Lets Go Fishing by Jay Sorensen courtesy of Ceci Giacoma and the River News Herald & Isleton Journal
DELTA
The striped bass bite is picking up in many areas of the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River system. In spite of high flows from the storm fronts to hit California the fishing is beginning to pick up for bait dunkers and trollers. Field scouts report catching 2 fish limits in just several hours of fishing. The best bait is pile worms and cut sardines casting a short distance from the shoreline.
Most of the recent catches are averaging 21 to 23 inches in length, up to an occasional fish weighing 12 pounds. Most are males and they are beginning to milt. On the upper Sacramento River ther the hot spot has been Bryte Beach on the opposite side of Discovery Park. Also, there are good numbers of sturgeon being caught upstream in the Verona area on ghost shrimp. Striped bass are scattered throughout the system. Both the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers are stained and cloudy, but that is not keeping the fish from responding. Locating a school is the secret and the bite can last up to an hour or more.
On the San Joaquin River field scouts report some good action trolling off Bradford Island and Webb Tract in close to the shoreline with Yo-Zuris with a white worm trailer.Again, most of the fish are 20 to 23 inch length, up to an occasional 5 or 6 pounder in the mix. Several anglers report taking up to 4, 2 fish limits. Trolling is the way to go presently. As soon as the waters warm up threadfin shad will become available at the local bait shops. The fishing should remain stable in the Delta through the month of June.
The striped bass bite is picking up in many areas of the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River system. In spite of high flows from the storm fronts to hit California the fishing is beginning to pick up for bait dunkers and trollers. Field scouts report catching 2 fish limits in just several hours of fishing. The best bait is pile worms and cut sardines casting a short distance from the shoreline.
Most of the recent catches are averaging 21 to 23 inches in length, up to an occasional fish weighing 12 pounds. Most are males and they are beginning to milt. On the upper Sacramento River ther the hot spot has been Bryte Beach on the opposite side of Discovery Park. Also, there are good numbers of sturgeon being caught upstream in the Verona area on ghost shrimp. Striped bass are scattered throughout the system. Both the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers are stained and cloudy, but that is not keeping the fish from responding. Locating a school is the secret and the bite can last up to an hour or more.
On the San Joaquin River field scouts report some good action trolling off Bradford Island and Webb Tract in close to the shoreline with Yo-Zuris with a white worm trailer.Again, most of the fish are 20 to 23 inch length, up to an occasional 5 or 6 pounder in the mix. Several anglers report taking up to 4, 2 fish limits. Trolling is the way to go presently. As soon as the waters warm up threadfin shad will become available at the local bait shops. The fishing should remain stable in the Delta through the month of June.
NEW MELONES RESERVOIR
A new record crappie was caught by Eric Ochos. Eric was fishing off the shore in Tuttle Cove with live minnows in 20 feet of water when a crappies took his bait. The crappie was so big he decided to take it to Glory Hole Sports
in Angels Camp to have it
officially weighed. The fish turned out to be a new lake record weighing in at 3 pounds, 4 ounces. The crappie fishing has been off the charts with many anglers coming in at full 25 fish stringers. The best way to fish for them is with live minnows, crappie jigs, flukes and small spinner baits. Information: (209) 736-4333
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
Captain James Smith of the California Dawn charter boat said the live bait season has kicked wide open with some great halibut fishing, striped bass and even some white sea bass. Last week he reported his clients averaged 1 halibut per rod with the big one weighing in at 30 pounds. The final day’s count was 32 halibut along with striped bass for 23 anglers. Information: (510) 417-5557.
MONTEREY BAY
Charter boats putting their clients in to quality rock fish and lingcod along with some commercial grade Dungeness crab. No word yet on the salmon take. The bay is loaded with krill and huge balls of anchovies which should be a good indicator for the salmon fishing. Whale watching trips still offer great sightings for those venturing out on the bay.
Take time to go out and enjoy the great outdoors. Stay safe to fish another day. Until next tide.
