Pacifica Pier News

The coast: Phoned one of the tackle shops in Pacifica that keeps tabs on the various happenings at the pier, and the news was somewhat less than thrilling. Very few Dungeness and very little of anything else. In terms of fish, there are kingfish and there are bullheads coming up on the shrimp- and pile worm-baited hooks. In fact, the fishing for bullheads is going fairly well, to the extent that many of the horned little fish are kept and brought north and east, to be used as striped bass bait in the delta. And crab … The guy on the phone knew of a guy who landed five Dungies the other morning, all brought in by way of a squid-laced snare rig. Otherwise, the catch is closer to one or none for a day of trying. Worse still, there are crabbers baiting their rings with chicken, which, oddly enough, seems to just beg the sea lions to move in, which more or less shuts down all the other fishing. Nothing else, time on the pier is bound to be interesting.

E-mail Brian Hoffman at bhoffman@sfchronicle.com.

SFGATE

PACIFICA: There have been a lot of crabbers at the pier and results have been fair. The water has been on the rough side but when it’s calm, the crabbing is best. There is a decent perch bite from the beaches on blood and pile worms. (650) 355-8303
Tim Goode/ Contra Costa Times

Recommends Pacifica Pier as the only shore based location from which to catch Dungeness Crab when the season opens November 1st. Link at SFGate.

South side: It is July, and we do remember the chirpy news crews out at Pacifica Pier, reporting on the “unbelievable schools of mighty salmon” and “masses of enthusiastic anglers. Back to you, Brenda.” Seems impossible, given the past two seasons, but it happened, salmon were indeed caught from Pacifica Pier, hauled in over the battered sides. Local legend, from not too far back, has it that a thousand king salmon were landed from the pier. In a single day. Last year? It didn’t happen. This year? Best we can scrounge is a month-old report of two salmon landed, both silvers, which hopefully were briefly admired and released. Still, it’s the pier, the great L, the Rev. Herschell Harkins Memorial Pier, if you’re formal, running a quarter mile out over the sea. And something is always happening, day or night, perch or smelt or flounder or who knows. No boat needed. Just a willingness to fish, be friendly and happily freeze. By way of a slightly more serious approach, the neoprene-clad surf fishers, working the beach on both sides of the pier, are said to land the very occasional striped bass, and nearly all of these caught very early, right about the time night gives up to dawn.

Brian Hoffman
Thursday, July 26, 2007
This article appeared on page D - 8 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Sometimes, as party boat skippers like to joke, you just have to tell your statistics to shut up.

In the past 14 trips on the New Seeker and C-Gull II out of Emeryville, there have been a total of 205 people catch 1,230 Dungeness crabs and 2,050 rockfish — that works out to limits every trip for all aboard, 6 Dungeness crabs and 10 rockfish per person.

“Despite some of the talk of a down season, there’s plenty of crabs and rockfish out there,” said Craig Stone, owner of Emeryville Sportfishing. “When the commercial crab season opened in mid-November, there were a lot of stories about how the catch was down. But we are measured by different standards and it’s been great.”

A party boat with 10 people aboard, for instance, can catch 60 Dungeness crabs (limits) that total about 125 pounds, a great day. Yet that same catch that would be a disaster for the commercial fisherman, who needs about 1,000 pounds of crab per trip to make his business work.

The numbers are even more revealing when you look at the dollar costs.

To board a party boat on a crab combo, that is, fishing for both Dungeness crabs and rockfish, it costs roughly $65 to $70 out of Emeryville, Berkeley and Bodega Bay. If you catch limits, it equals about 10 to 12 pounds of crabs, and on the average, about 15 pounds of fish fillets. Put that in your cash register: It means you are taking home $50 worth of crabs and $50 worth of fish, the one fishing trip where you actually “make” money.

You also spend a glorious day on the salt, enjoying the open sea, the beauty of the Farallon Islands and the boat ride through the landmark sights of the Bay, and maybe even see a few whales or dolphin.
The crab combo trips have been boosted by good sea conditions for most of the past month.

“Except for some large swells last weekend, we’ve had superb weather,” Stone said. “We’ve only one turnaround trip in a month. That’s pretty amazing for this time of year.”

The trips depart at 5:30 a.m. en route to the Farallones, and will either pick up the crab pots on the way out, or on the return trip. The best crabbing in the past two weeks has been in 100 to 175 feet of water, roughly in a line between the entrance to the Bay and the Farallon Islands. The crab pots are baited with rockfish carcasses and squid; over the course of the season, you will find that squid is the preferred entreaty for Dungeness.

For owners of private boats, one strategy is to launch out of Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay, then set a series of crab traps outside the breakwater. Early in the season, there has been good crabbing in as little as 30 feet of water here. No more. The crabs have moved to deeper water, at least 100 feet deep, and seems best off of Montara.

