San Quinten / Larkspur

With the time change, I fished at "O-Dark 30" this morning for ~ 8 fish.  Hit the favorite haunts of the Windsurf Launch Area. Regretfully I had to leave a strong bite around 8:30 am. Mostly small,  with two to about 17", all on a X Rap.  Gary(?) was just arriving as I left so hopefully he was able to keep the action going. I saw SteveS and ChefS. heading toward the Richmond /San. Bridge and figure they will post on their luck as well. As fall progresses, glad there are still a few around this area.

Jim

well you did better that me only one! why because I am loser  fish hard and left around 10:30. great morning thought!

I planned San Luis O'Neill Forebay--a buddy of mine with a group caught several 5  pounders there last week--he won't exactly say where . But 'Honey-do' list in prep for Halloween Party and Halloween Night prep for kids took over. By the time I was free I figured 2 max hours of fishing for 3  plus driving wasn't worth it. Next Weekend maybe.

well he is not your buddy

And, no, you ain't gettin'' my Bud Light(tm)  

First post...this is Gary.

I'm pleased to join this group and want to thank everyone for all the information that this website has provided.

As I was paddling out to join the fishing frenzy Jim was paddling in and he gave me all his intel from his morning adventures.  Right after he finished his debrief he caught a striper...good timing Jim!  BTW the private boat that nudged you away from the striper school that you found didn't catch anything and moved on.

I trolled a rebel for most of the day and caught a 16" schoolie in front of the kayak store.  I had a hard hit a little later but it got spit because I had my drag set too loose.  SteveS recommended I give the white hair raiser a try because he caught a bunch on his.  Thanks for the advice Steve...unfortunately I had to go in before it had a chance to work its magic.

Before I forget I want to thank Mooch for giving me a NCKA sticker.  I figure that it helped wash the skunk off my kayak after last week.  Then again it helps that I'm dialing in the lures that work, troll speed and fishing spots.

Gary

Before I forget I want to thank Mooch for giving me a NCKA sticker

no problem bradah! Welcome to the madness  


Sorry I missed you guys today   The time change threw me off   ...and I had a monster back ache   It sucked not being able to fish on nice conditions. Ended up on the couch all day watching dudes on fancy boats wearing shirts full of sponsorships from Florida catch monster king fish...or whatever they call it over there  :smt01

I just got my first sponsorship...... from fruit of the loom....unfortunately, I gotta wear 'em inside my pants

Yeah, it's cool to chat folks up.  We had a nice couple ask us LOTS of questions about kayak fishing while we were cleaning up in Stillwater.  I figure the more who get hooked the more voices to support small boat fishing.
Pat

Chef-- you left too early!

Pretty much right after you left, I switched over the the hairraiser, and slowed down my troll...got four (to bring total to 6) under the trestle.
Lost the school, but had a slow pick of six more (which was my target #), before I hightailed it home for a fully day of "honey dos".

Most of the fish were small (including one about 10"), but did get two 20"ers

I have the feeling the depth there is no more than 12-15 feet and the schools are easily reachable with with fly rod and a fast-sinking shooting head. Am I right?

I need to figure out how to bring 4 rods on my kayak--one spin, one bait-caster and two fly rods (one with sinking shooting head and one with Bass-Bug taper for top water--evenings only for the second).

BTW, I talked to one of the owners at Outback Adventures, Jay, (Saratoga Ave in SJ) where I bought my Prowler and told him about the board and that people were catching fish right by his Larkspur location. He told me people have rented boats from him and gone out and caught Stripers just out of the dock.

yep on both counts.

The channel is only 12 feet deep at high tide.
The holes under the trestle are 18-20.
Most of the fish we catch are 6-9 feet down...perfect for a flyrod.
At high tide you'll see fish cruising right at about 2-3 feet along the banks.


We've actually rented from the new shop a few times now.

Its almost over now though...water was noticably colder...

I heard they are pretty light-sensitive and that they like mid-50s water temps which is why they thrive in the north Atlantic. But maybe they leave that area in order to go up to spawn in the Delta about this time. I think I need to go up there this weekend or I'll miss it for this year. I am free Sunday so I am thinking of heading up there with regular gear and fly rod and give it a try before its over.

From my records, my belief is something like this - - -  

Locally (immediate bay area), most Stripers will be leaving the Lower SF Bay anytime now (By Mid-November anyway).  

Some fish have been said to stay local all winter, but not many. It gets really tough trying to catch them in the immediate bay area.  By December this usually means large live baits (bullheads), and a lot of luck.

However, it is just getting going in the Delta (Upper Suisan Bay, Big Break, Franks Tract, Mildred Tract, Discovery Bay.  Basically, any surrounding rivers/sloughs/tracts of that area.

The Delta fishes well into December dependent on the temperatures and clarity of water, linked of course to rain and ambient air temp.  The fishery can be good well into the winter, with pockets of good fishing even as late as Jan/Feb, if settled conditions prevail. Again, in the early spring, if you can find days without wind.

It is EXCELLENT fishery for FlyFishing.  Obviously, as it gets colder you must fish patterns slower (lots of drops and "looonnngggg" pauses).  I have found that good cold water patterns are those that "suspend" - like the Sar-Mul-Mac.  Match the line type to the depth you want to fish, and let the fly suspend during the pauses you have in the retrieve.

As mentioned, most Stripers spend the late Fall, Winter and Early Spring in the Delta.  Then a portion of spawning fish head to the rivers in the late spring to get jiggy, while others return to the lower-bay, where there is good fishable numbers again.

By Late June/early July, 95% are back to the coastline surf or hiding out in the bay - - - where it begins all over again.

Here today - gone tomorrow. The Striper is certainly a ghostly fish!

Jim  

BTW - When and if you go to the delta in your Kayak - watch out for those 175 HP "Kayaks", it is a very dangerous place.

Jim, I think you pretty much nailed the migration pattern!

Thanks. I never dealt with the migration before--the fish in the Forebay and San Luis don't go anywhere