Fishing report, April 10-16: Good Delta striper and bass action, Don Pedro bass and trout are hitting and New Melones kokanee are showing.
Compiled by California Outdoors Hall of Fame member Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake.
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Delta striper and bass action good, Randy Pringle said. Don Pedro bass and trout hitting, Monte Smith reported. New Melones kokanee finally showing, Kyle Wise said. Shaver Kokanee action took off this week, Dick Nichols reported. McClure bass numbers good, Dylan Vos Kinser said. Bass lake trout ready to bite, Mike Beighey reported.
Valley
Westside waterways
Striper 2 Catfish 2
The Striperz Gone Wild Memorial Tournament on Saturday, April 6 was a huge success with 156 participants, collecting over 1800 cans of food to be distributed to the Merced County Food Bank and the Bethel Church of Los Banos.
“We have collected just under 8,000 cans during the past four years of our memorial tournament, and Willie Brown, aka ‘Santa’ brought in the most cans with 160,” Bill Sterling of Striperz Gone Wild said,. The action in Volta Road section of the aqueduct was slow, and the winning individuals found their action further south near Santa Nella. When we arrived at 4:10 a.m., there was already a line of people ready to register, and they hung in there in spite of the cold and rainy weather. 25.75 inches was the target length, and 21 stripers were brought in with the three closest fish at 25, 24.75, and 24.5 inches. For the first time, we opened the tournament up to boaters, and we had a few kayaks participating in the big lake and the forebay. We will be working for another date next April to avoid the McSwain Trout Derby and also the huge kayak tournament at Clear Lake. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at our next tournament on October 12 to celebration our 4-year anniversary!”
Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop confirmed the slower bite in the north sections of both the California Aqueduct and Delta Mendota Canal with most anglers working further south.”
In the south aqueduct in Kern County, cut sardines, chicken liver, or jumbo live minnows around the check gates remains the best for stripers while catfish are taken on chicken liver, dip bait, or cut baits in the same areas. Curly-tailed grubs on a drop-shot, flukes, or Senkos in slower water is best for catfish.
A map of the 16 designated fishing locations on the California Aqueduct can be accessed through this link: https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/ What-We-Do/Recreation/Files/230424_SWP-Fishing-Guildines- Locations_Online_FINAL.pdf.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis (559) 292-3474; Cope’s Tackle and Rod, Bakersfield (661) 679-6351; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657.
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 3 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
“Eastman has been producing largemouth bass on the submerged island tops, on the face of the dam, the north end of the lake through the inlet, and on the west side near the Chowchilla launch ramp in the shallows,” said Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis. “The big females are holding in less than 20 feet in depth, and lipless crankbaits such as yo-yoing LV500’s, glide baits, or bouncing the crankbaits of the bottom are working for the occasional large fish. During the day, slow-dragging a large worm on a Texas-rig or a weightless Senko is a good option around brush piles or rocks. In the mornings or evenings, I would focus upon the flats. There are carp flooding into the shallows at both Eastman and Hensley.” The double trout plant a few weeks ago has left a few holdovers in the lake, and the big bass are focusing upon crappie or the planted rainbows. At Hensley, Crayne reported catfish, bluegill, crappie are possibilities as it has been a grind to locate bass. The bass are moving into the brush piles, rocks, or along the flats. Eastman rose 12 feet to 671.47 feet in elevation and 83% of capacity with Hensley rising 31/2 feet to 505.61 feet in elevation and 49% of capacity. Annual passes for the US Army Corps of Engineers lakes of Eastman, Hensley, New Hogan, Pine Flat, Kaweah, and Success are now available for $40/year. They are available from the park office at the lake, the pay booth, or several gas stations or bait shops near the lake. Trout plants last week have brought in bank anglers with Power Bait, nightcrawlers, spoons, or spinners at both lakes.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255; Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis (559) 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle (559) 515-6273. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam (559) 673-5151
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 3 Trout 3 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing ran kokanee gear for nine rainbow trout on Saturday. He said, “we trolled Paulina Peak’s Flutter Bugs and hoochies, but we didn’t find a kokanee. Our action came at depths from 17 to 40 feet, and I even had a side planer out with a nightcrawler behind a Vance’s flasher. The rainbows are all in good shape, and we had a few other missed opportunities. I know the kokanee are here, and we just have to find them. The water temperature dropped from 60 to 55 degrees within a few days.” For bass, Dylan Vos Kinser of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported numbers of spotted bass are possible with jigs or plastics on the drop-shot as the first wave of the spawn is in full swing. The reaction bite will take off once the bluegill begin to attack the fry. He said, “You can really throw whatever out there right now.” The occasional large fish is taken on trout-patterned glide baits or Huddlestons. The bass will move back toward the shorelines with the coming warm weather. There is daily vehicle fee of $20 and with an additional $15 for boat launch. The lake rose nearly a foot to 802.77 feet in elevation and 84% of capacity. Updates on the launch ramp are available at https://www.donpedrolake.com/. 11 bass tournaments are scheduled at the lake through April 30.
Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass 2 Trout 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
The lake rose three-fourths of a foot to 2,574.64 feet in elevation and 47% of capacity with water releases from the dam at 610 cfs at First Point. There are still a few holdovers from the derby plants in the lake, and Paradise Cove, French Gulch, Engineer’s Point, and Red’s Marina are the top locations from the banks with Power Bait, shad-patterned minijigs or crankbaits. Trollers are picking up a few fish per rod pulling Needlefish, Tasmanian Devils, or Flicker Shad in the colder waters of the North Fork near the inlet. Crappie remains best the South Fork in 15 to 20 feet of water with live shiners or minijigs. Bass fishing remains slow, but the largemouth are moving into the flats, and this is the time for big fish. Triple S Dip Bait, mackerel, or sardines are your baits of choice for catfish. Trout fishing has slowed in the upper Kern since the last plant over a month ago. The 20-Mile stretch remains best with salmon eggs, minijigs, spinners, or live crickets. The flows on upper Kern at Kernville dropped from 1350 to 1117 cfs.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812; Golden Trout Pack Station (559) 542-2816.
Lake Kaweah
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 3
The lake rose nearly 9 feet to 648.49 feet in elevation and 37% of capacity due to water releases despite heavy inflow from the Kaweah River. Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments held a well-attended event on Saturday, and the winning limit was the team of Jeremy Barela and Jesse Aguilar at 13.15 pounds, buoyed by a 7.38-pound kicker. The bass are in the first wave of the spawn, and plastics in darker colors such as green pumpkin or brown, jigs, or deep-diving crankbaits are effective. Last week’s trout plant brought out the opportunity for a trophy largemouth with Huddlestons or Hawg Hunter swimbaits on a slow roll on the bottom. Power Bait, nightcrawlers, or Kastmasters are picking up a few planters. Dip bait or garlic- scented nightcrawlers are best for catfish while crappie are taken on small live minnows, swimbaits, or minijigs near submerged brush. The Kaweah River at Three Rivers dropped slightly to 730 cfs. There is one more tournament scheduled on the lake through April 30.
Lake Success
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose four feet to 636.31 feet in elevation and 61% of capacity. The bite is improving with the largemouth bass moving into the flats to spawn.
Roboworm’s in The Peoples Worm, Tequila Sunrise, or Green Pumpkin on a shakey head or Carolina rigs along with jigs are producing. Chicken liver or dip bait for catfish while crappie are found on live minnows in submerged brush. Two bass tournaments are scheduled on the lake through April 30.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Sequoia Fishing Co. (559) 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Dylan Vos Kinser of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported numbers of spotted bass have been the rule along with the occasional largemouth and jigs, tubes, small swimbaits on an underspin, or plastics on the drop-shot are your best options. The bass moved out from the banks when the water temperatures dropped, but they will be back as the water temperatures rise this week. The lake rose 9 feet within two weeks to 819.14 feet in elevation and 71 percent. With few bass tournaments scheduled within the next few months, most bass anglers are heading for nearby Don Pedro or New Melones. Only two bass tournaments are scheduled on the lake through the end of the month, both next weekend.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 3
The Merced Irrigation District Spring Trout Derby was last weekend, and anglers swarmed to the impoundment in search of the recently planted rainbows. The Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks, and the peninsula in front of the marina were crowded, but there were limits taken on nightcrawlers, Power Bait, spinners, or Kastmasters. Holdover rainbows can be found in the river arm near the Second Fence Line with Ruby Red Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler along with spinners. Fishing was allowed on Friday after the derby plant was dumped into the lake, and several anglers scored early limits prior to Saturday morning. The lake rose to 96% of capacity. The McSwain Marina is now open weekends through May 31.
