THE FISHING REPORT: Salmon season opens this weekend – by Hunt Conrad

Season openers are always a great source of optimism but there is no greater fishing  opener than the ocean salmon season. This year’s ocean salmon season opener is being met with higher than normal expectations because of the tremendously high projection by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council for the amount of Salmon that are swimming in our oceans. This was based on the higher than normal jack (juvenile salmon) returns to the rivers last fall.  Many in the know are cautiously optimistic because their projections have been known to be wildly inaccurate. But to most, any good news is welcome especially regarding the health of our fisheries and is cause for optimism.
In addition there is pent up demand. The salmon season years ago started in February and now is slated to start two months later; April 7. There is a little confusion regarding the opener this weekend however. The federal agencies have declared that the season is to open this weekend while the State agencies haven’t decided yet. The State should be issuing its final changes to its regulations this week sometime but in the meantime the season will open on federal waters (3 miles offshore) regardless of what the state does. And since most early season salmon action takes place well offshore, this shouldn’t be a problem for most anglers.
Usually the biggest problem facing ocean anglers this time of year is the weather. Spring winds and large seas are usually the result of fast moving weather systems going over the top of our area. The resulting large seas should be regarded with great respect. I like to use the 20 rule. If the sum total of the sea and the wind is greater than 20 I am likely to abort my trip. Today, for example: the wind is 20 mph and the seas are 18 feet for a total of 38 and not many boats 60 feet long would be comfortably safe in those conditions. You need to know what your vessels number is and stick with it.
Today there are so many valuable tools to use regarding weather conditions. One of my favorites is National Data Buoy Center (NDBC). This website will give you hourly observations for conditions at that buoy location. It will also give you a fairly good ocean forecast for the area you are interested in. A lot of times, this time of year our weather comes from the north, so looking at the weather buoys above us is helpful. Another website I like is the iwindsurf.com site. You can get wind and swell information from a huge array of reporting stations.
If you are going out in your own private boat or someone else’s, once you decide it is safe to go, where to go is often the next question. Typically this time of year the fish will be found offshore 10 to 15 miles, often in the deep water around 300 feet. The fish are typically feeding on krill and you will be able to see the bait in the form of huge bait balls as deep as 200 feet. Often getting down to these fish is the challenge. Two methods work well this time of year. Mooching, which means drifting with the wind and tide while dropping your offering down to a depth that is effective. You can also troll with downriggers. If you are using a downrigger you will want to make sure to use at least a 12 or 15 pound ball, otherwise your lines will be too far behind the boat and not down deep enough.
Of course, if you do not want to try to figure all of this out and/or would like rely on the relative safety of a professional fishing captain, you can try these reliable sources: Rick Powers runs the 60-foot New Sea Angler out of Bodega Bay Sportfishing (875-3344) and the large size of the boat can be a very welcome way to smooth out the rougher spring seas; Vince Orsini captains the Miss Anita, 875-FISH (3474) which is a six pack boat meaning that only six passengers will be on the boat. There is still room on the boats for Saturday and Sunday.
For more information and or reports please contact Hunt Conrad at Prospect Mortgage, 431-9715.