salmon sportsfishing season is on- opening 4/2

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_17618145

 

 

That is great news!!!

I can imagine the smiling faces and buzz of activity on the charter boat fleets at Emeryville, Berkeley, Bodega Bay etc.

Just put fresh line on the new reels today. Can't wait for mooching trips.

My question is "J" hooks or circle hooks. Anyone know the salmon regs for the Golden Gate coast/North Coast etc. for mooching?




 

I'm sure it will be circle hooks to cut down on mortality, considering the reason the season has been restricted the past several years.

Great news. I've got a question. It's gonna be next to impossible for me to get out and fish in the month of April. Is there a certain time of year/month where Salmon fishing is most productive? Hopefully I don't have to miss out.

Great news. I've got a question. It's gonna be next to impossible for me to get out and fish in the month of April. Is there a certain time of year/month where Salmon fishing is most productive? Hopefully I don't have to miss out.

Depends where you are, as different ports have different historic trends.  At Shelter Cove the season used to start the second Saturday in February, and if it was flat enough to get out we'd catch a steady stream of smaller fish (4-8 pounds), the occassional 10-14 pounder, and a few 20+'s early in the season.  The summer months bring bigger, fatter fish because of the increase in feed and the idea that fish are fattening up on their way to a final spawning mission, and the ocean is generally more managable in the summer, so June, July and August are the big months for salmon fishing.  Caught my biggest in early September ('06).

Thanks Eric! I'm getting excited already!

Thanks Eric! I'm getting excited already!

Fingers crossed that we'll get on a hot salmon bite at the Cove before, during and after GS5!   

Anyone who shows up at Shelter Cove will get my best information about how and where to catch a salmon.   

From what I remember of the glory days, the Bay Area charter fleet would start out well offshore from the Gate and target the salmon relating to krill. The fish were smaller (4-10 pounds  w/a few 15's thrown in). The preferred method was fast trolling with the big cannonball sinker/release and twirling baitfish setup.

I didn't think it was much fun, but it did put meat on the table.  Heavy gear was needed. The stern people always seemed to catch the most fish and some of them were very slow to move out of the way when the side (boat) people tried to bring their fish aft to the net. Lots of lost fish because of the stern jerks. More like winching instead of fishing.

Sometime in May the boats began to switch to boat stop/drift mooching. Fish getting bigger but some smaller shakers mixed in. Lighter gear. Nicer people on the boats.

June, July August and early September. Prime. Boat stop/drift mooching. Progressively closer into shore (and the Golden Gate) as the summer turns to early fall. Big fish. Pt. Reyes, off Pacifica, Double Point and west/northwest of the Gate. Time of Slugs (25-35 pounds) and a few even bigger.     

 

Thanks Eric! I'm getting excited already!

Fingers crossed that we'll get on a hot salmon bite at the Cove before, during and after GS5!   

Anyone who shows up at Shelter Cove will get my best information about how and where to catch a salmon.   

Does it has anything to do with "bell" and "whistle"? 

Thanks Eric! I'm getting excited already!

Fingers crossed that we'll get on a hot salmon bite at the Cove before, during and after GS5!   

Anyone who shows up at Shelter Cove will get my best information about how and where to catch a salmon.   

Does it has anything to do with "bell" and "whistle"? 

Hopefully it does!!  If it's far from those places then I usually don't get bit.   

This winter, I've heard more accounts of incidental salmon caught in Monterey than any other winter I can recall. Seriously, people are pulling up salmon left and right...on sabikis, squid, sardines, everything.
Traditionally, the fish show up in Monterey Bay first so April can actually be productive. But last year, all the kings were very deep (150-250ft) on the Santa cruz side. Typically too deep for yaks. Hopefully we'll have a good chance to catch them by yak this season!

I always have figured that when it starts to get really consistently foggy, then pacifica, muir, stinson, etc are in order... prior to that its monterey or too far off shore to be reasonable.

Prime time  has always seemed to be right around the first time trial of the TdF

Prime time  has always seemed to be right around the first time trial of the TdF

LOL.  spoken like a true roadie.

stoked for a slammin salmon season