Call: Angler’s Edge Market (209) 226-4416; McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “The spotted bass are cruising the shorelines in the river arm while the larger bass are holding out solo on the banks or near rock piles. Largemouth bass are holding on sand flats near Winchell’s Cove or on the Madera side while the spots are oriented to rock upriver or on the Madera side. Umbrella rigs are working for a few large fish while numbers are taken on 3.3- to 3.8-inch Keitech swimbaits on a ball head along with 4.5-inch Roboworm’s in shad patterns on a Neko-rig, drop-shot, or dart head. One of our customers landed a 4.5-pound spotted bass on an umbrella rig, and I caught one at 3 pounds on a Neko-rig. The bite has improved.” There are no tournaments on the lake until at least May, and most bass anglers continue to head to Eastman or Pine Flat. The lake rose 6.5 feet to 561.05 feet in elevation and 85 percent. Sycamore Island is open once daily from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant are steady at 556 cfs.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun (559) 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle (559) 515-6273.
New Melones
Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 2
The largest kokanee in the state at 18 inches are a possibility, and Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service said, “There was another 18 incher landed on Sunday, making three so far this year.” Wise scored his first limit of kokanee from 14.5 to 17 inches on Sunday trolling the new Paulina Peak Skinny Platinum Flutter Bug at depths from 35 to 50 feet. He added, “Trout in the 1.5- to 2-pound range are found at the same depths in open water.” John Liechty of Xperience Fishing Bass Guide Service said, “Prior to the recent cold front bringing snow to the lake’s edge, bass fishing had been improving with topwater lures and flukes, but the cold front pushed the bass out into deeper water. The water temperature will rise this week, and with the second wave of the spawn only a full moon away, the bite will break out.” Dylan Vos Kinser of Central Valley Bait and Tackle added, “Melones is going to bust loose within the next two weeks.” There is a daily use fee of $8 with a boat launch of $10 (day use included). The lake rose 11/2 feet to 1054.03 feet in elevation and 84% of capacity. Several bass tournaments are scheduled through April 30. There are additionally several club bass tournaments at Lake Tulloch in April.
Call: John Liechty, Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932; Kyle Wise, Headhunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Alex Niapas, Catching California Guide Service (209) 728-4225; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734.
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “Trollers are working the open water in the middle of the lake with Apex lures, Needlefish in Cop Car, or Dick’s Mountain Tubes or Trout Busters at depths to 40 feet for the planted rainbows and deeper from 60 to 70 feet with Brad’s Cut Plugs for the king salmon. With the weather changing, the finesse bite is best with jigs, plastics on the Neko- rig or drop-shot, and jerkbaits on a slow retrieve. Bass fishing is best up the river arm around Trimmer or Windy Gap.” In the lower Kings, the final scheduled plant took place two weeks ago, but there may be additional plants in late April. Finding less pressured water is a key, and Atomic Tubes, spinners, nightcrawlers, or Power Bait continue to be effective for a few fish per rod. The flows on the lower Kings at Trimmer are steady at 1569 cfs while the lake rose 3 feet to 918.42 and 82 percent. The Kings River from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bridge on Pine Flat Road downstream to Cobbles (Alta) Weir is open to fishing all year. The Kings River, from Cobbles (Alta) Weir downstream to the Highway 180 crossing is open to fishing all year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. Call: Valley Rod & Gun (559) 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle (559) 515-6273. Sequoia Fishing Co. (559) 539-5626.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported striped bass action slowed down in both the main lake and in the forebay with pile worms, blood worms, or anchovies working for bait fishermen while there are boats drifting jumbo minnows. School-sized stripers are the rule. There is small window for topwater or jerkbaits. The forebay is best near Check 12 or on the Highway 33 side with bait.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service reported that the bite slowed this week with the cold storm front coming through. “ I guided 3 guests on Wednesday and I could tell the fish weren’t real active , but I managed to finally find some fish after 2 plus hours of just scouting all over the lake and we released 20 stripers , most in the 22-23” range -working the points at 50 plus feet with shad colored Lucky Crafts . Ive had to hit them on the head to get a bite. The fish are starting to milt more and the coming full moon is the key time for the spawning to hit. Algae
is growing quickly and the water was up to over 60 degrees before the storm.” George said
The main lake held at 73% of capacity with the forebay rising to 89% of capacity.
