Northern California <b>fishing</b> report

The weekly fishing report will highlight the best Bay Area angling opportunities. For a more comprehensive report, go to http://www.norcalfishingnews.com for reports from more than 100 waters from 12 regions.

LAKES

ANDERSON: Bass are in deeper water. Try Rat-l-Traps at launch ramp or corner of dam. Drag jigs slowly near rocky points. 408-463-0711.

BERRYESSA: Trout have moved a bit deeper and rainbows to 2.8 pounds are being caught. Some are catching kokanee at 45 feet. Catfish will get busy in the north end. Use shad or mackerel. Bass will scatter if shad move. 707-255-5544, 916-502-3474.

CALERO: Senkos will get bass. Back of dam has been productive with live minnows. 408-463-0711.

CHABOT: Double plant of trout went in last week but lake is getting muddy. This will need a few days and maybe a week. 510-247-2526.

CHESBRO: Catfish bite continues and rain shouldn't hurt. Fish near dam with cut baits. 408-358-3741, 408-463-0711.

CONTRA LOMA: Trout bite has been steady this week. Night crawlers get most fish. Limits are common near boat launch, Channel Point and east shore. Catfish bite has slowed. 510-544-3154.

COYOTE: Fishing is slow. A 4-pounder was caught last week with a shaky-head but that was exception rather than a common place occurrence. 408-463-0711.

DEL VALLE: Trout anglers are getting two to three

fish per outing fishing from bank. Bonus plant of trophy fish is paying results. Trout 8 to 12 pounds being caught near Marina and East Beach. Smallmouth bite and striper bite has slowed. Lake-record 100-pound sturgeon was caught and released Monday. 925-449-5201.

LAFAYETTE: Trout and catfish have been biting well. Chicken livers get cats. Night crawlers, Power Bait get trout from shore. Rapalas, Kastmasters get trout on the troll. Trout plant from DFG is scheduled this week. 925-284-9669.

LEXINGTON: Drop-shot with heavier sinkers (quarter- to half-ounce) to reach deeper water. RoboWorms a good choice. 408-463-0711.

LOS VAQUEROS: Plant of 1,000 pounds of trout went in Tuesday and shoreline anglers are catching them with Power Bait and night crawlers. Trollers get 18- to 21-inch striped bass. No big striper catches recently. Lake won't get cloudy but shorelines will be muddy. 925-371-2628.

MOUNT TAMALPAIS LAKES: Bon Tempe received 1,000 pounds of DFG trout last week and Lagunitas received 500 pounds of half-pound fish Tuesday. 415-945-1194.

QUARRY LAKES: Four trout larger than 8 pounds and limits are being caught, too. Best spot is backside of Horseshoe Lake. Power Bait or spoons take trout. Catfish will take shrimp. 510-544-3133.

SAN LUIS RESERVOIR: Basalt and Trash Racks are best spots to drift live jumbo minnows, pile worms or blood worms for stripers to 10 pounds. 408-463-0711.

SHADOW CLIFFS: Plant of 1,125 pounds of trout went in last week and another 1,000 pounds went in this week. Lake doesn't get muddy and is a good bet during breaks in rain. 510-544-3230, 925-426-0197.

UVAS: Fish points and coves near dam with shaky heads. Bass to 3 pounds are being caught. 408-463-0711.

DELTA

ANTIOCH: Collinsville is a hot spot for sturgeon and striped bass. One striper caught last weekend was 28 pounds. Broad Slough is also good for both. Sturgeon are being caught from River View Bridge. Handful of keeper sturgeon also have been caught from Antioch Pier. 925-706-7400.

BENICIA: Bouy 2 under Benicia Bridge kicked out stripers to 13 pounds last weekend. Few have been going out for sturgeon. 707-745-4921.

FRANK'S TRACT: Stripers will take anchovies or shad. Most are schoolies. 925-625-2441.

FREEPORT: Bite has gone quiet. No salmon, stripers or sturgeon over past few days. 916-665-1935.

PITTSBURG: Before the storm, striper bite for bass in 6-pound range was good. They were in shallow water near Broad Slough and Collinsville. Sturgeon bite is so-so. There are a lot of undersized fish. Pittsburg Marina and Dockside Bait & Tackle will hold a sturgeon and striped bass derby Dec. 14-16. Entry fee is $35 and includes lunch. All proceeds go to prizes. 925-252-0151.

RIO VISTA: Striped bass and sturgeon action is improving. Stripers are found from Sherman Island to Cache Slough. Some are caught daily from the Rio Vista Pier. Sizes range from 5 to 25 pounds. Best way to get stripers is drifting live mudsuckers or minnows. Bigger fish seem to prefer drifted minnows. Sturgeon like ghost or grass shrimp. Best action is in Cache Slough and Sherman Island. 707-374-2372, 916-777-6498.

