The Fish Sniffer

(Pittsburg) Both stripers and sturgeon are on the bite in the West Delta. Trollers and pluggers are hooking plenty of bass, but the biggest fish are coming for anglers still fishing with live baits.

“The fishing has been pretty good,” related Captain Mark Delnero of Fin Addict Sportfishing. “The wind is still blowing, but when we get out we are catching fish. The last time I headed out we got an 80 inch oversize sturgeon and some stripers.”

“The sturgeon hit a filleted shad on a striper rod. The reel was loaded with 17 pound test line. We followed the fish for over a mile and it took about 45 minutes to bring it up to the boat. It was pretty exciting to land and release a big fish like that on such light gear,” exclaimed Delnero.

Bait anglers targeting stripers in the West Delta are catching plenty of schoolie size fish on shad, but the bigger bass are going for live bullheads and live splittails. The key to success is working the shallows in 3 to 10 feet of water.

Trollers and pluggers working from Collinsville to Rio Vista are hooking lots of stripers in the 3 to 7 pound class on standard offerings like Fish Traps and minnow plugs from P-Line and Yo-Zuri.

For sturgeon you’ll need to fish on a day when the winds and tides cooperate and allow you to anchor in the big water below Pittsburg. Getting your anchor set in a productive spot is the sturgeon angler’s biggest challenge right now. Once you’re in the right spot toss out some eel, roe and shad and you stand a good chance of getting a pump or two.

Cal Kellogg will be hosting a West Delta fishing trip with Capt. Mark Delnero on Friday November 16. There are only 5 spots available for this trip. The striper fishing should be outstanding so don’t hesitate, call and reserve your spot today. The cost of the trip is $125. Fishing tackle and other prizes will be up for grabs!

To book a trip with Captain Delnero, give him a call at (209) 367-4665.