Stopping Speed Boat Access in the Delta

Is there any fishing group currently attempting to stop the cigar-shaped, million dollar speed boats from terrorizing the Delta?
I spent all day Saturday near Franks Tract getting my first exposure to bass fishing in tules. Caught two medium-sized small mouth and released in a prime spot, but couldn't explore more area because of wind and incoming tide was hauling ass from the direction my van was located at Eggo landing. Barely made it back in complete darkness. I knew the wind would likely be a problem so I kept within two miles.
The worst of the power boats was in the last two hours of light. They were actually racing in pairs. One going full throttle came within 30 ft of me. He never saw me because I was tucked into tules, but he shouldn't have made the side turn he did in the 1st place at full speed.
I'll go there on rainy days.
Craig

That's why all my buddies in SJ Fly Casters and the folks on Dan Blanton's BB caution people against kayak fishing on the Delta. There are a lot boats and people can be a bit reckless and some are drinking. And, unlike marine areas, no habor master or Coast Guard watching them closely, no speed limits, and no designated channels so they can go anywhere at any speed they like.

I remember reading a quote from a husband and wife team talkiing about the percevied danger of their Artic expeditions on the water. They said they were in more fear of driving a car--in the Artic, it is they who put themselves at risk when launching and they can chose not to at their discretion and stay safely ashore on bad days--the risks are calculable and it is their own judgment that puts them at risk or not. But in a car, they can do everything right and its someone else's poor judgment and recklessness that can kill or maim them. I feel the same way about the Delta--I am putting my life and wellbeing in too many stranger's hands. I want more control over my safety.

Those Bass could end up the costliest one ever tried to catch. To me, its just not worth life or limb. There are other great Bass fisheries in the Bay area where I don't have to risk in full-contact boating just to get in some fishing.

Oh and your chances of banning any boats from the Delta given all the commercial interests that profit from them being there is exactly zero.

but he shouldn't have made the side turn he did in the 1st place at full speed.

One reason why boaters and Personal water crafts should be licensed....just like us Car Drivers. I just wish we had more Police presence on places like the Delta and other high traffic areas....or like opening day of Rockfish and Salmon. I've even witnessed a so-called professional charter boat from HMB come within feet from Bill (on his kayak) when we were fishing Egg Rock in Linda Mar. Bill actually had to paddle AWAY form the boats path cause he wasn't sure if the capt of the boat could even see him 

Some boaters / PWF operators tend to be "Brave" because they know there's no police around to stop them from doing stupid things 

Just my opinion on the matter.....

On warmer weather weekends and holidays the main sloughs and channels can be ridiculously busy with boat traffic and therefore dangerous, but the deeper back sloughs can be particulary bad given the many blind turns.  This is true regardless of the size of your fishing craft - it's not just kayaks that are at risk.

You wouldn't knowingly fish in shipping lanes; you focus on the quieter bays, harbors, near breakwaters, in fringe areas the powerboaters tend to avoid, etc.  It's the same thing here in the Delta

Delta Fishermen should consider focusing on areas near well-established and longer 5 mph zones, the shallower back reaches away from resorts and marinas frequented by powerboats, and practice early in and early out strategies.  Fish weekdays if possible and go elsewhere on holiday weekends.

Fish safe; fish smart.

P.S. The Delta is a world-class fishing destination.  With a little planning you will really enjoy it.  And if you stay away, it's just more fish for me!

Weekdays trips there are not available to me and weekends are, as you said, 'busy'.
I keep hearing how great it is, but don't see much proof on the board at all.
Let's see some fish and some pics of these great spots on the Delta.
I believe you all, but let's see some pictures.

The coast guard takes these issues very seriously.

If you have been threatened by a powerboat, get the reg number and let the coast guard know.

I don't know if they have jurisdiction in the delta, but I would report boats exhibiting unsafe behavior to the authorities, which ever has the jurisdiction.

As a powerboater, you are responsible for your wake, if your wake causes damage, you are responsible for it.