QUOTE OF THE
WEEK:
It’s a rare person who wants to hear what he doesn’t want to hear.
…Dick Cavett
JAY’S BEST BETS
Delta – striped bass, sturgeon, largemouth bass, catfish
Amador Lake – trout, catfish, largemouth bass
Camanche Reservoir – trout, largemouth bass
San Pablo Bay: striped bass, sturgeon
Pardee Lake – Kokanee, trout, catfish, largemouth bass
Ocean- sand dabs, Dungeness crab, rock cod, lingcod, rockfish,surf perch, salmon
San Francisco Bay – leopard shark, halibut, striped bass
A new record crappie was caught by Eric Ochos. Eric was fishing off the shore in Tuttle Cove with live minnows in 20 feet of water when a crappies took his bait. The crappie was so big he decided to take it to Glory Hole Sports
in Angels Camp to have it
officially weighed. The fish turned out to be a new lake record weighing in at 3 pounds, 4 ounces. The crappie fishing has been off the charts with many anglers coming in at full 25 fish stringers. The best way to fish for them is with live minnows, crappie jigs, flukes and small spinner baits. Information: (209) 736-4333
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
Captain James Smith of the California Dawn charter boat said the live bait season has kicked wide open with some great halibut fishing, striped bass and even some white sea bass. Last week he reported his clients averaged 1 halibut per rod with the big one weighing in at 30 pounds. The final day’s count was 32 halibut along with striped bass for 23 anglers. Information: (510) 417-5557.
MONTEREY BAY
Charter boats putting their clients in to quality rock fish and lingcod along with some commercial grade Dungeness crab. No word yet on the salmon take. The bay is loaded with krill and huge balls of anchovies which should be a good indicator for the salmon fishing. Whale watching trips still offer great sightings for those venturing out on the bay.
Take time to go out and enjoy the great outdoors. Stay safe to fish another day. Until next tide.
QUOTE OF THE
WEEK:
It’s a rare person who wants to hear what he doesn’t want to hear.
…Dick Cavett
JAY’S BEST BETS
Delta – striped bass, sturgeon, largemouth bass, catfish
Amador Lake – trout, catfish, largemouth bass
Camanche Reservoir – trout, largemouth bass
San Pablo Bay: striped bass, sturgeon
Pardee Lake – Kokanee, trout, catfish, largemouth bass
Ocean- sand dabs, Dungeness crab, rock cod, lingcod, rockfish,surf perch, salmon
San Francisco Bay – leopard shark, halibut, striped bass
UPCOMING EVENTS
FUTURE PRO CLEARLAKE BASS TOURNAMENT
April 21, 2018 – Fish the West coast’s hottest bass fishing circuit by signing up for this Future Pro event. For more information call Vince Harris at (916) 768-0938
KOKANEE POWER PINE FLAT RESERVOIR TEAM DERBY
April 21, 2018 – Big kokanee along with some awesome prizes will be up for grabs at this event. For more information call: Gary
Coe at (916) 985-4943
FUTURE PRO CAMANCHE BASS TOURNAMENT
MAY 5, 2018 – Be partt of the West Coast’s hottest bass fishing circuit by signing up for this Future Pro event. For more information call Vince Harris at (916) 768-0938.
KOKANEE POWER LAKE
SHASTA TEAM CLASSIC
May 5th and 6th, 2018 – Catch big trout and landlocked salmonand win some awesome prizes along with a free dinner! For more information call Gary Coe at (916) 985-4943.
KOKANEE POWER WHISKEYTOWN LAKE TEAM CLASSIC
June 9, 2018 – Big trout, kokanee along with some awesome prizes and a free dinner!
For more information call Gary Coe at (916) 985-4943.
