THE FISHING REPORT: Great start to the salmon season

Ocean salmon fishing has been very productive for boats out of Bodega Bay harbor. While limits were not the rule, many boats, both private and sport managed a fair number of fish the last week, averaging better than a fish per rod. Rick Powers, skipper of the 60 foot New Sea Angler exclaimed that “this has been the best opening week of salmon fishing since I can remember” and while not wanting to give up Rick’s age, suffice it to say that Rick has been doing this quite a while. It also helps when Rick can go out in his big boat in 20 knots of breeze and still effectively fish. Most private boats in the 20 to 35 foot class were unable to fish last Saturday for example and Rick got near limits for his 16 passengers. Sunday the weather backed off to a mere 12-15 knots and Rick and the crew of the new Sea Angler got easy limits for all aboard. Many private boaters that weathered the bumpy conditions also got limits. The 6 pack boat, Miss Anita reported 8 fish for a  mere half day of fishing Sunday and a half day trip out to see the whales which are plentiful off our coast this time of year. Vince Orcini, Captain of the Miss Anita felt sure she would have been able to get full limits for the passengers and crew had they fished a couple more hours.
The salmon out of Bodega Bay are being caught straight out from the Whistle buoy in 240 feet of water. Most of the salmon are coming in the top 50 feet of water but many private boaters with downriggers are also catching them at depths of 120 feet. The fish are feeding primarily on krill or other small shrimp but the bait balls have been difficult to locate. “Find the bait and you will find the fish” advises Rick. Because the fish are feeding on krill, some anglers in the know advise that you can use any color you want as long as it is red. The fish tend to key in on the red because that is also the color of the bait balls they are used to blasting through. Anchovies are the primary offering but flashers and hootchies, spoons and  the venerable Watermelon Apex are all standards that continue to produce.
The salmon this year are a pretty uniform 26-30 inches or 6 to 10 pounds. I haven’t heard of many fish larger than that. It seemed that last year we had a lot of bigger fish, while certainly not as many in sheer numbers. Some would call it a rebuilding year. Whatever you want to call it, it looks as though it is going to be good.
Other ports are having mixed results. Half Moon Bay had a great opener and then for whatever reason the fishing has slowed way down. San Francisco boats have being trying all over the place but best results have been down towards Pillar Point with again, mixed results. The best salmon fishing in the area is down in the Monterey Bay. Constant limits have been the rule for private boaters and sport guys alike. This is very typical for the area. For whatever reason, the Sacramento fish have been found south of the bay this time of year. The Bodega salmon are believed to be Klamath fish, again south of their natal river. Because the currents along the coast this time of year tends to move in a northerly direction, maybe they are oriented to face in to the current.
The Miss Anita and New Sea Angler both have plenty of room during the week if you are interested in getting in on this quality start to our ocean salmon season. Both boats have crab gear out so that in the event the fishing is a little slow you still will be able to go home with some quality sea food.
 
For more information or first person reports, please contact Hunt Conrad at Prospect Mortgage, 431-9715.