The reason the crabs have moved to deeper water is because of a severe inshore surge that started a week ago, the result of large swells rolling in from a storm 300 miles offshore. Anybody who has visited the coast in the past week can tell you about the big waves and the foam line, in some spots even extending out 100 yards.

Yet some of the calmest days on the briny deep are in winter, between storm fronts. That is when owners of boats can get a load of four or five friends, set a half dozen crab traps, and then spend a morning working them.

On private boats and from piers, the limit is 10 crabs per angler with a minimum size per crab of 5 3/4 inches. So a private boat with five people aboard could catch 50 crabs, quite a haul. On party boats, the sport limit is 6 crabs per angler, with a minimum size of 6 inches per crab.

Without a boat, it is possible to catch Dungeness crab at Pacifica Pier (at Sharp Park). But as with a boat, a calm sea is not only helpful, but critical. Pacifica Pier provides direct access to the ocean past the breakers, but when the surf is up, the crabs will head out to quieter water, out of range.

Note that while legal-size Dungeness are almost never caught in the Bay, it is possible to catch rock crab at two San Francisco piers, Fort Point Pier and Muni Pier.

Of course, you could also just show up at the fish market and pay a fortune, $10 to $12 a crab. For a small New Year’s Eve party, 10 crabs for six people, guess what? It would cost you $70, the same price of a fishing trip for one.

Like they say, tell your statistics to shut up.
——————————————Crabbing Getaway:
CRAB SEASON: The season for Dungeness crab runs through June 30, 2001 along the Bay Area and Sonoma coasts. The season continues to July 30, 2001 off Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties.

LIMITS, PRIVATE BOAT: 10 per person, minimum size 5 3/4 inches. No more than five baited hoop nets per person, not to exceed 10 per vessel.
LIMIT, PARTY BOAT: 6 per person, minimum 6 inches.
COST: Combo trips for Dungeness crab and rockfish cost roughly $65 to $70. A state fishing license ($29.40) is required, which must be displayed above the waistline. Note: No fishing license is required at Pacifica Pier, Fort Point Pier or Muni Pier.
PARTY BOATS: Emeryville Sportfishing, (510) 654-6040; Berkeley Marina, (510) 849-2727; Bodega Bay Sportfishing, (707) 875-3344; Rumblefish, Fort Bragg, (707) 964-3000; All Aboard Fishing Adventures, Fort Bragg, (707) 964- 1881.
PIER: Pacifica Pier, (650) 355-0690.
INFORMATION: Hi’s Tackle Box, S.F., (415) 221-3825.
PHOTO

Crab, Rockfish Taken to Limits
THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
December 28, 2000
Author: TOM STIENSTRA
Estimated printed pages: 3

Edition: FINAL
Section: SPORTS
Page: E8
Column: OUTDOORS TOM STIENSTRA
Index Terms: FISHING; SPORTS
Copyright 2000 The Chronicle Publishing Co.
Record Number: 3157652

FISHING WITH FAMILY IS FUN
Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
August 6, 1998
Author: John Adams
Staff Writer
Estimated printed pages: 3

I was sitting atop a massive boulder watching my son fish a pool of the South Fork of the Yuba River Sunday. It was 9 a.m. We could feel the heat building even at higher altitude. It would exceed 100 degrees on the valley floor.

We were headed home after fishing trout streams around and north of Truckee on Saturday.
On the Yuba, we caught a few planted rainbow and one small brown trout. John caught most of the fish. Like I said, I was content watching him fish.

Near the Loch Leven trailhead off Interstate 80, the Yuba River’s South Fork is a scene of huge, rounded boulders and mostly buried, Half-Dome-like rock surfaces. If there were ever giants, the area likely would be where they bowled and played marbles. I love the location.

If you’re heading into the Sierra-Nevada via Interstate 80 this weekend, take swimwear because the Yuba’s South Fork now is better for swimming and wading than fishing. The river is dropping. Moss is increasing. The rainbow planters are hiding in crevices and under large rocks.

We didn’t touch a fish casting lures from the shore at Lake Tahoe and in waders as an experiment at Donner Lake. Afternoon wind ruined our chances at Donner.

Using half nightcrawlers where legal, we caught a bunch of brook trout in what we like to call suicide conditions of brush, logs and undercut banks on Sagehen and Prosser creeks off Highway 89 and Cold Creek at Truckee. We do not fish open water like fly and spin anglers.

Streams were lower than we expected after all the snow last winter. But the hideaways we find give up a lot of fish. We released everything.

Fishing reports
Sporthaven Marina at Brookings, Ore., 1-800-421-4249, tells of spring-run kings biting in estuary waters of the Rogue River at Gold Beach, Ore. Salmon have been caught as far up as Agnes. Salmon fishing starts later at the Chetco River at Brookings.

