Bay Sturgeon Anybody?

From what i can see and feel over hear in sac, its just coming down w/ water and wind! But im gonna lose it if i sit at home any longer.lol...Lookin to get out and try to soak sum shrimp in bay sumwhere. Maybe someone knows of better weather down there. Thinkin of hittin SPB, mcnears, black point. If anybody just wants to hook up hit me up! ricci

what day you thinkin ??

I've never done it, but tempted!  What do I need to get started?  Anchor setup, snare, sturgeon leaders, bait?

I've never done it, but tempted!  What do I need to get started?  Anchor setup, snare, sturgeon leaders, bait?

Bring a good magazine or book.   
I'm ready!!

I've never done it, but tempted!  What do I need to get started?  Anchor setup, snare, sturgeon leaders, bait?

its pretty much WSB fishing on anchor.....60-80lb mono with a big ass octo or khale hook. Bait can be ghost, grass shrimp, herring, eel (although I don't see many yakkers using it). Heck I got mine last year on squid soaked in crab/shrimp pro-cure. As long as some one has a snare you will be fine. I have one you can borrow in needed.

I've never done it, but tempted!  What do I need to get started?  Anchor setup, snare, sturgeon leaders, bait?

its pretty much WSB fishing on anchor.....60-80lb mono with a big ass octo or khale hook.

I need some education- what's the advantage of using mono for sturgeon over braid other than elasticity.
All my reels have braid, and not sure I want to replace it.  I do have one setup with braid topped with about 60 yds of flouro.

I've never done it, but tempted!  What do I need to get started?  Anchor setup, snare, sturgeon leaders, bait?

its pretty much WSB fishing on anchor.....60-80lb mono with a big ass octo or khale hook. Bait can be ghost, grass shrimp, herring, eel (although I don't see many yakkers using it). Heck I got mine last year on squid soaked in crab/shrimp pro-cure. As long as some one has a snare you will be fine. I have one you can borrow in needed.

Eric, can you or anyone else tell me where I can purchase a dino snare? It's very nice that you and others would lend out theirs, but I would definitely like to have one if I ever do some fishing for them

- Daniel

When you get all your stuff together and you find someplace to go make sure you have an emergency plan. SPB is no place to be alone or with inexperience. There are some folks here who go solo but they have bookoo time OTW. Dont bring a book either if you want to see your bite. Its so subtle that you will miss it if you are not paying attention. The waves and wind can come up in SPB with very little warning. Its a shallow bay so all the wave action from the wind comes up to the top. You are going to be in 50 degree water with possibly debris from the runoff from recent storms. Be safe and sane.

I've never done it, but tempted!  What do I need to get started?  Anchor setup, snare, sturgeon leaders, bait?

its pretty much WSB fishing on anchor.....60-80lb mono with a big ass octo or khale hook.

I need some education- what's the advantage of using mono for sturgeon over braid other than elasticity.
All my reels have braid, and not sure I want to replace it.  I do have one setup with braid topped with about 60 yds of flouro.

Sorry just a leader mono. I run braid main line on all my reels. I use a sliding sinker (slido) and from the swivel about 2-3 feet of mono (60-80lb). I suppose braid would be fine. Its not like they are going to see it in all that mucky water. some use wire leaders but I don't think its necessary...my .02 cents

Hippo at Hi's tackle has some good pointers on the set up. think heavy duty halibut

I've never done it, but tempted!  What do I need to get started?  Anchor setup, snare, sturgeon leaders, bait?

its pretty much WSB fishing on anchor.....60-80lb mono with a big ass octo or khale hook. Bait can be ghost, grass shrimp, herring, eel (although I don't see many yakkers using it). Heck I got mine last year on squid soaked in crab/shrimp pro-cure. As long as some one has a snare you will be fine. I have one you can borrow in needed.

Eric, can you or anyone else tell me where I can purchase a dino snare? It's very nice that you and others would lend out theirs, but I would definitely like to have one if I ever do some fishing for them

- Daniel

well i think its pretty much a home build item...Craig (rblack) gifted me mine last year (thanks again). its pretty much PVC coated cable a few crimps and all important (hard to find) line tensioner. Here is a retail one (bottom link). but you can make it for about $6 and simple hand tools (drill and pliers).

here is a dino how to from Dr K! even before the slot limit! The has a how to on the snare

http://www.kzreelrods.com/Sturgeon/Kayak%20Sturgeon%20Methods%202009.pdf



http://www.surftosummit.com/promar-439-tail-snare-p-1944.html?cPath=313_314

Walmart carries the line tensioners. Outdoor Pro Shop in Rohnert Park carries the pre-assembled snares.

Just my 2 cents, in fast moving water keep your leaders short, less than a foot.  Keep your bait on the bottom,  I have even put an egg sinker on the leader using the hook as a stop.  

Fisherman's Warehouse in Sac had snares last winter, I'll check next time I go in, or check with Eric in Fresno.  Can also get them online from CharkBait.

A few more thoughts on safety. Please pay attention to RB's advice to be smart and sane.  Eric Kunz discusses this in his tutorial.  Conditions can go bad very quickly in SPB. I was out last Thursday in SPB fishing the first big tide out in front of the storms. Dense fog with about 100ft vis at launch, cleared to cool sunshine and glass conditions at 1000. About 1:30 pm as I looked to the east I could see what looked like a wall of water coming across the Bay towards me.  It took about 10 minutes to cross the bay and get to me - it was a squall line with 10 kt winds and 3-4 ft wind waves.  Conditions changed in a matter of seconds from glass to slop.  I pulled anchor and called it a day (No dinos, 1 shark).  It's no fun in those conditions, as well as dangerous, and to be done with partners.

Make sure that you have a functioning quick-release anchor set-up with an anchor that is heavy enough to hold in strong currents if you are fishing the bigger 6-7 ft tides.  Your anchor must hold in order to be able to fish. And as Craig stated, have an emergency plan and partners in case you end-up in the water. It happens, at the McNears event last year we had 2 guys get dunked but we had plenty of help around to assist as needed. You might not be able to swim back to your boat if you went in and lost contact with your boat at the peak of a big tide when the current is ripping. So have a plan.

Go for it, just be smart and safe.

I agree with all of the above. Safety first, teamwork second. sleigh rides third!

Let me know Ricci!!! Im a local resident, your welcome to come chill at the house and eat, sleep, B.S, Shoot Bow. We keep It real Safe around here Brotha!!!

Fishadow Chad 510-520-0787

Ricci any interest in trying to put together a hook-up one day next week?  I can probably get out there early in the week.  I've never fished for sturgeon and probably don't have any of the gear I need, but I'm down to try and it would be nice to get some fishing in next week.  Chad I'd love to hook up and get some local intel...