Here's a couple of pics from yesterday. Ryne Pearce and Wyatt Zanardi caught these salmon to 21 pounds south of Elephant Rock. 

   Linda Boyd of Citrus Heights caught this 25 pound lingcod at an undisclosed location. My guess would be Point Reyes area, and the weather was right for the run on Saturday, but I just don't know and she just won't tell me. She did say that a nearby boat landed one "twice this size." That's why I was asking.

    Mike Gonzalez put the Marisa Kay over the fish today so that Dora Cabanig could catch these 26 pound fish. Mike also caught a salmon and halibut but, no offense Mike, his weren't worth putting in the picture. Sorry. He was trolling near the Towers on Ten Mile.

    Kevin Fogal sent in these pictures from this morning. A "boatless" section of Ten Mile beach was the fishing location. Other nearshore successful locations for salmon included Elephant Rock, McClure's Beach, and Bird Rock. A few of these fish were mooched. Halibut also came from Hog Island (they didn't disappear) and may be present on the bar.

    Dougy Bryant of Ukiah landed a 22 and 24.5 salmon from an undisclosed location.

    The salmon bite was pretty good for the guys I spoke to. Not so much for me, but most everyone else. Most of the action was on-again, off-again, and centered within a mile or two around Elephant. There were some fish on Ten Mile too, but those fish seem to be moving north each day. Here's a photo of a Ten Mile fish, with Alec Bennett demonstrating how to find out what they've been feeding on:

    Or maybe he's trying to see if its gums are black or white? This should be a "caption this photo" contest. 

   Everyone else is catching salmon, so what do we do? Clobber the halibut. I'll try the salmon again, later. I guess this is as good a time as any to announce the Merle Lawson Salmon Derby on the 26th of August, right around the corner. As you can see, I'm not a serious contender.

    Trip Plumb found his limit of salmon today, including this 28 pounder. He also had a minute playing with a thresher shark.

    Every time I see this guy he's smiling. Wonder why? Another day, another 28 pound salmon and his buddies.

    Sean Bottomley of Nevada City caught this 27 pound salmon today. All these fish were trolled, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear about some mooched salmon by this weekend or sooner. You hear me, moochers? Schools of bait and feeding salmon. It's your window of opportunity that you've been waiting a few years for. 

    Here's Scott from Auburn with, as I recall, a 23 pound striper caught on a shiner near the yellow buoy yesterday. Please, Scott, if the details are wrong, let me know. Yesterday was a bit of a blur.

    Jeff Barcus of Lincoln caught this 28 pound salmon in 50 feet of water a little south of Elephant/Keyholes area. Look at that hooked jaw. On the fish. This one is feeling the pull of the river. There are more than this one in the shallower water, now. Nice work Jeff.

    I'm not supposed to give out details about this, except for the fact that Gage caught the big halibut (21#). I think, though, that you can infer quite a few things from the photo....

    The deep water didn't just empty all of its fish out onto the beach. Commercial season opened today and they were picking up some out where the sport boats have been catching. With their 27" minimum size they were throwing back quite a few. Here's a deep water report from Brad Stompe:"USA Fishing reported that the party boats limited by 8:30 yesterday morning in 180' of water.  Today the bite was slower.  We started in 200' with a lot of krill showing at 100 - 150' and picked up three shakers and one just over legal limit.  Moved out to 280' and picked up another at 150' on the wire that went 11 lbs.  Caught the devil fish (another 22 incher) in 300' of water 170' down on the wire.  Done by 1 PM.  

I'm all business on the boat and never think about pictures until it's too late.  I had my 82 year old dad with me cranking manual down-riggers all day and he can't wait to get back out and do it again.

Thanks for posting your blog, I read it frequently and enjoy your commentary" Thanks for your report, Brad. While I would like to go out very day and find the fish, reality (and my wife) says I can't. Sharing a successful (or unsuccessful, really) trip with the rest of us helps everyone out.