Saturday, January 31, 2015

     The new rockfish regulations make repeated reference to the fact that you can't fish for rockfish west of a line of waypoints defined in the Federal regulations that describe the 30 fathom line. This map shows the line in our area. I also listed the waypoints on here, as they require a bit of searching to come up with them. Maybe they'll be included in this year's regulation book, but if not, you can find the waypoints (maybe) by clicking here: 50 CFR Part 660, Subpart G. The 30 fathom line definition starts on page 244. Enjoy. 
     The crabbing is still pretty slow everywhere. There's a few surfperch coming from the beach and a few big jacksmelt from the pier. There's schools of bait moving in and out of the bay with birds chasing them but nobody has gone out to see if anything interesting is mixed in with them. The leopard sharks are schooling in the shallows in the bay now, if you can find them (the schools have been moving around). Unfortunately, they aren't very hungry when they're schooling like that but they are fun to watch.  

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Aside from a limit of Dungeness caught off the pier by 10:30 AM yesterday, the crabbing has been very slow. With luck, yesterday's crabs are a sign of some fresh Dungeness moving into the bay. Other crabbers did catch a few, but not limits. The outer bay still has some crab to offer when you can get there. The beach had some surfperch and there's at least one striper out there with a Pencil Popper still in his mouth. The biggest catch recently was the Shrimp Boat's rescue of two people from an overturned canoe. The child was wearing a life jacket but the adult was not, nor could he swim. Alec got to practice the CPR he had just learned, and luckily he was successful. Another big save for the Shrimp Boat crew.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Slow Dungeness crabbing in the bay and outside (when you can get there) with catches ranging from zero to limits but averaging about 2-4. The pier has been very slow for most people but almost every day someone will catch a few. Randy visited this week and caught as many as 6 in one day. Rockfishing from boats is closed now but may reopen as soon as April 15 if the Fish and Game Commission passes their proposed changes. Also likely, a three fish limit for lingcod and a five fish limit for black rockfish. Start studying now for your black vs. blue rockfish identification.