HELP STOP GOVERNOR BROWN’S PLAN TO DIVERT THE SACRAMENTO RIVER – YOUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD
Here’s how: Those who oppose Jerry Brown’s controversial twin tunnel project which is designed to take water from the Sacramento River to the southern part of the state can help defeat this project by calling the office of Mayor Garcetti and thank him for publically taking a stand against the $15.7 billion project. The office of Mayor Garcetti staffers are standing by and will tally the calls they receive and report that number to the decision makers. If Mayor Garcetti takes a stand against a single tunnel his influence could bring the project to a halt. For your information here is how you can contact his office. Call: (888) 793-4597 and tell Mayor Garcetti’s office that: “The Mayor is a deciding vote on this disastrous tunnel proposal, and I am urging him to do everything in his power to stop the latest version of this corporate water heist. As a resident of California I know that Mayor Garcetti has ambitions to seek a higher office in the future, and this is his opportunity to show that he is willing to fight for California against the greed of corporate interests. “If residents are forced to pay billions of dollars for this project, our cities won’t be able to make local investments capable of producing new and reliable water sources for future generations of Californians.”
Note: On Wednesday. April 11 the metropolitan Water District of Los Angeles voted in favor of bearing most of the cost of the twin tunnel project to the tune of $11.8 billion to help fund the twin tunnel version of the controversial plan to remake the state’s water conveyance system.
CDFW NEWS
Public Comment Sought on Statewide Management of Trout
Public Comment Sought on Statewide Management of Trout
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will be soliciting public comment and ideas on the statewide management of trout at a series of public meetings.
“We are seeking stakeholder feedback on the development of three important elements of our statewide trout management efforts,” said Roger Bloom, CDFW Inland Fisheries Program Manager. “Our overall goal is make positive programmatic changes that will help ensure we’re getting the right fish in the right place at the right time.”
The three key areas for which CDFW are seeking input are:
The revision of CDFW’s Strategic Plan for Trout Management, last published in 2003
The creation of a new Strategic Plan for Trout Hatcheries
Simplification of inland trout angling regulations
Each meeting will include a brief presentation covering each area. CDFW personnel will be available at information stations to answer questions and listen to stakeholder interests, needs and ideas.
All stakeholder input will be taken into consideration as draft plans and a regulation simplification package are developed for formal public review. Stakeholders can fill out a short questionnaire online or at any of the following meetings:
Bishop
Place: Talman Pavilion, Tricounty Fairgrounds
Location: 1234 Fair Street
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Truckee
Place: Truckee-Tahoe Airport Community Room
Location: 10356 Truckee Airport Road
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Los Alamitos
Place: CDFW Los Alamitos Field Office
Location: 4665 Lampson Ave. #C
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Date: Thursday, April 26, 2018
Sacramento
Place: Arcade Library Meeting Room
Location: 2443 Marconi Ave.
Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Sausalito
Place: Bay Model Visitor Center
Location: 2100 Bridgeway
Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Date: Saturday, May 5, 2018
Fresno
Place: Betty Rodriguez Regional Library
Location: 3040 N. Cedar Ave.
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Date: Thursday, May 10, 2018
Redding
Place: Redding Library Community Room
Location: 1100 Parkview Ave.
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2018
More information is available at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Trout-Plan. Meetings are in-person only and no conference line or webcast will be available.
“We are seeking stakeholder feedback on the development of three important elements of our statewide trout management efforts,” said Roger Bloom, CDFW Inland Fisheries Program Manager. “Our overall goal is make positive programmatic changes that will help ensure we’re getting the right fish in the right place at the right time.”
The three key areas for which CDFW are seeking input are:
The revision of CDFW’s Strategic Plan for Trout Management, last published in 2003
The creation of a new Strategic Plan for Trout Hatcheries
Simplification of inland trout angling regulations
Each meeting will include a brief presentation covering each area. CDFW personnel will be available at information stations to answer questions and listen to stakeholder interests, needs and ideas.
