Sturgeon? Dec. 31, Jan. 1st or 2nd?

[kickfish]

Anyone want to go Sturgeon this weekend or Friday?  Probably, launch out of Buck's Landing.

Ken

[Mooch]

I can go Friday / is the tide going to be good?

I hear the Herring are  spawning around candlestick.

Ey...does anyone know how to skin (and gut) a sturgeon?

FOUND THE ANSWER:  

http://www.getbentsportfishing.com/index.php/content/view/39/

[promethean_spark]

+3ft with minimal up and down during daylight.  Maybe a run to the GG for dabs and/or sharks would yield better dividends due to the low currents.

[kickfish]

Joel,

Tides look like (Sausalito) Dec. 31 low 8:13 am  3.39ft/high 1:30pm 4.83.  Not much movement.  But, the muddy conditions should give us a chance.  Eric may know better.  I have only got one Sturgeon in my life time.

Ken

[KZ]

Ey...does anyone know how to skin (and gut) a sturgeon?

FOUND THE ANSWER:  

http://www.getbentsportfishing.com/index.php/content/view/39/

Joel... that link is OK but the guy is still making WAY too much work out of the  whole thing.  You don't need to skin the fish whole... and there is no need to remove the nodo-cord unless you are steaking the fish out (which is too much work).

My advice... go to Keith Fraser's sturgeon seminar in January (22nd I believe) and they'll clean one right there using the easiest and cleanest method there is.

Here's my attempt to describe it.

1.  Cut off the scutes along the top of the spine (as shown in the link).
2.  Make a cross-sectional incision at the base of the head, down to the spine and out to the sides... but do not cut the head off or cut through the rib cage... your just cutting through the meat.
3. Make an incision along the length of one side of the spine, down to the ribcage (not through the ribcage) and use your knife to work down the length of the fish, peeling the fillets off of the ribcage as you go.  
4.  Before you get down to the belly, cut the fillet off.  Don't cut into the body cavity (unless you're looking for caviar and a big mess of guts)... leave the belly meat intact as there's really not much edible meat there anyway.
5.  Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the other side.
6. Skin the fillets as you would any other fillet... sliding your fillet knife between the skin and the meat.
6.  Portion the meat out, wash it, and package it.

Erik

[KZ]

Joel,

Tides look like (Sausalito) Dec. 31 low 8:13 am  3.39ft/high 1:30pm 4.83.  Not much movement.  But, the muddy conditions should give us a chance.  Eric may know better.

The tide is pretty light this weekend, but if you go, fish the outgoing tide.  There's always a chance, but these are not optimal tides.

I'm targeting January 8th for my next trip... ideal afternoon tide... it'll probably be my last trip for a while as the baby is due to arrive at the end of Jan.

Erik

[kickfish]

Thanks for the advice, Eric.

Ken

[promethean_spark]

The 8th looks good.  I know what I'm doing next weekend, but this weekend is still undecided.

[kickfish]

Hey Joel,

Maybe better to go to Shadow Cliffs (stays clear when other lakes are muddy) or San Luis Forebay, again.

Winds are to be Fri. SF Bay 15 to 20 knots and afternoon calming to 10.
Sat and Sun look better for SF Bay 5 to 10 knots.

Ocean is out of the ? 10 to 12 ft swells.  Just thinking someday you would like to go perch.

Ken

[Mooch]

Erik - I'll definitely attend the KF seminar / thanks for the info. Maybe I should concentrate my efforts into catching one first before I "dream" of cleaning one  

Unfortunately, I will be out of town on Jan 8....(HS reunion in LA)BUMMER!   I would really rather catch a sturgeon  

Ken - I'd rather hit the Forebay instead - I think Kevin will join us too. Anyone else?

Ken - where are the perch hotspots? I used to catch them at Montara Beach. I have not seen any action on the HMB Launch Ramp.

[kickfish]

Joel,

It will be raining where ever we go on Fri.  I will call you today to see where we want to fish.

Ken

[Mooch]

Just spoke to John (jdyak). He will recon Coyote Point today and find out how the bank fishermen are doing. So, tomorrow it maybe Coyote Point or Redwood City Slough for Sturgeon. We plan to start at noon till the sun goes down (rain or shine)

Company welcome.

[ChuckE]

Joel, John, Ken.  Let me know where you guys plan to go.  I just know I want to start 2005 in my kayak fishing somewhere.

Reminder..... DON'T FORGET TO GET A 2005 FISHING LICENSE  

[Hobi-Wan Kenobi]

Anyone fishing NYD or Sunday? Thinking about takin advantage of the large herring spawn at Candlestick a couple days ago. Mike from Oyster Point has reported several sturgeon capture off this pier. Intel from PF.C has indicated that the sturgeon are moving from the South Bay are in the Candlestick Cove area to Coyote Pt and Migrating North.
The recent rains have probably flushed out the bottom pests in this area as well as flush bait in San Pablo by Buck's Landing so both spots should be producing even w/ these weak tides.
Personally I'd like to fish the Candlestick cove area in hopes of taggin a larger Dino. The spawn that has occurred a couple days ago should bring in the schools of Dinos to this region according to Abe Cuanang.
Though anywhere would be good for me as having a yak buddy is more important. Let me know if anyone is going out or is interested. I have frozen herring to share and will bring my castnet as well.