April Fishing Report, Courtesy of Ken Baccetti!

My name is Ken Baccetti. I’m the President of the California Striped Bass Association (CSBA), 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:

Well, the long-awaited arrival of the stripers in the Delta has finally happened, at least somewhat. The striper bite has definitely improved as told to me by Captain Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo Sportfishing. Captain Jeff tells me that he’s finding most of his fish in the San Joaquin River in the areas of Frank’s Tract, Santa Clara Shoals to the Antioch Bridge. His best results have been trolling shallow running lures and spooning at the end of the outgoing tides. He recently went scouting with his son, who was off on spring break, and they caught and released quite a few legal stripers, and a very nice keeper (see the attached photo). The striper bite was further confirmed by Clyde Wands who was fishing with Dave Houston. They’re avid anglers, who are members of the CSBA Isleton-Delta Chapter, who fish the Delta waters multiple days every week. They recently caught 18 keepers up to 10 pounds trolling P-Line Angry Eye Predator lures near Eddo’s Harbor. They added that any shallow running P-Line Predator lure with red in it worked for them on that day.

On the sturgeon front, Captain Chuck Delucci, of Delta Fishing Charters, tells me that the sturgeon bite continues to be best in Montezuma and Suisun Sloughs. His Captain Alex Fulk and deck boss Richie Stritt have been targeting sturgeon in these areas using salmon roe with good success when they’re not fishing for stripers. When not sturgeon fishing Captain Fulk has also been trolling for stripers, but he’s been on the Sacramento River working the areas of the West Bank. He’s had very good success for his customers trolling Rat-L-Traps (see attached photos). It appears as if the stripers are finally making their arrival known to anglers in the Delta.

Meanwhile the halibut and stripers have definitely arrived down in the bays. Captain Don Franklin of Sole-Man Sportfishing tells me he’s been fishing the areas around the Brothers and Sisters and near Point Pinole in San Pablo Bay for stripers and halibut (see the attached photo). Captain Don further tells me that the South Bay has been producing halibut for anglers, but there are quite a few shaker halibut to pick through before catching a legal fish. He also shares with me that the live bait receivers at Fisherman’s Wharf should be open very soon.

The ocean salmon season has begun for those anglers fishing south of Pigeon Point. So far the season for these anglers has been outstanding with limits to near limits daily. Fishing for salmon out 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 this opener. The delay was decided to limit ocean fishery impacts on salmon due to poor stock forecasts. Both Klamath River fall Chinook and Sacramento River Chinook have reduced ocean abundance forecasts for the 2021 season compared to long term averages, and the PFMC is taking steps to ensure that enough salmon will return to rivers this fall to meet spawner abundance goals. Final season dates are being decided during the PFMC meetings taking place now. Season dates, bag and possession limit information including gear restrictions can be found on the California Department of Fish & Wildlife ocean salmon web page at www.wildlife.ca.gov/oceansalmon or by calling the Ocean Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429. Public notification of any in season change to confirm state regulations to federal regulations is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825.

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. Your membership helps to strengthen our mission to protect striped bass and our fisheries. 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, good luck on the water….