Sunday, April 14, 2019
The weather forecast for the salmon opener kept most fishermen off the water, but the few guys that chanced it found quite a few fish among the whitecaps. The New Sea Angler reported 42 salmon from about 250 feet of water off of the Head and a couple of the other party boats with smaller crews caught limits. I heard of one sport boat catching two salmon in 150 feet of water off of Bird Rock, 70 feet down. The weather forecast for later this week (Wednesday-Friday) looks optimistic so there may be better opportunities coming up. As for halibut, I haven't heard of any more caught but Gage reports 63º water and some schools of bait in front of Heart's Desire Beach, so it'll happen. Depending on who you ask, the crabbing inside the bay is either good or slow. One boat returned at 11:00 with "all the Dungeness we want." Another boat spent all day looking for their first one. Somewhere between the two seemed average. The commercial guys have had to haul their gear but the sport season will continue until the end of June (unless something else happens). On Friday two fold-a-boats flipped near Miller Park but everybody ended up okay. Hopefully they were wearing their PFD's. Speaking of PFD's, in light of the recent issues with boating safety the CDFW has been issuing citations for lack of Personal Flotation Devices along with the usual tickets. Avoiding a ticket is not the best reason to wear your life jacket, but if it helps you wear it, good.
Get them now or wait salmon will be closed may 1 thru may 17
ReplyDeleteHere it is folks, they decided yesterday.....
ReplyDeletePoint Arena to Pigeon Point (San Francisco)
April 13-30;
May 18-October 31 (C.6).
Open seven days per week. All salmon except coho, two salmon per day (C.1). Chinook minimum size limit of 24 inches total
length through April 30, then 20 inches thereafter (B). See gear restrictions and definitions (C.2, C.3).
In 2020, season opens April 4 for all salmon except coho, two salmon per day (C.1). Chinook minimum size limit of 24 inches total
length (B); and the same gear restrictions as in 2019 (C.2, C.3). This opening could be modified following Council review at its
March 2020 meeting
No coho!? When did that change?
ReplyDeleteCome on man! We haven't been able to keep Slivers for years. But then again you're "Unknown"
ReplyDeleteJust tweaking your nose
ReplyDeleteOK Ab, we want to hear about that super duper scented flasher you bought at the googone discount rack - let us know how it is working;)
ReplyDeleteI'd prefer 24 inch minimum throughout the season - my 2 cents.
How about 27" minimum like the commercial guys. On my boat we turn back most fish under 10lbs, no fat. Most 10 lb fish are around 26"-27" leave the smaller fish to grow! Don't get me wrong the first 24" (8lb) fish that hit's the deck this season is going on the grill. Haven't been out yet, maybe this Thursday it will lay down. If not Salmon, then Halibut in the bay.
ReplyDeleteI don't release any keeper-sized fish. From my experience, ocean salmon are pretty fragile, and I suspect there is a significant mortality rate in salmon released.
ReplyDeleteI agree in theory Alastair, but I've sure caught a lot of salmon (and halibut) with old scars inflicted by previous fishermen. Sometimes even gear.
ReplyDeleteWe had this topic in conversation last season, when those guys released over 20 keepers to get bigger limits...
ReplyDeleteIf it’s Legal Keep It!
There is mortality in caught and released Salmon.
Studies out of Canada show
10% in adult Coho
15% in adult Chinook
Even higher percentages can be found in studies out of Alaska.
Salmon are not a catch and release fish.
Any knowing contributions to the death of a legal sized fish in my book it unacceptable.
Fish smart.
It’s not how big your fish is it’s that you caught in the first place.
Might as well add that you don’t net undersized Halibuts as the net will split their tails...
DeleteWe discussed this topic last year as well...
I believe the mortality rate is exaggeratedly overrated "IF" the species is released in the water at the boat - if you have to measure it, it's best to let it go for some other day.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know the study and if it’s finding are exaggerated.
ReplyDeleteBut if you think hooking and playing a fish all the way to the boat doesn’t cause the potential for injury or psychological and physical stress then someone needs to hook you by the mouth and drag your ass around for a while and see how you do. I agree if you have to measure it let it go, but if you know it’s a keeper then keep it.