All stakeholder input will be taken into consideration as draft plans and a regulation simplification package are developed for formal public review. Stakeholders can fill out a short questionnaire online or at any of the following meetings:
Bishop
Place: Talman Pavilion, Tricounty Fairgrounds
Location: 1234 Fair Street
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Truckee
Place: Truckee-Tahoe Airport Community Room
Location: 10356 Truckee Airport Road
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Los Alamitos
Place: CDFW Los Alamitos Field Office
Location: 4665 Lampson Ave. #C
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Date: Thursday, April 26, 2018
Sacramento
Place: Arcade Library Meeting Room
Location: 2443 Marconi Ave.
Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Sausalito
Place: Bay Model Visitor Center
Location: 2100 Bridgeway
Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Date: Saturday, May 5, 2018
Fresno
Place: Betty Rodriguez Regional Library
Location: 3040 N. Cedar Ave.
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Date: Thursday, May 10, 2018
Redding
Place: Redding Library Community Room
Location: 1100 Parkview Ave.
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2018
More information is available at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Trout-Plan. Meetings are in-person only and no conference line or webcast will be available.
RECREATIONAL CANARY ROCKFISH BAG LIMIT INCREASES EFFECTIVE APRIL 14
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announces a statewide increase to the recreational canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) daily limit within the Rockfish, Cabezon and Greenling (RCG) bag limit. The sub-bag limit for canary rockfish will increase from one fish to two fish within the RCG daily bag limit of 10 fish, effective Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Limited retention of canary rockfish in California’s recreational fishery began last year as a result of the stock being declared rebuilt. Because retention of canary rockfish had been prohibited in recreational fisheries off California for more than a decade, a one fish daily sub-bag limit was implemented as a matter of precaution. Catches were monitored weekly to ensure harvest limits were not exceeded.
“We saw great fishing in 2017 and higher than expected effort for rockfish,” said CDFW Environmental Scientist Joanna Grebel. “Despite this, catches of canary rockfish under a one fish bag limit were less than predicted. We are excited to be able to offer additional opportunity in 2018.”
Pursuant to California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 27.20(e), CDFW has the authority to make in-season modifications to the recreational fishery, including adjustments to bag and sub-bag limits.
CDFW encourages anglers to avoid known yelloweye rockfish hotspots when pursuing canary rockfish. Yelloweye rockfish cannot be retained and stringent annual limits on yelloweye rockfish bycatch mortality remain in effect for California’s recreational groundfish fishery in 2018.
By catch mortality of yelloweye rockfish is monitored during the fishing season and modifications to regulations could be made if mortality amounts reach annual limits.
For more information regarding groundfish regulations, management, stock status information, fish identification tools and current catch trends, please visit the CDFW Marine Region Groundfish webpage at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Groundfish.
Limited retention of canary rockfish in California’s recreational fishery began last year as a result of the stock being declared rebuilt. Because retention of canary rockfish had been prohibited in recreational fisheries off California for more than a decade, a one fish daily sub-bag limit was implemented as a matter of precaution. Catches were monitored weekly to ensure harvest limits were not exceeded.
“We saw great fishing in 2017 and higher than expected effort for rockfish,” said CDFW Environmental Scientist Joanna Grebel. “Despite this, catches of canary rockfish under a one fish bag limit were less than predicted. We are excited to be able to offer additional opportunity in 2018.”
Pursuant to California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 27.20(e), CDFW has the authority to make in-season modifications to the recreational fishery, including adjustments to bag and sub-bag limits.
CDFW encourages anglers to avoid known yelloweye rockfish hotspots when pursuing canary rockfish. Yelloweye rockfish cannot be retained and stringent annual limits on yelloweye rockfish bycatch mortality remain in effect for California’s recreational groundfish fishery in 2018.
By catch mortality of yelloweye rockfish is monitored during the fishing season and modifications to regulations could be made if mortality amounts reach annual limits.
For more information regarding groundfish regulations, management, stock status information, fish identification tools and current catch trends, please visit the CDFW Marine Region Groundfish webpage at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Groundfish.