To check the wind conditions on the lake - use windfinder.com/forecast/ san_luis_reservoir.
Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger
George, rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954.
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 2
Some kokanee coming out around the Sheriff’s Tower, and there is good action for rainbow trout from the dam to in front of Ducey’s Lodge as recent plants up to 10 pounds have occurred. The annual Bass Lake Chamber of Commerce Trout Derby will take place May 4/5 with $55,000 of tagged trout of which $25,000 is dedicated to three grand prizes. Information: https://www.basslakechamber.com/fishing- derby. The lake is starting to rise once again.
Call: Mike Beighey, Bass Lake Fishing (559) 676-8133.
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
The gate to Kaiser Pass Road remains closed through most likely Memorial Day Weekend. The Kaiser Pass lakes are starting to release water with fewer anglers heading over the pass to fish the small impoundments. Edison receded slightly to 22% of capacity, Florence held at 9% of capacity while Mammoth Pool also held at 62% of capacity.
Road conditions (559) 297-0706.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake (559) 259-4000.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Trout 2 Kokanee 3
Shaver Lake Guide Emeritus, Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters and Mountain Tackle was out on Shaver mid-week with newly retired mountain doctor, Dr. Barbara Stewart, and Dave McGlothlin of Clovis. Nichols said, “To say it was a good day of fishing was an understatement as it was simply outstanding! Dropping the lines near the point and heading toward the island, we hit multiple kokanee and a 16-inch brown within minutes trolling Dick’s Mountain Candy in pink and orange or Mountain Tubes, both tipped with corn behind Dick’s Mountain Dodgers in Doc Barb, Bright Eyes, and Sunshine at depths from 20 to 28 feet. We found action almost everywhere we fished. Our side pole with a Trout Buster tipped with corn behind a weighted Mountain Flasher with a setback of 100 feet was equally successful. Sadly, I ventured to the Stevenson Creek area to experience a negative bite. We returned to the island area and immediately picked up double hits. We scored multiple limits, keeping 3 limits of 13- to 14-inch kokanee.
“The lake is down, but we had no problem launching and getting out to our fishing area. The lake is expected to rise 3 feet by April 13 and by 8 feet by the end of the month. Trout fishermen should be warned that the rapidly rising water initially slows the bite due to abundance of insects dragged off the shorelines into the water for easy meals. Pine needles and other debris can cause the water to be difficult to troll a lure.” The Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project will be planting it’s 2024 allotment of 7,000 pounds of trophy-sized rainbows within the next few months. Call: Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service (559) 288-8100; Jerad Romero, Jrods Guide Service (559) 392-6994; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing (559) 802-8072.
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 0
The gate to McKinley Grove Road closed on Dec. 1, limiting access to the high elevation lakes. The road is anticipated to be reopened in late April. .Call: Wishon RV Park (559) 865-5361.
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Rockfish 2 Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3 crabs 3
A few boats made the run toward the Half Moon Bay Weather Buoy for bluefin tuna early in the week, but the life that was there a few weeks back, disappeared. It is only a matter of time before the bluefin show up, and there is tremendous interest in tuna fishing. Rockfish trips deeper than 50 fathoms opened on April 1, but nearly all boats are waiting for the season to open in waters less than 20 fathoms from May through September. 10-crab limits remain a possibility, but only hoops or snares are allowed after April 8. The City of Pacifica Pier is open, and crab anglers continue to soak anchovies, squid, or sardines in snares.
