Pacifica Pier News

Editor — Regarding “Pacifica Sewer Plant Could See New Life as Beach Aquarium” (The Chronicle, July 20), the correct name of our project proposal is the Pacifica Ocean Discovery Center.

On the same page as our article was a story about the proposed $525 million mall stadium. The stadium project would primarily benefit people interested in sports. In interesting contrast, our $25 million project would cost a mere fraction of that and would be a lifelong benefit for the coastal environment and everyone in the Bay Area, especially students.

While on the subject of money, I would like to express gratitude to Mr. Gabbert (TV 20) and his partner, Mr. Lincoln, for their recent gift of $70 million dollars to the Trust for Public Land. This gift is an inspiration to all and is a positive example of the love and deep commitment people have for the Bay Area.

It is this type of generosity as well as the cultural, spiritual and artistic richness of the Bay Area that we hope to draw upon to transform our dream and vision into reality. We need to raise a few hundred thousand dollars in the next couple months to keep the city of Pacifica from selling off its oceanfront property. Citizens on the coast would prefer to see an aquarium/ocean education center built next to the Pacifica Pier, versus yet more condos and strip malls on the ocean. Time is running out to save the Pacifica Pier and this incredible opportunity for the Bay Area.

MITCH REID
Executive director
Pacifica Ocean Discovery Center
Pacifica

Edition: FINAL
Section: PENINSULA FRIDAY
Page: 2
Column: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Index Terms: LETTER
Dateline: Peninsula
Copyright 1998 The Chronicle Publishing Co.
Record Number: 3026720

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