Bruce Mellus at the Somes Bar Store on the upper Klamath River says spring-run salmon are being caught in the Trinity River while half-pounder steelhead are available at the mouths of Klamath tributaries. Folks are rafting rather than fishing. Cold water has delayed the moss.

Fall-run salmon are due in the lower Klamath. The limit is one adult king, not two. With quotas of 900 salmon for sports anglers above and below Coon Creek Falls, the limit also is four adult kings in a seven-day period and no more than eight in possession in that period. Of the eight, four can be adults and four jacks or juvenile salmon.

Another special Klamath sports regulation states that once 35 percent of the 900 salmon allowed in the lower river have been caught, salmon fishing there ends until Sept. 5 to save some of that quota for holiday anglers.

The Russian River has rolled over to a summer swimming, boating and dog-chasing-sticks playground with warmer water, according to Debbie Becker at King’s Sport & Tackle in Guerneville. Salmon and young steelhead are due. Fish in the mornings.

Guide Hank Mautz, (530) 365-8140, says wild rainbow fishing in the Sacramento River’s Redding-Anderson area is good. Fly anglers use a caddis nymph with an indicator. A decent dry-fly bite occurs just before dark.

With a flow of 15,000 cubic-feet-a-second Tuesday in the Sacramento, Mautz says the salmon bite in the Anderson Balls Ferry area was a bit slow. Fishing will improve.

Other fishing
Dave Ghens at Noyo Harbor says Fort Bragg-area salmon action was good on the weekend reopener north of Point Arena although fish were on the small side. Tuesday saw bigger, but fewer, fish. Call the North Coast Angler, 964-8931, for booking details.

Skipper Lindy Sterck of the party boat Dandy at Bodega Bay, 875-2787, was readying for a salmon charter today when contacted Wednesday. He has been making a number of repairs and upgrades on the boat. Limits of salmon and rockfish were taken on weekend outings.

Roger Thomas had the party boat Salty Lady about a mile off the Pacifica Pier Wednesday. His score at 11 a.m. was 22 salmon for 20 anglers in a continuing bite. The fish weighed to 12 pounds. Mooching was the method. Call (415) 674-3474 for bookings. Also call Caruso’s Dock in Sausalito, (415) 332-1015.

Remember to dive with a partner while snorkeling for abalone now that the season has reopened. Don’t become a statistic.

`Red hot, hot, hot` was the way Keith Fraser described salmon fishing off California City. Troll anchovies for fish from 8 to 30-plus pounds. Striped bass fishing is improving. Halibut action is excellent off Angel Island and at Southampton Shoals drifting live shiners.

Pam Andres at the Napa Sea Ranch says stripers are biting throughout the Napa River area. Vern Bowman of Sonoma limited Tuesday with 9 and 11 pounders. Also, Jess Moore of Sonoma landed a 47-pound sturgeon on grass shrimp during a family outing Sunday.

While lake fishing has been blazing hot in weather terms, Pete’s Sporting Goods in Lakeport says few people have been angling at Clear Lake. Good bass fishermen continue to find fish as they go deeper. A few crappie and bluegill also are caught. Catfish are hiding.

Jack Pinch at Markley Cove reports trout fishing picking up on cool days while the bass catch slowed at Lake Berryessa. He has seen some nice catfish caught out of Markley Cove.

Next week’s trout plants will be San Pablo Reservoir in Contra Costa County and both Merced Lakes in San Francisco County only.

Send comments and suggestions to John Adams, The Press Democrat, P.O. Box 910, Santa Rosa, 95402, or fax, 521-5463.
Edition: FINAL
Section: SPORTS
Page: C5
Column: THE FISHING LINE
Index Terms: FISHING
Copyright (c) 1998 The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, CA)
Record Number: 9808060138

SALTWATER — Salmon off Pacifica, Bodega Bay

BAY — Bay halibut, stripers; salmon at California City

LAKE — Davis, Shasta trout

RIVER — North State trout streams

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PACIFIC OCEAN

GOLDEN GATE — Yesterday’s conditions were marked by a mass of fog, a light southerly breeze and a groundswell courtesy of the hurricane down Baja way. Still, the salmon boats were there, drifting with the swell, catching kings. Skippers reported balls of bait — a mix of anchovy and sardine — “redding” up the fish finders. But it took until the afternoon for the bite to really turn on. Boats fished off the Great Divide, from Thornton Beach to Pacifica Pier.