TRACY: Striped bass continues to be steady for keeper fish 6 to 8 pounds. There is plenty of action for catch-and-release. Trolling with Rat-l-Traps gets action. Some jig, some use live bluegill. 209-835-3182.

RIVERS

NAPA: Night anglers are getting sturgeon. Freshwater should draw sturgeon farther upstream. Striper fishing will be tougher with muddy water. 707-255-5544.

RUSSIAN: River will be blown through weekend but should draw last of the king salmon run and bring more steelhead into system. 707-869-2156.

SALTWATER

BERKELEY: Trips are scheduled Saturday. If that fails, crab/cod trips will go out Wednesday and Friday. Happy Hooker on Saturday had 21 limits of ling cod, 21 limits of rock cod and limits of crab while fishing above Duxbury. 510-235-2032, 510-849-3333, 510-223-5388, 707-334-4827.

BODEGA BAY: If there is a chance to get out Saturday, New Sea Angler will go for crab and cod. Cod limits are regular. Ling cod action is hit-or-miss. Limits of crab and cod have been achieved every trip. 707-875-3344.

EMERYVILLE: New Huck Finn on Monday had 22 limits of rock fish, 14 lings to 12 pounds and limits of crab. Fishing took place at the island. Scores have been similar. Six weekend trips all limited. Call to see if weekend trips are a go. 510-654-6040.

MONTEREY: Caroline on Tuesday had 70 crab and near limits of rock cod. Next trips might be on weekend, but that could be a wash. Call first. 831-375-5951, 831-372-7440.

MOSS LANDING: Rock cod trips will resume next week when weather settles. 831-633-2564.

PACIFICA: Crabbing has been slow and much of recent catch has been pregnant females and juveniles. Commercial boats have been working close to the pier and that is impacting crabbing from shore. 650-355-8303, 650-359-9790.

PILLAR POINT: Weekend crab/cod and rock cod only trips are in limbo because of weather. Call first. 650-726-7133, 510-581-2628.

PORT SONOMA: Sturgeon fishing is expected to be much better during breaks in the storm. Additional freshwater coming from rivers will attract sturgeon looking for food washing down. 707-762-7818.

SAN FRANCISCO: No sturgeon being caught but conditions are improving. Pier anglers at Oyster Point get sharks and rays. 650-589-3474, 510-703-4148.

SAN PABLO BAY: Sturgeon fishing was good before rain, could be sensational after storms move through. Striper fishing has slowed. 415-456-0321.

SUISUN BAY: Keeper stripers are being caught near Glomar and Garnet Point. Sturgeon are being caught from deep water in front of Mothball Fleet. 925-229-9420, 916-777-6498.

-- Tim GoodE

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California cannabis cultivation compromising cohos?

The Sorting Table: California cannabis cultivation compromising cohos?

The Sorting Table delves into commercial fishing news from coast to coast. The editorial staff of National Fisherman invites you to share your insights on what’s going on in the industry.

CategoriesRecent EntriesCatch shares: A nation dividedSupporting cast growingGetting ready for the rallyWhat's next for Maine's shrimpers?"That conversation is going to have to happen"California cannabis cultivation compromising cohos? No accounting for fund mismanagementAt least put a label on itWhetting your app-etite for Copper River salmonCod cuts illustrate need for March 21 fishermen's rallyRecent CommentsMike Dolan on NOAA is all apologiesBrian on Introducing the iLobsterBen on Introducing the iLobsterBeringFisherman on Groundfish catch shares going bi-coastal Dick Allen on Jane, doh!National Fisherman on Jane, doh!Wreckfish on Jane, doh!Sierra Anderson on Facing factsken grimshaw on Tough loveJessica on Recovery in a snapArchivesMarch 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011« No accounting for fund mismanagement |Main| "That conversation is going to have to happen" »

February 24, 2012California cannabis cultivation compromising cohos?

Given all the obstacles to rebuilding West Coast salmon stocks, I’d wager you didn’t know marijuana was one of them.

To clarify, it’s not as if salmon have become stoners with a bad case of the munchies who now swim upstream in a desperate search for a bag of Doritos.
 
Rather, according to a story in the Eureka (Calif.) Times Record, the conservation group Friends of the Eel River says marijuana cultivation is having a negative impact upon coho salmon and the watershed. It was the topic of a presentation the group’s executive director, Scott Greacen, was giving at California’s 39th Annual Fisheries Forum in Sacramento on Wednesday.

The daylong forum enables those involved in California fisheries and aquaculture to directly address the state legislature about issues important to them.
 
