Chemical-free striped bass for the dinner table?

Hey everyone,

It's been a LONG time since I've eaten a striper. I've caught a handful in the Bay and delta over the last few years, but never really felt like eating fish from that nasty water. I know they say you're fine as long as you don't eat Bay fish frequently... But it just isn't that appetizing to me.

Where do you think is the best place to catch a "clean" striper for the dinner table?

Thanks,

Alex

Lake Mendo.

But I wouldn't keep one from there because once they're gone from there they are gone from there for good.

Lake Mendo would be an option, but like you said not terribly sustainable.

My uncle actually used to run the marina at Mendo many years ago. I used to have a blast borrowing rental skiffs and chasing striper boils out there, or dangling live shad off the docks. Used to be great crappie fishing, too...

Hopefully this rain will help bring mendo back to life.

Anyone fish Los Vaqueros for stripers? Never been out there, but would like to give it a try some time.

Lake San Antonio?

Never fished it but heard of stripers there. Del Valle, too.

Catch those surf stripers from San mateo coast or marina! Taste way better than bay stripers!

The Pacific ocean. Lake stripers taste like mud. But if I HAD to...I'd say O'Neill Forebay (most sustainable) Vaqueros (from a rental boat; no yaks allowed) or del Valle or New Hogan.
I know the SF Bay is heavily polluted but remember these fish are not spending their entire lives inside the Bay...they also spend time in the ocean, the delta, and rivers. It comes down to how much food they consume while in each of those locations that'll determine how much pollution the fish, themselves, contain. 

Lake San Antonio?

Never fished it but heard of stripers there. Del Valle, too.

Lake San Antonio definitely has some good ones. I used to fish there a bit while I was at Cal Poly. We used to tie up to the docks in the middle of the night, where the lights would attract baitfish. Our method of choice was fly-lining frozen anchovies. Cast it under the glow of the dock lights and let it SLOWLY fall until it got picked up. Also landed a couple nice catfish in the process.

Here's one of the nicer stripers I landed out there:

I suggest Hogan. The stripers stunt themselves there. Summer time. Roll shad at 35' on the down rigger using koke rods.

FYI, Mercury is a BIG concern at Lake Nacimiento, and I believe San Antonio as well. We never ate stripers from San Antonio.

Anyone fish Los Vaqueros for stripers? Never been out there, but would like to give it a try some time.

Haven't kept a striper from vaqueros, but I never fish for them. The trout are excellent there.  Vaqueros has some big stripers!

The Pacific Ocean is your best bet for a clean fish. They are all over Pacifica and Ocean Beach.

Can anyone confirm/deny if yaks are allowed at vaqueros?

Can anyone confirm/deny if yaks are allowed at vaqueros?

Outside boats are not allowed. http://www.ccwater.com/losvaqueros/index.asp?faq=10

Thanks, Krusty. That's a bummer...

Ocean water is clean?