Changes to the Dungeness crab fisheries went into effect on Monday to minimize the impact on endangered humpback whales. The commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Sonoma/Mendocino County line to the U.S./ Mexico border) will be closed, at which time the commercial take and possession of Dungeness crab from those waters is prohibited. A recreational crab trap prohibition is being implemented in Fishing Zones 3, 4 and 5 (Sonoma/Mendocino County line to Point Conception). Recreational crabbers can still use hoop nets and crab snares for Dungeness crab until the close of the season in Zones 3 and 4 on June 30.
Call: Captain Melynda Dodds, New Captain Pete (512) 825- 8225; Captain Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819; Captain Bill Smith, Riptide (650) 728-8433; Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, Queen of Hearts (510) 581-2628.
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Rockfish 2 Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
A single bluefin was landed off of Big Sur on April 7, and bluefin fever has stuck the region.
Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported a continued excellent perch bite from the surf when the ‘waves aren’t crazy.’ The area called the Long Walk near the mouth of the Salinas River and Pajaro Dunes with motor oil/red flake grubs from Mekine Baits, Honey Badgers, or Lucky 13’s on a Carolina rig. Duo Realis 120 Tide Minnow Sprats are working for striped bass. Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service said, “The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved the rockfish, lingcod and greenling (RCG) regulations for the 2024 fishing season, finally. Apparently one final submission and legal approval is due before the season goes into full official effect. Anglers in the Monterey Bay have been fishing “Federal Waters” all week, with the tacit approval of CDFW. State waters stop at a line three miles from shore. Unfortunately, Monterey Bay like San Francisco Bay legally is a “closed bay.” This means state waters extend to the narrowest point of the bay. In San Francisco, that would be the Golden Gate a narrow passageway. However, Monterey Bay is 30 miles across and the Federal line extends roughly from Lighthouse Point in Santa Cruz straight across to Point Pinos near Monterey. This puts the Federal waters line about 12 miles offshore from Moss Landing. The immense Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon provides many good spots for deep water fishing that anglers cannot advantage at this time. Monterey and Moss Landing anglers are most affected by this current legal condition. From Santa Cruz, the 50- fathom line and the three-mile Federal waters boundary are in closer proximity and anglers have done very well this week, catching a mix of vermilion and chilipepper rockfish, and some truly impressive lingcod.
By far the most prolific and targeted type of fish in our area, rockfishing can be as simple or complicated as you want to make it. The standard rig used by most is a shrimp fly jig. We’re allowed only two hooks on each jig, and only one rod may be used per angler for RCG species. The flys are often tipped with bits of squid for added scent attraction and flavor. Deckhands on the charter boats and other experienced anglers recommend a thin strip of squid hooked on one end, so the squid strip flutters in the current like a little underwater flag. The shrimp flies can be used without bait at all, though anchovy, herring or mackerel chunks can add that extra cachet to elicit a bite. Fishing with heavy irons can be productive and exciting while going deep. Plastic swimbait also work well, even at those depths, but the leadhead needs to be very heavy and using braid as your mainline is a smart move. Anglers can still target non-RCG species in shallower waters, but no gear may be deployed if those vessels possess any deepwater rockfish aboard. In other words, fish for your anchovies, sardines, mackerel or halibut before you target the deep rockfish this month. This year the DFW is providing waypoints to describe that 120-foot line, and also is providing an app for your smart phone to provide that information while you’re out on the water. Most sonar unit makers have prepared software updates for your unit that will describe these boundary lines as well. In May, we are looking at a switcheroo. Inside of 120 feet of water, fishing for the RCG will be allowed, and that regulation stays in effect until October.” Call: Chris’ Landing (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732.
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay
Halibut 2 Striper 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2
Striped bass have been carrying a heavy load for recreational anglers in San Francisco Bay, and halibut fishing has been a grind until the past week. Just as captain’s have predicted, it was only a matter of time before the anchovies made their move into the bay, only to be followed by the halibut. Well, the anchovies are making their move, and the halibut are starting to fill in the bay. The action slowed down for halibut over the weekend, but earlier in the week, things were much improved on the flatfish front.
