The Fish Sniffer

(Benicia) Striper and salmon fishing have been very productive for Suisun Bay shore anglers. The salmon bite has backed off a bit and the striper bite has ramped up, making stripers the best target overall. Sturgeon are around in abundant numbers, but few anglers are focused on them.

According to Curtis Hayes at Benicia Bait and Tackle, both First Street and the state park are producing a handful of salmon for spinner casters firing Vee-Zee’s and Mepps Fly Cs every day. Most of the salmon landed come near the top of the incoming tide.

For numbers of fish, it’s tough to beat bank fishing for stripers. Limits and near limits of fish ranging from 18 inches to 8 pounds have been the rule and some larger fish have been reported. The top baits are bloodworms and live bullheads, with bullheads getting the edge if you want that, “larger than average bass”.

Sturgeon are found in abundance in several areas of Suisun Bay. The area near the “Yellow Can”, Chain Island and the PG&E power plant all hold solid concentrations of fish. 

The majority of the sturgeon are holding deep at this time, so fishing at a time when there is little wind will be a critical component of success. Few people have been fishing for sturgeon, but those that have been going out are doing best with roe and eel.