San Pablo Sturgeon Hunt

I'm headin' out sometime this week-end. Preferably Saturday, but Sunday is looking a lot more promising weather wise. Greater chance of wind and rain on Saturday.

Tide looks like this:


So I'm probably launching out of Bullhead Flats. I dig those rinse stations there. Launching between 8:00AM and 9:00AM. Company welcome. Channel 69. Gonna fish Rat Rock or the Honey Hole, depending on the conditions.

I'll post which day for sure in a few days when I can trust the weather reports a little more.

Dustin you are ADDICTED!!!!
Wish I could make it. Good luck!

Well, there's not too many other options for kayak fishing around here.

I have no idea how to fish Lake Sonoma and The Pacific is pretty much shut down due to weather and closures.

The bays (Bodega and Tomales) are an option, but I can't imagine too much going on in either at this time...other than rockfish in Bodega, but wait, that's illegal. Still a little early for 'buts in either bay, and San Pablo has much greater possibilities for stripers and dinos than Tomales.

The Russian River is unfishable right now...pretty much killing my hopes for any decent trout for the pool. Only chance I have now is the dinks they stock in Lake Ralphine...which I'll be hunting after work when/if the weather ever clears up a bit...but I've never caught a trout besides the ones in the Cazanoma Lodge trout pond! So that will be a learning experience.

So, yeah, I guess I'm addicted to San Pablo right now.  It's easy, and I have no problems going solo.

In a few more months I'll be stuck hunting flatties in Bodega and Tomales.

Damn this multi-species pool!

Hi, Did you go last weekend? I saw your posting for Dino hunting at SP. I was wondering how you did.

Sturgeon fishing is addictive, at least, to me. It was fun of having one hooked and battled, although I released two of them (42" green and 40" white). I would like to join you if my family would decide not to go skiing this weekend.
Look forward to reports afterwards.

Eric

hey RH, im in for this weekend- which ever day that has the best weather and the most fish.
i yanked my back at work last mon( advanced old age), it put me down for a week, and have major cabin and steurg fever, so i dont think i should paddle too far past the rock. also gonna test out my baddass little homemade trans-scupper periscopic transducer mount for the ff.

Right on.

Sunday still looking best, weather-wise. I'll post for sure by Friday afternoon.

I still need another crack at a Dino myself.  I'll see if I can bust loose Sunday.

Alright - I plan to launch from Bullhead Flats between 8:00AM and 9:00AM on Sunday. I guess the weather will dictate where I end up. The weather forecast isn't cooperating - it went from a 20% chance of rain to a 40% chance or rain, and now even the wind forecast increased a bit.

But what do they know?

Is Bullhead the nice little parking lot by Rat Rock?

Is Bullhead the nice little parking lot by Rat Rock?

Yup. Wanna get a little juiced up?

Check this out. From USAfishing.com:

Joel at Leonard's Bait and Tackle at Port Sonoma had a great report on Wednesday 3-8 from San Pablo Bay, particularly on the bay side of the train trestle over the Petaluma River. One group in a North River Seahawk went out today with 6 dozen ghost shrimp and within 15 minutes of dropping anchor, landed a 67"/80 pounder, They continued to release an 82" oversize and another legal sturgeon . Joel reported a minimum of 15 sturgeon landed near the train trestle in the past week. The fish have been biting on both tides. One angler who moors his boat in the marina reported great fishing on Saturday morning with five boats in the area of the trestle will fish on board. He marked fish "everywhere" as his "screen lit up" with marks. The sturgeon were loaded with crushed clam shells.
Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle had two boats out today with spectacular results from one of the boats before they got blown off the bay. They fished in the Pumphouse area for only 2 hour and 10 minutes before it got too rough and landed 3 legal sturgeon to 65" and released 6 shakers. It was pumper after pumper after pumper. This experienced angler called it the "greatest
action in 20 years". It is so good that the bay will be full of celebrity anglers including Keith himself tomorrow.

OK Dustin... you got me...

I'm going to try for Saturday Morning... early launch out of Black Point.  Launch at sunrise (or earlier... 6 to 6:30) and fish the flats for the  incoming tide... maybe stay in the river if it's looking windy. 

May padde up into the river to fish the outgo if the weather permits as well.

I fished that area about this time last year and there were lots of sturgeon in the river... jumpers all over.  Sounds like we might have similar conditions now.

FYI... this may be the last weekend of the season to legally keep a fish over 56".  If you've been following the messages on the Coastside board, sounds like DFG will be adopting emergency sturgeon regulations very soon that will reduce the slot limit to 46 to 56 inches for the next three months.

Erik

Hear that on 3-17-06 the slot limit will be 46" to 56".....

Ken kickfish

Hey Guys-

There's a great chance that I'll be able to get out this weekend. I was thinking about the honey hole but I don't know if the weather will allow it. I'm curious about trying the river area though. Sounds like it'll be more protected even if the wind picks up. Sure would appreciate some directions. Hopefully, I can hook up with you guys.

Freddie

Here's info about the launch and directions.

http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/pk/main/pos/pdbptboatlnch.cfm

Black point is situated underneath the Highway 37 Bridge as it crosses the Petaluma River. 

Across the river from Black Point is the Port Sonoma Marina and Leonard's Bait Shop which opens at 6:30 AM.  You can drive to the bait shop or paddle in to it... it's at the end of the dock at the marina.

I'm getting bait tonight in Petaluma so I can get in the water at the crack of dawn.

Hopefully the weather holds out.

Erik

Thanks Erik for the info. Looks like Sunday will be my fishing day though. Let me know how you do if you get out there tomorrow.

Freddie