Striped bass are still a sure thing, and Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco said, “It’s all you want stripers in San Pablo Bay, and all you must do is find the birds. We were out on a crew trip on Friday, and after anchoring up, we loaded up with stripers on every cast. It was lights out. We went south on Saturday for halibut, and the bite that was solid earlier in the week became a grind once again as we scratched out five flatfish.”
Captain James Smith of the California Dawn II said, “Our springtime fishing is ramping up as we had 2 fish per rod on Friday with 23 halibut and 20 striped bass. The stripers are surprising large right now. It looks a lot like early summer right now, and once Mother Nature settles down from all the fresh water flowing out of the bay, there will be more anchovies and halibut arriving in the bay.” The scores stayed steady on Saturday with 15 halibut and 13 striped bass for 13 anglers in the south bay.”
Captain Chris Smith of the Pacific Dream out of Berkeley Marina also found good action with 15 halibut and 9 striped bass with plenty of shakers in the mix. He said, “Not a bad score for such big tides and early spring fishing.” Both the Pacific Dream and Happy Hooker are offering a special rate for children 12 and under at $130/angler on weekdays -$70 off a regular trip, and they are also offering some special Sunday trips at half-price. Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing is back in Berkeley, and he took out 4 anglers on Sunday for 4 halibut and a pair of bass on a half-day trip. He said, “We started out south around Oyster Point, and whatever bait was there was gone so we were called into the central bay where there were some halibut kegged up. We had 5 short halibut along with the four keepers. I still think there are plenty of stripers holding outside of the bay along the bars with the fresh water pushing out of the bay.”
The impressive showing of halibut this week lifts the spirits of local recreational anglers, and combined with the solid striped bass bite, bay action should only improve especially when live bait become available by late April/early MayCall: Captain Ron Koyasako, Nautilus Excursions (916) 704-4169; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388.
San Luis Obispo
Surf perch 3
Boats from Morro Bay Landing and Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis will contine to run whale watching and nature trips until taking their first rockfish trips scheduled May 1. Rockfishing is allowed at any depth in May before being limited to less than 50 fathoms for the remainder of the season. Webcams of many of the coastal locations are available at https://805webcams.com/.
Call: Virg’s Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing
Others
Delta/Stockton
Bass 3 Striper 3 Sturgeon 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
Striped and largemouth bass action throughout the entire spread of the California Delta continues to heat up just in time for the first large bass tournaments of the year. Striped bass tournaments are scheduled in the Delta during three of the four weekends in April, and the combination of the Best Bass Tournaments and Nor Cal Bass attracted 121 boats on Saturday.
For striped bass, Johnny Wang, manager of Turner’s Outdoorsman in Stockton, reported solid lineside action in the central Delta, saying, “Venice Island, Fourteen Mile Slough, Connection Slough, Mildred Island, and the Stockton Turning Basin have all been producing stripers for those drifting live bluegill, Anglers are opting for bluegill instead of mudsuckers or jumbo minnows as the prices for live bait have gone out of sight. Bluegill only cost time and some worms, and Bacon Island Road has been a good location for bluegill. I trolled Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows along the shoals above the Rio Vista Bridge for limits of stripers. My source in Connection Slough landed 30 stripers to 10 pounds drifting live bluegill.”
Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo’s Sport Fishing out of Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley found tougher action over the weekend working the San Joaquin River, but he was able to put his clients onto limits of quality stripers both Saturday and Sunday.
“The larger fish that were here last week were gone the next day, and a bunch of new stripers have moved in,” he said. “These were smaller fish with several shakers in the mix.” Soo Hoo said he continues to troll either deep- or shallow diving lures as the schools remain scattered until you find them.
