February '97

Imperial Beach Pier - John Munoz at the Cox Bait & Tackle store reports that anglers are doing pretty good on perch at this time. Lots of smaller perch are being caught on "Lucky Joe" type rigs while barred surperch are hitting bait fished near the surf area. Most of the bigger perch (up to 3-pounds) are caught on blood worms or fresh mussels. Anglers continue to catch sand sharks (gray smoothhound sharks) and shovelnose sharks but leopard sharks and bat rays are rare at this time. John says he hasn't heard of a keeper halibut in over a month.

Shelter Island Pier - Buddy Hanks at his Shelter Island Pier Bait & Tackle store says that anglers are seeing fairly good Pacific mackerel and sand bass action along with a few small halibut. Most of the mackerel are hitting live anchovies or strips of squid while the bass, most between 2-3 pounds in size, are biting on live ghost shrimp. The halibut also hit best on live bait - anchovies when the bait shop has them and smelt when anglers have to net their own bait. Several anglers continue to have good success fishing for opaleye near the bait stand (using fresh mussels or ghost shrimp) and bat rays and sharks (sand sharks, leopard sharks, and horn sharks) continue to fall for squid bait fished on the bottom (generally at night).

Oceanside Pier - George at the Oceanside Pier Bait & Tackle shop says there is fair action on a number of different species but most of the fish are small. Inshore there are lots of barred surfperch but they're only averaging 6" in length. Further out on the pier there are lots of small walleye and silver surfperch, a few croakers, and a very few halibut (even Halibut Cal hasn't caught too many lately). But, halibut could pick up any time and tom cod (white croaker) should return by March. There are lots of Pacific mackerel around but most are the smaller "baby macs" - good bait for the larger fish which aren't around at this time. Anglers also continue to catch a few sand sharks (gray smoothhounds) and small bat rays. Best recent catch was a 3 1/2 pound spotfin croaker, the biggest since November. Very interesting was a short 15" barracuda caught on the morning of January 25. Who ever heard of barracuda in January? The youngin' was properly returned to the water. George also reports that there are more dolphin in the local waters than at anytime in anyone's memory. Why? Not sure!

Seal Beach Pier - Janie at the Seal Beach Sportfishing shop on the pier reports that anglers are primarily catching tomcod (white croaker) and some big jacksmelt out toward the end of the pier, corbina and yellowfin croaker inshore near the surf line. Most of the tomcod are falling for shrimp and most of the jacksmelt are caught on #8 or #12 Lucky Laura type multi-hook rigs sweetened with a small piece of shrimp. The corbina and yellowfins are falling for fresh mussel bait. Largest fish lately have been the bat rays and shovelnose sharks; a few continue to be caught every week.

Santa Monica Pier - Manny at the Santa Monica Pier Bait & Tackle Company suggests trying fresh mussels for sargo and buttermouth perch (blackperch) down around the pilings. Although there aren't too many halibut being caught, tackle shop co-owner John Volaski showed that those with the know-how can still get them. He caught a 32" halibut two weeks ago using a live 7-11 perch (shinerperch) for bait. Mostly though it has been a little slow due to the winter-time wind and rain.

Santa Barbara Wharf - Mike at Mikes Bait & Tackle reports a mixed bag of fish. Best bet at this time might be to try for buttermouth perch (black seaperch); a lot are being caught and some are pretty good size. The bait of choice for the perch is fresh mussels. Some ronkie (white croaker) are hitting cut anchovies and a school of jacksmelt will occasionally sweep by the pier. Halibut fishing is slow; only a few are being landed and almost all of these are short: fish which you must return. However, there are lots of thornback rays and bat rays for the shark fishermen. Surprisingly, a few mackerel are also hitting and most are running an excellent 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds in size. Best lure seems to be a 1/2 ounce Snapper Zapper (and you could probably find one at Mike's shop on the pier).

Pismo Beach Pier - Troy from Sheldon's Clam Stand on the pier gives both a good and bad picture in regard to recent events. The bad news is that there has been a lot of rain and the discharges from the creeks have really messed up the water. The good news is that the fish continue to hit. As is usual at this pier, barred surfperch continue to lead the hit parade. Most are caught near the surf area and they are falling for a plethora of baits, everything from sand crabs and fresh mussels, to clams and blood worms (but bring your own worms). Knowledgeable anglers are also taking quite a few of the large perch on plastic grubs. There are also lots of the smaller walleye surperch and most of them are being caught on the multi-hook bait riggings. A few jacksmelt, bat rays and skates round out the picture. Overall, things are in a slow wintertime mode. My advice - rest up for the tourist season (when Pismo really hops). Troy also mentioned that good numbers of kingfish (white croaker) are still being caught at the nearby Avila and Port Luis piers.

Cayucos Pier - Glenda at The Tidepool in Cayucos reports fairly good action on barred surfperch at this time. Blood worms are the best bait but they will hit on almost anything, including squid. Other species are fairly slow with the exception of the small walleye and silver surfperch which seem to be in good supply. As always, a few kingfish (white croaker) and mackerel are available. Of interest was a "run" of soupfin sharks which occurred around the first of the year. Many soupfins were caught although most were on the smallish side. One that doesn't fit that characterization was a 65 pound fish which measured nearly five and a half feet in length (and which may be a record soupfin for the pier). Although several shark species are common to the pier, soupfins are not one of them. For whatever reason they were in thick supply for over a week.

