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It's time again for live bait fishing in San Francisco Bay, one of the most productive and exciting fishing methods found in northern California. The great thing about early spring halibut and bass fishing is that anglers can find fish scattered throughout the bay from the Golden Gate to south San Francisco Bay and from the central bay to San Pablo Bay. "With the live bait season approaching, we are looking at the weather as being the biggest indicator for how fishing will be in the bay," reported Jim Holloway of Berkeley Marina Sport Center. "We are hoping that we don't receive much rain in the near future, because the cold weather and run off could make the fish lethargic and less ready to bite." The first trips leaving from the Berkeley Marina are charters set for April 5 and 6. "We will go out to Berkeley Flats or the South Bay in hopes of catching a halibut or striped bass," noted Holloway. "Although there have been scattered halibut reports by private boaters, we won't know how fishing really is until we get the chance to get out and fish." Keith Fraser of Loch Lomond Live Bait in San Rafael confirmed the catch of several halibut off the Berkeley Flats and aboard a party boat during recent outings. "A 29 pound halibut was caught aboard the Bass Tub by a passenger drifting a shiner," said Fraser. "Another local angler also reported catching a 20 pounder while drifting a live shiner perch near the Brickyard." |
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"So far the live bait season is looking scratchy, but one good sign we are seeing is the increasing numbers of striped bass being taken on sturgeon trips," explained Craig Stone from Emeryville Sportfishing Center. "In past years, we have found the halibut moving in around early April and providing consistent action through the summer." However, Stone noted that the bass have the tendency of showing a little later in April through the early part of May. "I plan on starting the season with trips in the south bay; we will be trading off with salmon trips, which will become available on April 13." "Several keeper halibut have been caught off local piers and along the flats by anglers soaking pile worms for surfperch," reported Hippo Lau from Hi's Tackle Box. "I have also heard a few reports of striped bass being picked up along the west side of Marin near the Sisters Islands. The bass are not very big, averaging around 5 pounds." Make sure to call ahead before making a live bait trip to check weather forecast and fishing conditions, since the action can change dramatically on a daily basis. For more information regarding booking a live bait fishing trip in San Francisco Bay, contact Berkeley Marina Sport Center, (510)849-2727; Jim Smith aboard the Happy Hooker,(510)223-5388; Emeryville Marina Sport Center, (510)654-6040; Gordie Hough aboard the Morning Star, (707)745-1431; Chad Aho on the New Keesa out of Point San Pablo, (800)755-1720; Marilyn Kern of Fury Sportfishing out of Point San Pablo, (800)499-6465; and Erik Anfinson on the Bass Tub out of Fishermans Wharf, (415)456-9055. For fishing information, contact Hi's Tackle Box in San Francisco, (415) 221-3825, and Loch Lomond Live Bait and Tackle in San Rafael, (415) 456-0321. |
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