Fishing instructor Randy Pringle, was the tournament director for the 86-boat Best Bass Tournament on Saturday out of Russo’s Marina. He said, “80% of our boats ran south with the winning limit at 21.30 pounds. With the front moving through on Thursday and Friday, the conditions change from earlier in the week. Most of the south and central Delta bass have a percentage of Florida-strain, and these fish don’t like cold. As a result, they were holding tight to cover. The south Delta is more resistive to temperature change as the cold water releases out of the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced Rivers has been limited. The central Delta from Stockton to Mildred Island is prone to a greater variance in temperature. Successful anglers scored with tubes, Senkos, or plastics on the drop-shot near tules, rock, or brush, but the coming warm weather will bring the males back to cruising the banks. When this happens, the reaction bite with topwater, frogs, or chatterbaits will start up. I plan on working the warmest water I can find this week, and this will be found on the north side of the east/west sloughs.”
Dave King and Danny Berbena were the tournament directors for both the Bass, Badges and Veterans event on Thursday/Friday and the 35-boat Nor Cal Event out of Ladd’s Marina on Saturday. King said, “I was up in the east Delta throwing a black crankbait with copper Colorado blade, and I found a good bite for numbers. The overall bite was tougher during the tournaments since the fronts moved through, cooling the water, but it took over 20 pounds for first all three days of the tournaments.”
In the south Delta, Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop said, “Striped bass are moving into the south San Joaquin River below the Mossdale Bridge, and bank anglers are scoring with live minnows, pile worms, or blood worms. The males are all milking, and the stripers have moved into the south Delta.”
For sturgeon, nearly all the six-packs have migrated to San Francisco Bay, but there are changes coming for white sturgeon with the readoption of the emergency regulations along with a presentation of regulation changes on the April 18 agenda of the California Fish and Game Commission. The Hammerdown Striped Bass Derby is this coming Saturday, April 13 out of B and W Resort, and this is also a fund raiser for Rec4Vets. This veteran’s organization will hold their own event specifically for veterans on May 4 out of Brannan Island State Park.
Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Vince Borges, Vince Borges Outdoors (209) 918-0828. Soo Hoo Sport Fishing (925) 899-4045.
Events:
Tournament results
April 6
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal Bass –
1st: Christian Ostrander/Hunter Schlander – 22.59 pounds (Big Fish – 5.74); 2nd – Colby and Logan Huntze – 22.50; 3rd – Lorenzo and Lucca Rossetti – 19.90.
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments
1st: Brent Zieska/Jim La Rosa – 21.30 pounds; 2nd – Mark and Curtis Howard – 18.75; 3rd – Austin Phillips/Kyle Santos – 18.55 (Big Fish – 7.79).
Delta/Rio Vista – California Striped Bass Association (Target Length 20 to 23 inches)
1st – Paul Boley; 2nd – Craig Perry; 3rd – Robert Williams.
Lake Kaweah – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments
1st: Jeremy Barela/ Jesse Aguilar – 13.15 pounds (Big Fish – 7.38); 2nd – Gary Wasson/James Beasley – 10.96; 3rd – Chad Cloyd/Brian Suttles – 9.42.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change) April 12/19/26 –
April 13
Don Pedro – Best Bass Tournaments
McClure – California Bass Federation
Eastman – Central Valley Kayak Fishing/Bass 559 Kayak
Lopez – American Bass Association
April 13-14
Tulloch – Friday Night Tournament
Tulloch – Yak A’ Bass
April 14
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – California Bass Federation
Don Pedro – Best Bass Tournaments
McClure – Stanislaus County Employees
Bass Lake – Kings VIII Bass Club
Kaweah – Bass 101
April 16
Don Pedro – Mid Valley Agriculture
April 20
Santa Margarita – Golden Empire Bass Club
Tulloch – Sierra Bass Club
Don Pedro – Angler’s Press
Eastman – Sheet Metal Workers Local 104
Lopez – Best Bass Tournaments
April 20-21
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Kern County Bass Masters/Riverbank Bass Anglers Pine Flat – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments
April 21
Delta/B and W Resort – Best Bass Tournaments
Tulloch – Fresno Bass Club
April 27
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Valley Backlashers
Delta/B and W Resort– Central Valley Anglers Spring Striper Derby Don Pedro – Yak A’ Bass/Bakersfield Bass Club
Bass Lake – Kerman Bass Club
Success – United States Army Corps of Engineers
Isabella – American Bass Association
April 28
Bass Lake – Kings River Bass Club
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