Yesterday’s scores: Butchie B had 40 fish to 20 pounds for 26 anglers, Outer Limits had 34 to eight for 23, New Rayann had 27 limits to 14 pounds, Flying Fish had 17 to 15 for 15, Superfish had 12 limits to 14 pounds, El Dorado had 17 to 16 for 17, Salty Lady had 34 to 14 for 20, New Seeker had 18 limits to 18 pounds, Hog Heaven had 14 limits to 15 pounds, Wacky Jacky had 25 to 16 for 23, and the Lovely Martha, running a P.A.L. kids’ trip, had 18 to 14 for 15.

Two items, same guy . . . James Smith, running the Happy Hooker out of Berkeley, was the lone live-bait boat working the surf yesterday. Suffice it to say, conditions were less than ideal for backing a boat in close to shore. Still, the Hooker managed 28 limits of striped bass to 25 pounds (12-pound average), one halibut and three salmon. Sunday and Monday, the boat fished the north side off Stinson Beach and bagged over 100 halibut for the two days of fishing. The boat also got into white sea bass, hooking about 40 on live anchovies. Unfortunately, all but one were undersize (28-inch minimum size limit). Information: San Francisco: (415) 457-8388, (415) 824-5450, (650) 965-3474, (415) 586-9800, (415) 892-2353, (415) 221-3825, (510) 352-5708; Sausalito: (415) 924-6851, (415) 332-1015; Berkeley: (510) 849-2727; Emeryville: (510) 654-6040.

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CENTRAL COAST — Bodega Bay: In a fine example of persistence amounting to reward, the Bodega Bay Fleet finally has been enjoying some steady salmon action. In fact, limits have been the rule most days. Tuesday, for instance, the Predator trolled 10-Mile Beach near the Key Hole for nine limits of salmon to 21 pounds (15-pound average). With lots of bait in the area, skippers are hoping the fish will stay put for a while. Rockfishing remains excellent, as well. Yesterday, the New Sea Angler had 34 limits of mixed red, yellow and widow rockfish at Cordell Banks. Information: (707) 875-2323, (707) 875-3495, (707) 878-2374, (707) 875-9686, (707) 875-3344. Pacifica: Action has been very slow, with only the occasional striper being caught from the beach. Off the pier, the primary catch is small perch and a few kingfish. Information: (650) 355-0690.

Half Moon Bay: While the S.F. Bay boats have been fishing from Thornton Beach to Pacifica, the Half Moon Bay Fleet has been working uphill, from Pedro Point to Pacifica. And by the time the two fleets meet, they’re generally finishing up limits. Yesterday, the Quite a Lady had eight limits of salmon to 16 pounds, and the Outlaw had 15 limits. Both boats were heading in by 12:30. Meanwhile, the Queen of Hearts, fighting a groundswell but still fishing, had half-limits of rockfish, 22 cabezon to 10 pounds and six lings to 14 pounds. Out at the Deep Reef, the Blue Horizon had eight limits of rockfish and one ling. Next albacore trip is tomorrow on the Wild Wave. Information: (650) 728-3377, (650) 726-7133, (650) 726-2913, (650) 752-5886.

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Santa Cruz-Monterey: With salmon down and out (actually, up and in), the party boats have been dividing their time between shallow-water, light-tackle rockfish and albacore out in the blue water, wherever it may be. Same goes for Monterey. Over the past four days, the albacore boats were taking up to 80 fish per day, with six to 10 albies per rod, many of them on bait. Yesterday, however, the bite went cold, with maybe eight fish per boat. Information: Santa Cruz: (408) 476-2648, (408) 426-4690, (408) 423-1739, (408) 427-2334; Capitola: (408) 462-2208; Monterey: (408) 375-5951.

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THE BAYS

SAN FRANCISCO — After a weekend of slow tides, the water started moving again yesterday. And with the fog on the coast, many live-bait boats opted to stay in the bay. The New Huck Finn fished Southampton Shoals and the Berkeley Flats and had 28 halibut to just under 20 pounds, to go with a five-pound striped bass. With moving tides, the action is expected to pick up again for bass at the live-bait spots, namely the Rock Pile, Yellow Bluff and Angel Island. South Bay action has been limited, with only a few stripers being caught from shore. Quite a Catch: Faze Khan of San Leandro recently caught a 25 1/2-pound striper at the Brisbane Tubes on a live shiner. Information: Brisbane: (415) 468-7887; Emeryville: (510) 654-6040; Berkeley: (510) 849-2727; Oakland: (510) 534-1131; Alameda: (510) 522-6731, (510) 521-2460; San Mateo: (415) 343-6837.

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SAN PABLO — Sacramento River salmon guides need only eye the scene at California City to learn the whereabouts of the fish. The salmon are feeding and schooling, making for some productive fishing. Three anglers out Monday evening needed only 48 minutes to bag limits, with salmon weighing from 8 to 18 pounds. So far, the dock-talk big fish is a 32-pounder, while most seem to average 12 pounds. As for tactics, trolling gets the definite nod over drifting. Information: San Rafael: (415) 456-0321; Sonoma: (707) 762-7818.

