Fisherman’s Wharf/Berkeley Live Bait Drifters Battle Stripers and Halibut

SAN FRANCISCO – Live bait is now available at J and P Bait at San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf. J and P Bait is located on the water near Scoma’s Restaurant across from Pier 45. They will be open seven days a week Mondays thru Thursdays from 6am to 9am, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 5am to 10am. The cost is $40 for a half scoop and $60 for a full scoop. Now for a fish report from San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. Captain Craig Hansen of Argo Sportfishing tells me that he’s been navigating with his customers, from his berth at Fisherman’s Wharf, to Red Rock Shoal and F-Buoy. Capt. Craig has been having his clients drift live bait for striped bass and halibut. Capt. Craig continued to tell me that the striped bass bite has been good on most tides, but the halibut bite has been best on the slow-moving tides. His advice, if you’re wanting to target halibut, fish the slow moving tides. Meanwhile Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions tells me that he’s also been putting his clients on striped bass and halibut on Red Rock and Southampton Shoals. On a recent trip Capt. Ron put his clients on 10 halibut and 10 stripers, all the while fighting very windy conditions (see the attached photos). Capt. Ron also stated that the big tides weren’t favorable if you’re hoping to target halibut. Mike Rescino,, Captain of the Lovely Martha, reported hot striper fishing while drifting live bait in San Francisco bay on May 31. “What a great way to end the month of May,” said Rescino. “Today we had a private half-day charter and the bass fishing was phenomenal again. We finished up with 24 limits (48) of quality striped bass and 1 chunky halibut.” The California Dawn 2 fished for lingcod and rockfish outside of the Golden Gate on May 31. The final count was 52 lingcod (23 limits plus crew), 187 rockfish and 1 cabezon, reported Captain James Smith at the Berkeley Marina. The California Dawn 1 stayed in the bay, returning with 20 stripers for 16 anglers. Now for the 2025 Ocean Salmon Fishing Regulations. For “ocean waters” between the California/Oregon state line and the US/Mexico border, the ocean salmon season will be open for two days on June 7-8, 2025, with a 7,000 Chinook salmon summer harvest guideline. If the harvest is not met in the first opener, the season will reopen for additional days in July and August until the summer harvest guideline is met. The fishery will then open for four days on September 4-7, 2025 between Point Reyes and Point Sur under fall harvest guideline of 7,500 Chinook salmon. Retention of Coho salmon, also known as silver salmon, is prohibited in all California ocean salmon fisheries. All salmon must be brought ashore prior to the end of any open season. Statewide, the daily bag limit will be two Chinook salmon per day, with a minimum size limit of 20 inches total length. Anglers are advised to check for updated information regarding season dates and harvest guidelines on CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Fishery Information web page, or by calling the CDFW Ocean Salmon Hotline at (707) 576-3429. If you would like to fish with any of these Captains or Guides, just do a search on the internet for their contact information. If you would like more information about the California Striped Bass Association (CSBA), go to our website (www.striper-csba.org). You will be able to access all the information related to the 4 CSBA Chapters. New members only pay $25, that includes a one-time $5 initiation fee. After the first year of membership the annual dues are only $20. Your membership helps to strengthen our mission to protect striped bass and our fisheries. Some Chapters will give you a free gift just for joining. The Isleton-Delta Chapter gives all new members two free Isleton Chapter decals and a Chapter hat as a thank you for joining our Chapter. Membership forms are available for each Chapter on the website. Just click on your Chapter of choice and go to the membership page, fill out the application, print it and send your application and payment to the address listed on the application. The Isleton Chapter accepts credit cards online on the website for new memberships, membership renewals as well as our chapter’s events. The website also has Chapters’ newsletters, photos, interesting articles, and useful links that will help you plan your next fishing trip.

• Ken Baccetti, President of the California Striped Bass Association (CSBA), Isleton-Delta Chapter.