Greacen was to discuss the negative impacts marijuana cultivation is having upon California’s third largest salmon producing river. The group says poorly planned outdoor growing operations are resulting in problems stemming from over-use of fertilizers and pesticides that are toxic to fish, growers taking river water for their operations, and poor land-use practices that result in sediment slipping into the rivers.

Surprised that pot growing is discussed so casually in the Golden State? Well, under California law, individuals can grow a limited amount of marijuana for personal and medicinal purposes. Amid conflicting county, state, and federal laws regarding marijuana growth (federal law prohibits it), through the years, growing operations have mushroomed in Northern California, and become big business.
 
Greacen told the newspaper that Northern California officials had been successfully regulating growing operations. But when the federal government started cracking down on marijuana dispensaries, growers slipped into the shadows.

Consequently, growing practices aren’t eco- or fish-friendly and subject coho salmon that spawn and live in the river to pollution. Greacen told the newspaper that he hopes California legislators will understand the need for cooperation, transparency and regulation that enable cohos to co-exist with marijuana growers.

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2011 California Billfish Series Wraps Up

While the 2011 California striped marlin season will go down as another tough one for the West Coast, the teams that participated in the California Billfish Series presented by Typhoon Polarized Optics made the most of it and still had plenty of fun. With three individual fishing tournaments, including the Zane Grey Invitational, Catalina Classic and Avalon Billfish Classic, the California Billfish Series attracts the top marlin crews in the western U.S. to compete for some big money.

The Zane Grey Invitational was the first tournament in the series, held September 11-13. Tournament director Ali Hussainy made the decision to move the tournament to Dana Point to take advantage of a body of striped marlin located right off the beach. It was a popular decision and the crew on Shark's Parlour, a 47 Riviera, scored a big win, taking home a paycheck of $79,213 for the Day One and Day Two dailies as well as the overall jackpot.

The team on Shark's Parlour, including Jim Sloan, Tom Sloan, Eric Hermann, Bryce Hermann, Rick Triguiero and Jesse Henry took the lead on Day One and held the position the entire event. The team hooked a marlin well south of Dana Point on a live bait at 10:55 a.m. on Day One. Jesse Henry landed the fish just 20 minutes later, and the team decided to release it and take the 100 points. Henry's fish was the only one caught on the day.

At 8:19 a.m. on Day Two, the team on Ruckus, a 40 Riviera, radioed tournament control to report a hookup on a live bait. Angler Johnny Jensen came tight to a striped marlin and it sounded like the fleet had found the fish. Unfortunately, Jensen's fish came unbuttoned just a few minutes later and the 10-boat fleet did not report any more hookups on the day. Shark's Parlour release on Day One stood as the only qualifying catch and swept all of the dailies and overall jackpot.

The next two events in the series, the Catalina Classic and Avalon Billfish Classic were held on historic Catalina Island from September 18-20. These tournaments are fished simultaneously as the Catalina Classic is a big-fish event and the Avalon Billfish Classic is an all-release tournament. The majority of the participating boats fish in both tournaments at the same time.

The 21 participating teams enjoyed blue skies and perfect temperatures as they checked in at Descanso Beach and tried their luck at the Phenix Rods casting contest, and battled it out from the Pompanette fighting chair. The prize money up for grabs totaled $138,167 with 10 boats going all-in across the board in the Catalina Classic and two more went for the big payday in the Avalon Billfish Classic as well. When you add in all of the great prizes from the tournament's sponsors, including Fraser-Volpe gyros, custom bronze trophies, Phenix marlin casters with Accurate reels, Hot Liquid Lures, Dana Landing gift cards and much more, the fleet is fishing for more than $160,000 in cash and prizes.

Each angler had a chance to win a brand-new Phenix marlin caster with an Accurate 665 reel in the casting contest. It was a tight competition with several guys hitting the target but in the end Billy Miyagawa and Barry Brightenburg won out and each went home with a rod-and-reel combo worth upwards of $1,000.

There was also a cranking contest from a Pompanette fighting chair and the Berkley knot-tying competition. Teams mingled back and forth chatting with sponsors and going through their swag bags which were packed to the gills with goodies from the event's sponsors. The Typhoon girls made everyone's day a little brighter as they took photos with competitors.

The opening day festivities were a big hit, but these teams came to catch striped marlin. On Day One, the 21-boat fleet lined up outside of Avalon Harbor in a misty grey light for the Shotgun Start. At the sound of the opening horn most of the fleet motored southeast hoping to find striped marlin. There were a few bodies of fish scattered around the Mackerel Bank and off the east side of Clemente. At 11:13 a.m. the crew on Chaser came tight to a swordfish, which unfortunately don't count in the California Billfish Series. The angler cranked down the drag and broke the fish off after just a few minutes. It was the only reported action of the day.