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SUISUN — The heat wave hasn’t really gone away, only taken on wind. Just the same, there are boats on the water. Notes from a slow week: a 30-pound sturgeon caught on grass shrimp at Brown’s Island, a 45-pounder on grass shrimp at West Island, a 54-pounder at Collinsville, and an 11-pound striper, a lucky number and first keeper for 11-year-old Bobby Chalk of Pittsburg. Information: Pittsburg: (510) 458-4904, (510) 432-8466; Martinez: (510) 229-9420; Crockett: (510) 787-1048; Antioch: (510) 757-3852.

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THE DELTA — Those who want to brave the heat are finding decent action for small striped bass, and the kind of black-bass fishing that makes the delta so famous within bassin’ circles. At night, it’s all about stinkbait and catfish. Information: Isleton: (916) 777-6806; Rio Vista: (707) 374-5554.

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THE LAKES

BERRYESSA — The lake has turned over again; no dramatic shift in the thermocline, but rather that seasonal shift from angler to water skier. We’re fringe creatures now, stepping like deer to the water at dawn and dusk. Trout are 38 to 50 feet down, hitting night crawlers behind Sepp’s flashers, while the bass are anywhere from 5 to 25 feet deep, occasionally showing interest in top-water lures or plastic worms. Information: (707) 966-2134.

SHASTA — Human water skeeters are a problem here, too, but the fishing makes up for it. In between flotillas of house boats, just outside the wake of another jet ski or ski boat, there are schools of threadfin shad — with trout and salmon in tow. Trollers are working 30 to 70 feet deep, pulling Cripplures and Hum Dingers (nickel pattern), and Pop-Eyed Rattlers (chrome/blue and chartreuse). Top areas are by the dam, Dry Creek, Digger and Elmors bays, and the Gooseneck area. Bass fishing, while primarily confined to the upper end of the lake, is rated “productive” for anglers tossing plastic worms in 15 to 25 feet of water. Information: (530) 275-2278.

WHISKEYTOWN — As kokanee fishing goes, this lake generally gets top honors. Currently, both kokanee and trout are being caught 30 to 50 feet deep on Wedding Ring lures and Cripplures with a Kokanee Fly or Bug tipped with a kernel of white corn (try soaking the corn in Pro Cure or herring oil). The most productive plotting has been from Whiskey Creek Arm to Buoy 7, and along the “cold water curtain.” Information: (530) 359-2269.

DAVIS — The lake’s surface temperature continues to warm, but the trout fishing remains excellent. Best fishing is in the southeast portion of the lake, from the island to Mallard Cove, Coot Bay and Grizzly Point. Information: (530) 993-4683.

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THE RIVERS

UPPER SACRAMENTO — Flows remain at what the locals call “ideal” and “real good,” with “wadeable” added as a fly-fishing incentive. All the turnouts are productive, but one of the hottest stretches is the one flowing right past Dunsmuir. This bodes well for fly, spin and worm fishers, as bait fishing is allowed. In the evening, a prolific dry-fly hatch comes off. Information: (530) 235-2969.

LOWER SACRAMENTO — If you want salmon, try fishing the ocean or bay, where the fish are congregating like hangers-on at an all-you-can-eat buffet. There just aren’t enough kings in the river yet. As a result, guides have turned their attention to trout, which are abundant and hungry. Information: (530) 365-8140, (800) 670-4448.

TRINITY — There are mixed reports coming in, with some claiming the salmon fishing is great and others leaning more toward fair to miserable. Either way, it might be worth a trip to latch on to an opinion. As for fly fishing, there are some brown trout and summer-run steelhead being caught in the fly-fishing-only section. Information: (530) 623-3121.

TRINITY LAKE TRIBUTARIES — With the lake heating up, anglers are working their way up tributaries such as Coffee Creek and Stuart’s Fork, both of which are stocked by the Department of Fish and Game. Nymphs fished under and indicator work best. Information: (530) 286-2225.

PIT/HAT CREEK/FALL — Conditions are excellent and hatches are becoming more predictable. Look for a nice mix of P.M.D.’s, stoneflies, mayflies and hexagenia. Expect to see other anglers. Information: (530) 222-3555.

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The Fishing Report is available to anglers who surf the Net. Use the “Feedback” feature for questions or comments: www.sfgate.com/sports/outdoors/ or message me at hoffman@sfgate.com. The phone number is (415) 777-6062.

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Catch Brian Hoffman’s “The Fishing Report” Sundays on KNBR (AM-680) from 6 to 7 a.m.

