The salmon bite was a bit slower for some today but still really good for most. There were boats limiting early and others still trying for a first fish in the afternoon. The majority still did very well. The fog was thick for the first part of the day and made the guys without radar especially jumpy. Again, the bite was spread at times over an area from the 12 to 15 line and from 190 to 250+ feet of water. The fish came mostly on top but I heard of a few 100+ feet down on the wire. The water was warmer and had a lot of bait in shallower but everyone was working deep. 60 to 100 feet of water off of Tomales Point was 56 degrees, brown, and had lots of schools of bait, including what looked like squid spikes. It may be worth trying if you'd rather not dodge boats you can't see. The bar was also breaking periodically which is bad enough when you can see what's coming but is a whole new level of terror when beakers appear out of the fog.
Attention abbers: here's part of a press release from the Department of Fish and Wildlife:
Fish and Game Commission Acts to Protect Red Abalone on California’s North Coast
The California Fish and Game Commission yesterday took action to modify abalone fishery regulations along the northern California coast. Specifically, the Commission voted to reduce the annual limit to 18 abalone (previously 24), with no more than nine taken from Sonoma and Marin counties. Other changes to abalone regulations included a coast-wide start time for the fishing day of 8:00 AM and a closure at Ft. Ross in Sonoma County. The changes are expected to go into effect for the 2014 abalone season.
So, basically, if you are a rockpicker that needs to go on really low tides (you know, the ones at 6:00 AM) I guess you need a new hobby.
The bar at 1:00 was a nightmare boaters beware!!! You need to really think about your you are doing out there and be safe. Salmon fishing is fun but don't pay with your life.
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