held April 6-9 and April 12-15.

Meanwhile, the California rockfish season does open on April 1, 2021. There are new recreational groundfish regulations for 2021. Multiple changes have been made, so check the California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) groundfish regulations for Management Area boundary definitions.

You won’t be finding fishing and hunting regulation booklets at your local bait shops or sporting goods stores anymore. The CDFW is transitioning to electronic fishing and hunting regulations booklets in 2021. As part of a broader effort to go paperless the CDFW is transitioning to a digital format for its 2021 fishing and hunting regulations booklets and Big Game Hunting Digest. Booklets will no longer be printed and shipped to license agents or customers, but electronic versions of the booklets will continue to be available online.

If you would like more information about the California Striped Bass Association (CSBA), go to our website (www.striper-csba.org). You will be able to access all the information related to the 5 CSBA Chapters. New members only pay $25, that includes a one time $5 initiation fee. After the first year of membership the annual dues are only $20. Some Chapters will give you a free gift just for joining. The Isleton-Delta Chapter gives all new

members a free Chapter decal and hat as a thank you for joining our Chapter. Membership forms are available for each Chapter on the website. Just click on your Chapter of choice and go to the membership page, fill out the application, print it and send your application and payment to the address listed on the application. The website also has Chapters newsletters, interesting articles and useful links that will help you plan your next fishing trip.

Until next month, I wish you tight lines and great fishing.