Copyright 1998 The Chronicle Publishing Co.
The San Francisco Chronicle
AUGUST 6, 1998, THURSDAY, FINAL EDITION
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. B9; THE FISHING REPORT

LENGTH: 1718 words

HEADLINE: THE FISHING REPORT

BYLINE: Brian Hoffman

BODY:

LOAD-DATE: August 6, 1998

SALTWATER — Rockfish and Dungeness crab, and a sale on Dramamine
BAY — San Pablo, Suisun, delta sturgeon
LAKE — San Pablo catfish
RIVER — Smith, Chetco steelhead
PACIFIC OCEAN

GOLDEN GATE — If we didn’t know any better — and if the weather folks weren’t honking to the contrary — we’d say it felt like spring yesterday. Aside from a freshet yesterday afternoon, we’re pretty much working on a two-day stretch of rainless days. That alone, it would seem, is reason enough for celebration. For the sportfishing fleet, it meant a quick look out west to the ocean to see what she was up to. Consensus ran along the line of 10 knots of wind with a swell of 8-9 feet. And then there was that epic struggle pitting the opposing virtue of De Masoch against that of De Sade — in other words, submit to the conditions or run out past the Gate for a day of fishing and damn the consequences. The verdict, of course, is yours in the booking. As it stands, boats were planning trips to the Farallon Islands and the waters off Point Reyes for rockfish and Dungeness crab. In Bodega Bay, boats plan to hit Cordell Banks and the nearshore reefs. Half Moon Bay boats will concentrate on the D eep Reef and perhaps weigh a trip out to the islands. And down south, the Monterey Bay fleet will be motoring about in search of the usual assortment of rockfish

The Pacifica Pier, we’re happy to report, continues to remain in one piece. The ocean about the pier has calmed, but it’s still too rough to expect any reasonable chance at catching fish — not that that ever stops anyone. . . . The ocean salmon season gets under way above Pigeon Point on March 28 (March 14 below) with a 24-inch size limit; circle hooks must be used when fishing with a pound of weight or less.

THE BAYS
SAN FRANCISCO — Talk is slow in these parts but a look out over the water yesterday morning revealed a few boats fishing off Candlestick Point and around the San Mateo Bridge. Of course, it wasn’t clear whether anything was being caught. The only sure thing seems to be the Northern California Skippers’ Annual Sturgeon Derby, which motors onto the bay in a cloud of two-stroke fumes Saturday at 5:43 a.m. Tickets, available at Jailhouse Bait in Brisbane and Castro Valley Sportsmens Center, are $20. Information: Brisbane: (415) 468-7887; Emeryville: (510) 654- 6040; Berkeley: (510) 849-2727; Oakland: (510) 534-1131; Alameda: (510) 522-6731, (510) 521-2460; San Mateo: (415) 343-6837.

SAN PABLO — The weekend saw ideal conditions and what you might call excellent action for sturgeon between the Pump- house and China Camp. Since then, the action has shifted to the waters off Paradise, where some monster sturgeon and a few stripers were caught late in the outgoing tide (after 3 p.m. today). The prized shrimp off Paradise is mud shrimp, which is good because you can’t get grass shrimp these winter days. The upper bay suffered a stiff breeze yesterday, but there were reports of sturgeon seen rolling far up the Petaluma River between the mud and pickleweed banks. Also, anglers fishing the east bank of Sonoma Creek have been taking their share of sturgeon, mainly in the 55-58 inch range. Information: San Rafael: (415) 456-032 1; Sonoma: (707) 762-7818.

SUISUN — Boating is back in business in these parts, and the sturgeon activity is centered around the Mothball Fleet, Buoy 27 and Broad Slough. Elaboration comes is skeletal utterings of “They’re gettin’ ‘em,” and “Pretty much mud and ghost shrimp ’cause you can’t get grass (shrimp).” And that’s pretty much enough said. Information: Pittsburg: (510) 458- 4904, (510) 432-8466; Martinez: (510) 229- 9420; Crockett: (510) 787-1048; Antioch: (510) 757-3852.

THE DELTA — The Sacramento River is open for boating from Isleton to Montezuma Slough so long as you don’t exceed 5 mph and don’t throw a wake. Other than that, have at it. No restrictions are in place above Isleton or on the San Joaquin River. Information: Isleton: (916) 777-6806; Rio Vista: (707) 374-5554.

THE LAKES
MERCED — The sun could be seen as far west as the lakes Merced yesterday, but no anglers were around to see it. The lakes just are not attracting much fishing interest these days. Information: (415) 753- 1101.