MolBasser

One Coast Guard pontoon boat went by rather quickly, but didn't have a siren or lights flashing. Of coarse, the racing really began after they went back to base. Nitro valves/switches probably pegged WO.

I practically grew up on a houseboat in Holland Cut, a few bends away from Frank's.  It is every bit the world class fishery.  My personal best was 10 lbs but landed dozens in the 4-6 lb range each year and it can get wide open in the spring and summer.  I've seem some pretty stupid stuff before but I would never suggest avoiding it.  Common sense will keep you safe under most circumstances.  Through the 10+ years of water skiing, fishing and swimming we never had an incident.  You can report unsafe boaters to the CG but would probably get a better response from the local sherriffs.  They had a bad @ss 25' farallon patrolling our area, especially on the holiday weekends.   

Given the fall off in Striped Bass populations, LMB may be the fish of the future for the Delta.

Still that place is labyrinthine and it would really be nice to have some pics of places and fish as well as descriptions of launches for kayak fishing.
Again, I always hear how great it is for kayak fishing but cannot even recall a picture of any place or these great fish. Where are the reports on all this great fishing?

Given the fall off in Striped Bass populations, LMB may be the fish of the future for the Delta.

Still that place is labyrinthine and it would really be nice to have some pics of places and fish as well as descriptions of launches for kayak fishing.
Again, I always hear how great it is for kayak fishing but cannot even recall a picture of any place or these great fish. Where are the reports on all this great fishing?

this might help...
http://fishsniffer.com/cgi-bin/search/search.pl?Range=Any&Format=Standard&Terms=Sacramento+delta+bass+fishing

Thanks Mooch. That will keep me busy.  I know you have been known to fish the Sac Delta for Sturgeon and I wasn't directing my question to you so much as all the talk about the Delta going on.

It's just that I wonder, given all the endorsement on this board for the greatness of the LMB fishing in the Delta (best in the World, etc.) and  that fact that it's a kayak fishing board, where all the kayak bass fishing reports and pictures are. The talk about it is enthusiastic so you'd think these peole are fishing it a lot, but no reports or pics show up. We have more coverage of Rancho Seco than the Delta. What's the story with that?

A couple of us have been talking about how to bring the Delta stuff together.  Here are some links:

Places to launch, etc.:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=5443.0

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=3791.0

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=3714.0

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=4574.0

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=4763.0

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=5221.0

Here’s some Delta how-to stuff in a lighter vein:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=5354.0

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=5431.0

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=5432.0


Maybe we’re just a little behind the times in posting Delta fishing reports.  I am new to kayaking and on the beach between kayaks now, but count on stuff from me soon.

Thanks for the interest.

Thanks DWest, Alfredo, everyone for the launch suggestions.
Last Friday, I did read the Fly Fishing posts for Delta so I knew the general pros and cons.
Just settling-down and fishing has been elusive in a lot of trips I've taken this year. Saturday was another such experience. However, these launches can be marked on the Delta map I bought to pick the more remote locations to concentrate on in the future.
Craig

dwest, thanks! That's a real good start.

My concern was, while the Fish Sniffer is great for general fishing and that using a kayak usually doesn't hinder following their reports and tips, it does in two cases: 1) ocean because they might be talking about long distances from harbor like the Farallons and 2) the Delta again because of access but not distance. So more specific kayak info is helpful particularly launch areas. There are even drug dealers out there doing business and a couple of the guys on Blanton's board have been shot at--I personally would like to avoid their turf.

Re access, stick with us as we develop this thread:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=5443.0

Re safety: keep a "weather eye" out, make your 'yak very easy to see, and avoid mid-day near the main channel and major sloughs.  Fish the out-of-the way spots not attractive to cruisers, water ski boats, and jet skiis mid-day.  Try the shallower upper reaches of the Delta where various rivers and creeks enter, rather than the deeper lower reaches near the San Joaquin or Sacramento River main channels.

But leave some fish for me!