The Fish Sniffer

Location: The Marin County Coast offers a variety of fishing opportunities from the Golden Gate Bridge to Tomales Bay. This pristine coastline includes the Golden Gate Recreation Area and the Point Reyes National Seashore. Rockfish, lingcod, king salmon, halibut and striped bass are the main species that anglers pursue.

Seasons: There are seasonal closures for lingcod, rockfish, sturgeon, salmon, surfperch and soupfin sharks. Fishing for striped bass, halibut and leopard sharks is open year round.  

Rockfish: The recreational fishery for rockfish is open to boat-based anglers from June 9 through December 31, 2012 from Point Arena to Pigeon Point. These species may only be taken or possessed in waters less than 180 feet (30 fathoms) deep. The recreational fishery for rockfish (Sebastes) is open year-round to divers and shore-based anglers. The daily bag and possession limit is 10 fish in combination of all species within the RCG Complex (includes all species of Rockfish, Cabezon and Greenlings) per person. There is a sub-limit on bocaccio of 1 per person, minimum size limit of 10 inches total length, included in the 10 fish RCG Complex aggregate limit, as well as a 3 fish bag limit on cabezon. Yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish and cowcod may not be retained.

Lingcod: The recreational fishery for lingcod is open to boat-based anglers from June 9 through December 31. The daily bag and possession limit is 2 fish with a minimum size limit of 22 inches total length.

Charter boats: Sportfishing boats from throughout the Bay Area target rockfish, lingcod, halibut, stripers and king salmon along the Marin County coast during their respective seasons. The California Dawn is available at 510-417-5557. The Berkeley Marina Sport Center, (510) 849-3333, also features the New Easy Rider (510) 654-6696, New El Dorado III, and El Dorado. The Happy Hooker, (510) 773-4158, and Goldeneye 2000, (510) 610-0888, are also berthed at Berkeley. The Bass Tub, (415) 456-9055, and Silver Fox, 650-867-6910, leaves out of Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. Loch Lomond Marina in San Rafael features the Morning Star, (800) 464-1431, and Jim Cox Sport Fishing Charters, (650) 369-3807. Fury Sportfishing, (800) 499-6465, departs from the Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor. The New Huck Finn, Sundance, Captain Hook, Superfish, C-Gull II, New Seeker and New Salmon Queen depart from the Emeryville Sportfishing Center, (800) 575-9944.