Lets Go Fishing with Jay Sorensen, courtesy of the River News Herald & Isleton Journal
DELTA
Striped bass continue to move into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta waterways, and as the surface water temperatures continue to drop, the action will also improve. Field scouts report there has been exceptionally larger striped bass being caught and released. The big fish weighed 48 and 52 pounds respectively with the 48 pounder caught on salmon roe while the angler was targeting sturgeon and the larger of the two weighed in at 52 pounds which was caught on a live splittail. Both fish were caught in the Suisun Bay area. On the Sacramento River near Decker Island, Andre Fontenot who is a regular Western Outdoor News contributor, hooked and landed his personal best striped bass weighing 23 pounds while bait fishing with chicken livers. He attempted to release the fish, but after a half hour effort, the striped bass succumbed.
Anglers in need of purchasing some fresh threadfin shad for their next fishing adventure need not worry! Luther Thompson at H & R Bait and Tackle in Stockton said, “Fresh shad is coming in daily at the shop.” The shad is good quality size. Salmon fishing has been a hit or miss lately with reports of better fishing coming out of the Mokelumne River for trollers dragging double bladed Silvertron spinners in the silver and chartreuse color patterns.
In Montezuma Slough field scouts report that the sturgeon fishing is picking up with some decent catches while at anchor dunking salmon roe and shrimp. Most of the fish are legal size in the 42 to 57 inch category. Striped bass in the same area as well using bullheads, mudsuckers and shad. Striped bass are now in both the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers affording anglers a wide opportunity of hooking up either bait fishing or trolling. Now is the time to go out and wet a line.
On the first day of the Best Bass Tournament, Director Randy Pringle got a 23.3 limit including the big fish weighing 9.3 pounds leading the 160 team pack on Saturday, but Sunday’s windy conditions should bring the size limit back to earth. Randy predicted a two day weight of 34 pounds would take top honors. The event is being conducted at Russo’s Marina on Bethel island.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
The halibut fishing is still worth the effort on the drift with live anchovies along with a few striped bass showing in the rock piles. The best action seems to be the shark fishing which has been off the charts lately. Species being targeted are the sevengill and the leopard shark.
OCEAN
Charter boats continue to put their clients onto 10 fish limits of quality rockfish and ling cod to 30 pounds. Also in the mix anglers are also taking limits of salmon off the Marin coast which is amazing field scouts say. The window has been renewed for a shot at some decent albacore with the season closing quickly. In the Bodega Bay Area the fishing has been the best in over 37 years for anglers. Recently they are loading up on a salmon or two along with ling cod and limit of rock fish. Note: The Dungeness crab potting season opens on Saturday, November 3 and the demand for weekend trips has been high.
Now is the time for some good fishing. Be sure to check weather conditions before hitting the big waters. Until next tide stay safe to fish another day.
JAY’S BEST BETS
San Joaquin River – (striped bass, largemouth bass, pan fish, catfish);
Sacramento River – (striped bass, salmon, sturgeon, smallmouth bass);
American River – (salmon, striped bass)
Feather River – (salmon)
Suisun Bay – (striped bass, sturgeon);
Ocean – (salmon, rockcod, lingcod);
San Francisco Bay (striped bass, halibut, sevengill shark, leopard shark)
San Luis Reservoir – (striped bass);
Pardee Lake – (kokanee, trout, catfish);
New Melons Lake – (trout);
Don Pedro Lake – (trout, kokanee, landlocked salmon)
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Nature will bear the closest inspection.
She invites us to lay our eye level with
Her smallest leaf, and take an
Insect view of its plain.
……Henry David Thoreau
71ST RIO VISTA BASS DERBY RESULTS
The Rio Vista Bass Derby and Festival is now history. The 71st annual event concluded on October 14 after a three day run under perfect weather conditions. This years event was very successful with good numbers of fish registered in the slot limit striped bass category. The first place winner in the striped bass division was Carleton King who took home $1500 for his 30.21 inch line side. The slot limit was 30.5 inches. King’s striper weighed 11.2 pounds. In second place was Don Syengchanh with a 29.9 inch striper worth $500 and third place was won by Michael Parker with his 29.77 inch striper. In the sturgeon division, John Woodring took first with his 46.10 inch diamondback followed by Jim Francis who took second place with his 43.28 inches. The sturgeon target length was 53 inches. The largest salmon weighed in was caught by Brian Lazlo with a weight of 16.1 pounds. The winners of the surgeon and salmon category took home $500 for their efforts. Overall, this year’s event was very successful according to the organizers. Everyone is looking forward to next years 72nd annual event. This year there were only 300 participants in the fishing contest. The entry fee was $50. At this years event there were more salmon registered than striped bass which totaled only seven fish closest to the target length.