SAN PABLO RESERVOIR — If you’re particular about what you catch, you might want to wait out the rain in hopes of clearer water and trout-filled days. For now, those muck-slurping catfish reign. Our hill-song motto: They’re good eatin’. So it’s a can (Styrofoam these days) of worms, a bag of anchovies, a bucket of clams, chunks of mackerel, assorted roadkill pickings — and we’re off to the backwaters of Scow Canyon for whiskerfish. Recent inductees onto the Catfishers Wall of Fame: Chris Bronken of Richmond with a 14- pounder caught Tuesday; and Mike Brenner of El Sobrante, who lobbed his bait into three feet of water enough times for a 10-fish limits that included one specimen the size of a healthy piglet. Information: (510) 223-1661.

THE RIVERS
WHAT’S AVAILABLE — You can forget about the Russian, but if you continue far up the North Coast, the steelhead fishing turns spectacular. The catch is that you have to get up there now to enjoy it. The Smith has dropped to the shade of green that occupies steelhead angler’s dreams, some palette swirl that exists between forest mist and silver, where every cast holds the promise of a take and a fish. The Chetco is dropping toward ideal, and guides are averaging two fish per day, with steelies running seven to 15 pounds. Farther up the coast, well into Oregon now, we hear there’s epic fishing on rivers with mysterious names like numbers and in images of bizarre rituals. If nothing else, it warrants exploration. Information: (707) 487-0935; (54 1) 469-2422; (541) 469- 6627.

The Fishing Report is available to anglers who surf the Net. Use the “Feedback” feature for questions or comments: http://www.sfgate.com/sports/outdoors/ or message me at hoffmansfgate.com. The phone number is (415) 777-6062.

Catch Brian Hoffman’s “Hooked on Fishing” Saturdays on KNBR (AM-680) from 6 to 7 a.m

THE FISHING REPORT
THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
February 26, 1998
Author: Brian Hoffman
Estimated printed pages: 4

BEST BETS

Edition: FINAL
Section: SPORTS
Page: D8
Column: THE FISHING REPORT
Index Terms: SPORTS; FISHING
Copyright 1998 The Chronicle Publishing Co.
Record Number: 12472

It’s a pilgrimage that begins every day at dawn and continues until dusk.

They come to this quiet, coastal city from such places as Modesto, Stockton, San Jose, Sacramento and nearby San Francisco.

Young and old, they come from all walks of life to partake of what has become an absurd sort of ritual: fishing for salmon on what must be the world’s busiest pier.

Since chinook, or king salmon, took this region by storm earlier this month, showing in what some say are record numbers, the situation has become downright ridiculous. Surely, when it comes to crowds, Pacifica Pier has no peers.

They pack the L-shaped concrete structure like sardines: hundreds upon hundreds of them, standing shoulder to shoulder. Those arriving late try to nudge their way to a spot on the rail. Those who can’t find a spot bide their time waiting for one to open, watching the salmon, and the occasional striped bass, come over the rail in a net.

Fishing poles, long and short, fat and thin, old and new, protrude from the rails like quills from a porcupine, weaving a sometimes tangled web of monofilament down into the greenish sea.

Salmon floats, small foam balls, markers above the baits, bob on the surface like pastel and neon polka dots.

When a bait is taken, tangles are inevitable. Tempers often flare and fights occasionally break out.
“It’s mostly just about having fun,” said Rodel De La Cruz, 30, a regular from San Francisco. “It’s people who cross lines and don’t give a sweet nothing who cause all the trouble.”

Curt Rosanger, who helps out behind the counter of the bait and food store at the base of the pier, said fishermen have gone swimming with the fish for causing such trouble, but added that mostly people get along and in fact have come to accept the madness as part of the fun.

The whole scenario, this fantastic salmon bite included, has been reported by local newspapers and TV stations, attracting even more people. It’s a wonder the pier, about 120 yards long and 30 feet wide, is still standing.

“People see it on TV, hear about it, and more and more people come just to see for themselves,” said Eddie Susbilla, 54, a twice-a-week visitor from San Jose.

Said an exasperated Joanne Ferguson, taking a short break from the pier store: “When it started after July 4 or 5, it used to be just on weekends, but in the past week they’ve been coming like this even during the week.”

Such an experience is not for everyone, however. Some avoid the pier like the plague.
“The pier is ridiculous, your worst nightmare,” said Craig Stone, owner of nearby Emeryville Sportfishing, which runs a more civilized operation, using party boats. “I’d have to be the most desperate man in the world to go fishing on that pier.”

“The pier is just like a big cement boat,” Susbilla said. “I just tell people not to get upset about the crowds and to be careful not to overhead cast, because you can hurt somebody, and the fine is something like $200.”

Susbilla then reached into his gunny sack and pulled out a 19-pound salmon he had caught moments earlier. Another fish then came over the rail in a net, drawing the crowd away from Susbilla. The pier was producing.