Conditions were tough going into Day Two, but the fleet wasn't about to give up. After consulting with the teams, tournament director Ali Hussainy made the decision to expand fishing hours to 5 p.m. if no qualifying marlin were caught or released to give teams more time to find a fish.

"We want to see someone win the prize money, so we decided to expand the fishing hours," Hussainy said.

Just before 4 p.m. Capt. Mike "the Beak" Hurt and his team on Chiqelin found what they were looking for. Working the area way south in the tournament grid, the crew cast out a live mackerel on a feeding marlin. They came tight to the fish, which was worth upwards of $140,000 in prize money, but unfortunately it spit the hook just a few minutes after taking the bait.

With no fish caught in the event, Hussainy decided to roll the prize money over to the 2012 events and give back all of the optional jackpot cash minus the tournament's operational cut. It was either that or fish for one more day. It was a popular decision with the participants who applauded the move at the banquet.

Later that night all of the teams assembled in the historic Catalina Casino at Avalon for the banquet dinner and though fishing may have been slow, you wouldn't know it based on the laughs and good times everyone had. Teams dined on prime rib, licked their wounds and walked off with a long list of raffle items such as custom casters from Fisherman's Landing Tackle Shop, Montauk Tackle clothing, artwork, Tournament Cable dredges, subscriptions to Pacific Coast Sportfishing, a trip to Rancho Leonaro, a Pompanette fighting chair and the biggest prize of the night, a $5,000 pair of Fraser-Volpe gyro binoculars.

In the end, it was a fun three days on Catalina and all of the teams agreed that the new owners did a great job with the tournament. The teams loved the new live scoring feature on the tournament website, www.catalinaclassic.com and thanks to the tournament's sponsors, no one went home empty handed.

Media Contact
Ali Hussainy, ali@catalinaclassic.com; 619.277.1978

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California Anglers Advised to Exercise Caution When Fishing Where Seabirds Feed

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reminds anglers who fish along California's shoreline and piers to avoid casting where seabirds feed or congregate. All along the coast, large schools of bait fish such as sardines and anchovies have recently been swimming close to the shore, thus attracting both anglers and hungry seabirds.

Hundreds of birds, including the fully protected California brown pelican, have been injured or killed in recent years after becoming hooked or entangled as they are feeding on the same bait fish that anglers target, or when they try to snag the bait from the end of a fishing line. This has become a serious problem at the Santa Cruz Pier and Monterey Wharf in particular, where popular fishing piers are adjacent to or within feeding grounds for seabirds. Pelicans are particularly vulnerable because fishing piers and jetties also serve as roosting spots.

To make matters worse, many pelicans that linger in unenclosed areas where anglers clean their fish are becoming contaminated with fish oil. Fish oils compromise seabirds' natural waterproofing and insulation, making them vulnerable to hypothermia when cold ocean water contacts their skin.

"When anglers throw scraps around or directly to the pelicans, it teaches them to bum for such scraps," said DFG Wildlife Biologist Esther Burkett. "Saving them requires expensive capture, cleaning and care at a licensed rehabilitation facility. It's far easier to exercise caution and take steps to prevent the problem in the first place."

Sport anglers can help protect wildlife by not casting their fishing lines in close proximity of feeding birds and disposing of fish-cleaning scraps in secure containers with lids.

If you see injured pelicans or other seabirds that could be captured by trained wildlife handlers, please call one of these wildlife rescue organizations:

Santa Cruz County - Native Animal Rescue: (831) 462-0726
Monterey County SPCA: 831-646-5534
San Francisco Peninsula - Peninsula Humane Society: (650) 494-7283 or (650) 340-8200
Marin County - Wildcare: (415) 453-1000
Bay Area - International Bird Rescue: (707) 207-0380
Arcata - Marine Wildlife Care Center: (877) 823-6926
Morro Bay - Pacific Wildlife Care: 805-543-WILD (9453)
Statewide - Wild Care: 866-WILD-911

In other areas, please call your local humane society or SPCA

More wildlife rescue organizations are listed on the Oiled Wildlife Care Network's webpage at www.owcn.org/about-us/participant-organizations.

DFG urges anglers and anyone who visits the shoreline to never chase or feed pelicans or other seabirds. Other ways to avoid hooking or entangling seabirds are listed in California Seabirds: Give Them a Break, Not a Line, on the DFG website at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/seabirds.asp.

Media Contact
Esther Burkett, DFG Wildlife Branch, (916) 531-1594
Dana Michaels, DFG Communications, (916) 322-2420

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