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ReplyDeleteIs this the time of year when you throw last years salmon out of the freezer to make room for this years
ReplyDeleteI actually caught and let go, then caught and released again an hour later, a single coho salmon off San Mateo County. It was super feisty on each hookup. So, these fish can be tough. However, in a study the DFW conducted on halibut, mortality sometimes came weeks later (even in fish that were lip hooked and were netted without their caudal fins splitting). So, that could apply to salmon, too.
ReplyDeleteExaggerated!
ReplyDeleteFish psychological stress??? LOL
I can't remember which fishing derby it was, I don't think it was the Merle, but it was a few years ago. Adam speared a halibut that had a big gaping hole in it, mostly healed up. If I remember correctly it was 30 pounds, and I think it won him the tournament. And I swear I shot that damn halibut the first time, a year earlier... But admittedly I might be wrong about that. But either way that was a very old wound and that was one lively halibut.
ReplyDeletePersonally even if it's only a 10% chance that the fish will live, I'm still returning the legal sized babies. Unless of course that baby is my devil fish and it's been slow...
It's a proven fact that DFW studies are never wrong. Just ask them.
ReplyDeleteOutlaw
We were kayak fishing down by Chicken Ranch. The lack of fish and mostly the wind had us heading for shore. The unfortunate souls that went out in the fold up left in peak winds, loaded with camping gear, with only oars for propulsion. Didn't even make it half way across the bay. Made for great video of the CHP and Coast Guard dropping them off though.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/27BDm8JA7F4
Feelings...Oh go fish yourself!
ReplyDeleteWe are all entitled to our opinions and methods.
ReplyDeleteI’m not saying every fish caught then released is harmed.
I do know in some situations it can cause death.
Unfortunately anyone can buy a boat, kayak, rod n reel and go fish. The problem is not everyone out there fishing knows how to properly catch and release a fish while minimizing the affects it has on that fish.
If everyone handles there catch properly then the potential for harm would go way down.
I have witnessed mishandling of fish many times.
The reality that 90% of the fishermen catching 10% of the fish, is the majority of them don’t know how to properly catch and release as well as the majority of the 10% of the fishermen catching the 90% don’t as well (or do not care)
This is a good topic for many to take the time to look at how they do things and how we can do things different to help minimize the impact of their time on the water.
Don’t worry my feelings aren’t hurt, I don’t have any...
In case any of you sage gentlemen feel like providing feedback to the Coasties on navigational aids and hazards in what they are calling "Tamales Bay" as well as Bodega, they have released a survey:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bodega
Just got back from the coast. Weather was great, Ocean was really nice. Fishing was slow. We heard about some radio fish hooked in 280' off the parking lot. We were trolling between bird rock and the top of ten mile no takers. So we ran to the radio fish and landed one shorty. No reason to stay out there any longer, boat on the trailer at 1:30pm.
ReplyDeleteCouple shorties for us out there today too. Some bait, whales and some fish around definitely better than sitting at home sunny and 65. Water color was off and I'm sure the full moon didn't help. It will get better by may 17.
ReplyDeleteIt was limits out of the golden gate today
ReplyDeleteGot on the water today 2:30 p.m. to fish in the box by 4 awesome April
ReplyDeletedayfish are biting right off of the head 250 300 deep 50 foot on The wire
Spotty bite for us yesterday too. From outside the fence off the college to the esteros in 290 to 260. 1 keep, 7 shorts and a decent one lost at the boat. 100 foot to 40 foot on the wire
ReplyDeleteI don't care for catch and release, it should be like digging clams the first 2 you catch is your limit, or what ever the limit may be, your done. I e seen the large mouth bass fishery on many lakes where the fish are diseased from handling, jaws ripped up or nasty holes missing eyes...and to catch and release invasive species is a crime or at least should be...
ReplyDeleteAs much as I like catching stripers I hate the fact the toll they put on our salmon and Steele Head industry