“You can catch your [two-fish] limit every day out here, easily ,” Susbilla said.
True enough.

Salmon have graced not only Pacifica, but the entire Bay Area and beyond, with limits being the rule from Monterey to Bodega Bay.

“The salmon population available to fishermen is quite large, obviously,” said Alan Baracco, a biologist and salmon expert for the Department of Fish and Game. “I’d say it’s going to play out to be one of the best two or three seasons in 50 or 60 years.”

For comparison, the highest catch rates of salmon from the Sacramento River system since the turn of the century were recorded in 1988. The run was partly because of the good river conditions in 1986, when many of the fish were spawned. Commercial fishermen accounted for the take of 1.4 million fish and recreational anglers caught 192,000.

Through late June this year, estimates placed the commercial catch at 500,000 and the recreational catch at 150,000. And the season doesn’t end until October.

Baracco cautioned, however, that such runs can’t be expected every year.

“Each year’s class has its own history, so to speak,” he said. “For example, the 1989 year class, produced that winter and in the spring of 1990, was very poor. That year’s class produced a commercial catch of only 163,000 fish and a recreational catch of only 73,000. So that’s 200,000-plus fish from that year’s class and they had poor river conditions, lousy ocean conditions, so [it varies from year to year].”

Most of the salmon currently being caught by pier and boat fishermen–and in some instances even surf fishermen–were spawned in Sacramento River system hatcheries in the winter of 1992 and spring of ‘93.

Again, river conditions throughout the Central Valley were very good. “In fact, the water flow and habitat conditions were the best they had been since 1986, and that year led to an excellent salmon season as well [in 1988],” Baracco said.

A total of five hatcheries produce about 30 million juvenile salmon a year. And whereas they used to be released at the hatcheries on the river and its tributaries, and had to survive both predators and diversions on their long trek to the ocean, they are now being trucked to the bay, vastly increasing their chance of survival, notably by keeping them from the deadly diversions of the State and Central Valley water projects.

“These fish want to go to the ocean, not Los Angeles,” L.B. Boydstun, DFG deputy chief of marine resources, told the San Francisco Chronicle last week. “I think it shows you what can happen if we get the fish past the hazards and into the ocean.”

Baracco said that excellent oceanic conditions this spring and summer, notably the lack of a strong El Nino current, are another major reason for this summer’s remarkable run. They have resulted in cooler water and constant upwelling, which has generated a nutrient-rich environment essential for the entire food chain, from plankton to baitfish to predator.

The salmon are taking advantage of such conditions, gorging themselves until it is their turn to enter the river system to spawn, this fall or next.

Thousands of them won’t make it, however, ending up on backyard barbecues instead.
Surely, anglers are making the most of the situation.

On Pacifica Pier, more than 1,000 salmon were caught in a single day earlier this summer, the most ever recorded. On any given day, at least 300 are being caught.

Fishing has been so good and the scene so chaotic that those with little regard for the rules or for conservation of the species are taking home more than their two-fish limits.

One day, DFG wardens arrested more than 20 anglers for over-limits, including one man with 17 fish.
“We’ve also got people who are catching their two fish, putting them in their car and going back to catch two more,” Rosanger said.

Asked how many salmon he has caught this season, Susbilla was vague. “Let’s just say it’s been a good season,” he said.

Caption:
PHOTO: This salmon, weighing an estimated six pounds, is typical of the many caught on Pacifica Pier.
PHOTOGRAPHER: BOB CAREY / Los Angeles Times
PHOTO: Proving all the action isn’t on the pier, these kayakers, rafters and boaters ply for salmon offshore.
PHOTOGRAPHER: BOB CAREY / Los Angeles Times Photos
PHOTO: The sun sets behind one end of Pacifica Pier, but it hardly means the end of the day to anglers.
PHOTOGRAPHER: BOB CAREY / Los Angeles Times
PHOTO: COLOR, (C1) Pier Jam: Hundreds of fishing lines glint in the early-morning sunlight at Pacifica Pier near San Francisco. Anglers seeking salmon pack the structure like sardines. Story, C4.
PHOTOGRAPHER: BOB CAREY / Los Angeles Times
GRAPHIC-MAP: (location of Pacifica) / Los Angeles Times

A Pier With No Peers
A Near-Record Salmon Run Is Creating a Virtual Mob Scene Among Enthusiastic Bay-Area Anglers on L-Shaped Structure
Los Angeles Times
July 26, 1995
Author: PETE THOMAS; TIMES STAFF WRITER Sports Desk
Estimated printed pages: 5
Edition: Home Edition
Section: Sports
Page: C-4
Index Terms: SALMON; FISHING; PIERS
Dateline: PACIFICA, Calif.
Copyright, The Times Mirror Company; Los Angeles Times 1995
Record Number: 000069763