Petrale Sole on Sonoma Coast?

Hey everyone, I’m looking to catch some Petrale sole out on the Sonoma Coast. Not asking for spots, just if they are generally here. I hear people saying look for sandy bottoms over 100’ deep. Anyone catching them out of Bodega?

I once spoke to a commi at the HMB fish market. They were loaded with them and starry flounder. They told me they catch them at 300ft if I remember correctly. I never fished for them myself. Good luck!

I’ve caught a few, but never intentionally. I’ll be interested to hear how people actually target them. They are great eating…

Hey everyone, I’m looking to catch some Petrale sole out on the Sonoma Coast. Not asking for spots, just if they are generally here. I hear people saying look for sandy bottoms over 100’ deep. Anyone catching them out of Bodega?

The issue with bodega bay is the SMCA. You can only troll for pelagic species in that area, which is the deeper sandy water in range of a kayak. You could go due south along the SMCA line, but it doesn’t get as deep. I’ve tried there a few times without success.

At any rate there are flatfish in Sonoma county. I have found them further north than bodega bay head straight out to deeper water away from the rocks and rockfish areas.

At any rate there are flatfish in Sonoma county. I have found them further north than bodega bay head straight out to deeper water away from the rocks and rockfish areas.

I've though about this, but I wonder what the attitude of DFW is going to be toward people transiting rockfish areas and fishing shallower that 300' with gear which could be used just as well for catching rockfish. How well is "but I'm targeting flatfish" going to fly?

At any rate there are flatfish in Sonoma county. I have found them further north than bodega bay head straight out to deeper water away from the rocks and rockfish areas.

I've though about this, but I wonder what the attitude of DFW is going to be toward people transiting rockfish areas and fishing shallower that 300' with gear which could be used just as well for catching rockfish. How well is "but I'm targeting flatfish" going to fly?

I've also been thinking about this - I intend to fish for CA halibut in Pacifica before rockfish season opens.

I think it will all come down to what species you have on board.  Otherwise, seems like they can't really enforce this.

How have they handled this in past situations, or with other species? 

At any rate there are flatfish in Sonoma county. I have found them further north than bodega bay head straight out to deeper water away from the rocks and rockfish areas.

I've though about this, but I wonder what the attitude of DFW is going to be toward people transiting rockfish areas and fishing shallower that 300' with gear which could be used just as well for catching rockfish. How well is "but I'm targeting flatfish" going to fly?

I've also been thinking about this - I intend to fish for CA halibut in Pacifica before rockfish season opens.

I think it will all come down to what species you have on board.  Otherwise, seems like they can't really enforce this.

How have they handled this in past situations, or with other species?

I don't see why it would be an issue. If you fished for flatfish but continued to incidentally catch rockfish the regulations require you to move. Otherwise, if you're fishing for flatfish, and catching flatfish, what would the problem be in the eyes of the warden?

At any rate there are flatfish in Sonoma county. I have found them further north than bodega bay head straight out to deeper water away from the rocks and rockfish areas.

I've though about this, but I wonder what the attitude of DFW is going to be toward people transiting rockfish areas and fishing shallower that 300' with gear which could be used just as well for catching rockfish. How well is "but I'm targeting flatfish" going to fly?

I've also been thinking about this - I intend to fish for CA halibut in Pacifica before rockfish season opens.

I think it will all come down to what species you have on board.  Otherwise, seems like they can't really enforce this.

How have they handled this in past situations, or with other species?

I don't see why it would be an issue. If you fished for flatfish but continued to incidentally catch rockfish the regulations require you to move. Otherwise, if you're fishing for flatfish, and catching flatfish, what would the problem be in the eyes of the warden?

"if you're... catching flatfish"

Well there's your problem right there. I'm probably not going to catch anything, so I'll just look like an unsuccessful rockfish poacher!

I'm just saying that a three way setup normally used for halibut can also catch all of the species in the RCG complex, and jigs usually used for rockfish can also catch halibut. So, regardless of year on board, it kinda depends on what you tell the warden and what fish you have on board. I'm not gonna worry about it too much, but also not going to fish over areas that I know hold rockfish. 

My plan, next time I go to Pacifica, is to drop crab traps in sandy areas hoping for dungees, then drift/troll around my traps hoping for halibuts, knowing that they like sandy areas too.

I think the only problem comes when you are targeting rockfish purposely.

It comes down to the warden's discretion. If they watch you through binoculars sore-lipping dozens of rockfish and refusing to adjust your tactics or location, then yeah, you'll probably get a warning. But I don't think they'd write you a ticket unless you were keeping the rockfish.

Really, I think you'll get more hassle from other anglers than the warden. They'll probably assume you're fishing for rockfish and may come over to give you grief about it. Just be prepared for that.

I think the only problem comes when you are targeting rockfish purposely.

I’ve always wondered how “targeting” could be enforced. The places I like to fish for halibut are also filled with rockfish and the way I fish, I always ends up hooking more RF than halibut, even when I try to avoid the RF schools. It makes me leery to fish for halibut outside of RF season…