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Heavy seas and wind from a big winter storm kept private and party boats off
the water on most locations off the northern and central California coast
for the opening of rockfish and lingcod season on January 1. However, the
weather calmed down on the weekend of January 10-11 and charter boat anglers
and private boaters nailed easy limits of rockfish, lingcod and dungeness
crab.
"I ran my first charter on Sunday, January 11 with 14 passengers," reported
Captain William "Smitty" Smith of Riptide Sportfishing. "My clients landed
full bag limits of rockcod weighing 30-40 pounds and eight lingcod while
fishing in 150-180 feet of water at the Farallon Islands."
According to Smith, the quality of the fish was excellent, since the area
they fished has been untouched in recent years. "I haven't fished waters
that deep in about five years and the size of the fish is outstanding,
compared to the shallow water fish taken in less than 120 feet (20
fathoms)," he explained.
"We even had to switch to heavy leaders and hooks, due to being broken off
from the larger copper rockfish and lingcod we caught," noted Smith.
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Anglers fishing in up to 180 feet of water between Pescadero and Pigeon Point took part in the successful rockcod fishing, according to Bill Beckett from Huck Finn Sportfishing. "Fourteen passengers fishing aboard the Queen of Hearts on Saturday, January 10 used shrimp flies and squid to capture 9 lingcod and 8 assorted rockfish per rod," said Beckett. "The captain and passengers hit such big schools of blue and black rockcod that they were releasing dozens of fish throughout the trip." "We had some rough weather last week, but it settled down this weekend enough that we were able to get out and score full limits of assorted rockfish, one lingcod per rod and near-limits to limits of dungeness crab at the Farallon Islands," explained Craig Stone of Emeryville Sportfishing Center. The January 10-11 weekend produced top-notch bottomfish and crab action for anglers fishing aboard the C-Gull II. Both days yielded full limits of both dungeness crab and assorted rockfish. Lingcod scores ranged from 32 fish on Saturday to 14 lingcod to 25 pounds the following day. Meanwhile, The New Seeker's anglers brought in full limits of assorted rockfish both days, half-limits to full limits of dungeness crab and under one lingcod per rod each day. "When the weather allows, we're catching easy limits of rockfish and dungeness crab," stated Eddie Gallia aboard the New Eldorado III. "We targeted the school and bottom fish between 140 and 160 feet of water near the Farallon Islands this weekend. Shrimp flies and squid were the two top rockfish producers, while a variety of bars fooled the lingcod." The New Golden Eye ran to the Farallon Islands with a load of 18 passengers in search of big lingcod and rockfish. The anglers bagged full limits of crab, rockfish and lingcod to 20 pounds. The New Eldorado III checked in with limits of rockfish, limits of crab and 20 lingcod to 15 pounds for 24 anglers. For further booking information on a rockcod only or crab/rockcod combo trip, contact Riptide Sportfishing at 888-747-8433 or Huck Finn Sportfishing in Half Moon Bay at 650-726-7133, Emeryville Marina Sport Center at 510-654-6040, Berkeley Marina at 510-849-3333, Anchor Charters at 707-964-4550, Bodega Bay Sportfishing - 707-875-3344, Telstar Charters - 707-964-8770 or Noyo Fishing Center in Fort Bragg at 707-964-3000. For other boats booking rockfish, lingcod and crab trips, review the sportfishing section of our print magazine. |
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