Monterey Wharf #2 - Lloyd Elves from the Elves' Wharf Cafe says that things are slow at the Monterey Wharf #2. There has been a lot of rough weather lately and about the only thing anglers are catching is a few rubberlip perch - mostly on pieces of squid. Calm seas and the arrival of spring should help the report.

Santa Cruz Wharf - Andre at Andy's Bait & Tackle on the wharf reports some excellent results even though the weather has been downright sh....(you get the idea). Biggest fish have been a number of keeper, 24-36 inch, green lingcod taken in the fishing wells located out toward the end of the wharf. The fish were caught using strip bait (mackerel) and number one hooks. Lots of good sized kingfish (white croaker) are satisfying anglers as are halibut, including some keepers, which are being landed on anchovies fished on the bottom. Surfperch, mainly barred surfperch but also some calico, are being landed in the inshore areas using shrimp and squid as bait. Smaller perch seem to be absent. Andre says Filipino fisherman tell him they are getting lots of gillfish (?) but neither he, nor I, know what those are. He says he will find out and we'll let you know next month.

Pacifica Pier - Joe at the Community Bait & Tackle shop in Pacifica says that the fish are there, you just have to catch them between the storms. Good weather sees good crabbing (Dungeness and red rock crabs) and decent fishing. Most of the fish are the smaller species, especially kingfish (white croaker) and walleye surfperch. Both the kingfish and walleye are hitting cut anchovy. Anglers fishing the surf area are catching some nice (up to 2 1/2 pound) redtail and barred surfperch - on mussels. The key is to avoid the storms and the high winds.

San Francisco Shoreline Piers - Hippo at Hi's Tackle Box in San Francisco says that the Candlestick Point Pier is just about the only local pier seeing any action with reports of sturgeon being caught. The huge amount of fresh water that has washed into San Francisco Bay from the winter storms has really put a damper on the normal salt water species such as perch, kingfish (white croaker), jacksmelt, halibut, sharks and rays. The assumption is that a lot of these fish have migrated out of the bay into shallow ocean waters. Since the rain continues, this could be a situation that could last for another month or more. (Hippo didn't mention it, but I have also read of considerable destruction to less mobile creatures in the bay like mussels, barnacles, worms, and crabs. To a small extent this can happen every winter but this time it is an extreme, and longer lasting, situation. Maybe the water flow will flush some of the toxins out of the South Bay).

Berkeley Pier - The Berkeley Marina Sports Center reports few fish and fewer fishermen. Maybe things will improve in a couple of months? Okay!

McNear Beach Fishing Pier (San Rafael) - John at Western Boat & Tackle says that most of the attention on the pier (as well as at the Paradise Beach Pier) is focused on sturgeon at this time - and keeper fish are being caught almost every day. Top angler has been a young lady who has been able to land a couple of keepers herself (as well as smaller fish) every week. Surprisingly, she has landed most of her fish on herring and anchovies even though mud shrimp, ghost shrimp and grass shrimp are considered the top sturgeon baits by most anglers. Only a few striped bass are being landed and most of these are falling to herring bait.

Point Pinole Pier - The Anglers' Edge reports that action is hit and miss at the San Pablo Bay pier. With the winter storms, and the influx of heavy water flows from the delta, sturgeon have begun to prowl through the area and anglers are catching more and more of the fish (most on pile worms or grass shrimp). Striped bass to 28 inches are still being caught but the fishing is unpredictable, several stripers on some days, none on other days. Most of the stripers taken fell for anchovies fished near the bottom.

Spud Point Marina Pier (Bodega Bay) - Judy at Wil's Bait & Tackle reports that anglers are landing a fair number of perch at the pier and most sound like they are the larger blue perch (striped seaperch). Most are hitting on pile worms although a few are falling for squid and small rock crabs.

Point Arena Pier - The cove has been pounded recently by the winter storms but anglers lucky enough to miss the high winds and rough surf are still reporting a few striped seaperch with an occasional bullhead (cabezon) or seatrout (kelp greenling). Perch have ranged from quarter-pounders to some in excess of two pounds. Most of the fish are falling for pieces of shrimp.

Del Norte Street Fishing Pier (Eureka) - Greg at Bucksport Sporting Goods says fisherman are still landing a lot of Dungeness crabs as well as attracting a few stingrays (bat rays) and sharks at this inner Humboldt Bay pier. Most of the sharks are sand sharks (brown smoothhound) but there are still a few leopard sharks. Most of the bat rays and sharks are taken at night on a low incoming tide and squid remains the best bait. It is still too early for jacksmelt or perch! The storms which have buffeted the Eureka area can make it tough going for fisherman - so wear warm clothing and take along your rain gear.

"B" Street Pier (Crescent City) - There is no report this month. The area has been hit by some pretty big storms lately but crabbing and perch (redtail surfperch) fishing should still be pretty decent.