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When the 2002 rockfish season closed on October 31, many rockcod enthusiasts
put away their bottomfish gear until July 1. However, if you're willing to
fish north of Cape Mendocino, where the season remains open year round, you
can still catch rockfish and lingcod.
One of the top areas in the open section is Punta Gorda, or "Jurassic Park,
as many locals call it. This virtually untouched area of coast, located 60
miles north of Fort Bragg at 40'-10', is legendary for the huge rockfish and
lingcod that it produces on calm days.
Located in the northern zone, mid-way between Fort Bragg and Eureka, Punta
Gorda receives very little fishing pressure due to its location and often
blustery weather. However, the Punta Gorda region features monster lingcod
that average 12 to 15 pounds and hefty goldeneye, vermilion, yellowtail,
black, blue and other rockfish.
Don Akin of Noyo Fishing Center is now offering these lingcod and rockcod
trips to the Punta Gorda region aboard the Rumblefish and El Patron with
captains Kurt Akin and Tom Johnson.
"These trips are the most unique of their kind," said Akin. "Boaters fishing
locally will never experience the action that takes place up north. Not only
are we able to fish both deep water and shallow water, but our possession
limit is increased for the prized vermillion and yellow tail rockfish."
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For California below Cape Mendocino, the daily possession limit for vermillion and yellow tail rockcod is two for each species per angler, while at Punta Gorda the bag limit for these species increases to 10 per person. The boat limit for goldeneye rockfish remains 2 fish per boat. Anglers will also be targeting shallow water black and blue cod. (Make sure you review the salt water sport fishing regulations regardless of what section of coast you fish). "Since this area of water receives very little attention, the fish population has a chance to boom and the fish feed heavily on bait fish, making them much larger compared to the average rockfish caught locally," noted Akin. Anglers fishing the 40'-10' area have two primary areas to fish: Christmas Rock and the mouth of the Mattole River, located in Humboldt County just 25 miles past Shelter Cove. "The reason we tend to favor the mouth of the Mattole is due to the amount of bait fish that hang around the mouth, drawing the lingcod and other rockfish to feed," explained Akin. "However, we occasionally have to move out into deeper water if the runoff from the river muddies up the water." Boaters below the northern zone are limited to shallow water fishing only, 120 feet and less. However, the deep water is open for fishing north of Cape Mendocino. "We do have only one area of water that is off limits to both fishing and diving the Punta Gorda Refuge area," said Akin. Recent fish scores aboard the Rumblefish and El Patron have been exceptional, with the average bag weighing over 100 pounds. "Since each species of fish averages 7 to 8 pounds, you can see how we are able to bring home such big bags," he added. For an average rockcod trip, Akin suggested bringing swim baits, lead jigs and diamond bars with 40 pound test. "Since these trips can produce a trophy lingcod at any given time, it's better to have heavy line just in case you hook a monster," stated Akin. "For next spring and summer, we are trying to set up overnight specials aboard the Rumblefish, which can comfortably sleep 8 persons," noted Akin. During these special trips, anglers will be given a multi-day declaration pass from Fish & Game which allows them two day possession limits of each species including crab, abalone, rockfish and lingcod. However, the permit does not allow two limits of salmon to be taken. For more information regarding fishing of Punta Gorda or booking a fishing trip with Noyo Fishing Center, call 707-964-3000 or check the sportfishing section of The Fish Sniffer paper. |
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