Date: August 22, 2013
To: Pier Fishing in California
From: Ken Jones
Subject: A trip north
Proper Prior Planning Prevents Pi.. Poor Performance. Well, not always. Last week saw a planned trip to San Rafael for the Kids Fishing Tournament and since I’ve been wanting to get up to Trinidad to photograph (and fish) the new Trinidad Pier, I convinced my wife the economical thing to do was to combine the two trips.
When I left Fresno I had everything organized—clothing, equipment pier cart, bait, etc. I’ve been doing these multi-day, multi-pier trips for some time and feel I have it down to a science. But, as the old saying goes, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go astray.
Day 1, Friday, saw the drive up to San Rafael. Along the way I stopped at the Martinez Marina where I picked up some ghost shrimp and additional pile worms to go with the pile worms and bloodworms that I had bought in Fresno. I also had frozen anchovies, squid and mussels in the shell. After checking into my motel I headed over to the Elephant Rock Pier where I figured to see some variety.
First though, as I removed my rods from the car, I noticed the butt cap on my favorite rod was missing. Curious, but not a big problem. Then, once I began to set up the rigs on the pier, my tackle box fell from my cart spilling out most everything from one side of the box. Luckily only a corner was broken off and I was still able to use the tackle box but several items had fallen through the cracks in the walkway on the pier. I could see some sinkers, some hooks, and a few other items down on the rock under the walkway but there was no way to retrieve the items. Luckily most items were still on the pier. A bad start, but again I didn’t feel it was too bad even though I wondered if the events were a harbinger of things to come (yep, I guess I’m a little superstitious).
As for the fishing, a variety of species were caught although all were on the small side—Blackperch, Rainbow Seaperch, Striped Seaperch, Pileperch, Dwarf Perch, Cabezon, Spotted Kelpfish and Brown Rockfish. What was nice was that I was soon joined by Brian, Redfish, and Big Rich and we all caught some fish. That night we headed back to room and home and got ready for some sleep before the derby.
Day 2, Saturday, saw the “Kids Day on the Pier” at the Marin Rod and Gun Club Pier (as reported) and some fishing on the pier after the derby (as reported). I did not have a single bite during the time I spent fishing and when combined with the two previous events was beginning to wonder about the trip. That night I headed the hour or so trip up to Santa Rosa, refilled the gas tank, and settled in for a good night’s sleep.
Day 3, Sunday, saw an early departure from Santa Rosa and even with the roughly four-hour trip and a few pictures along the way I was in Eureka by 11AM. I had hoped to stop in at the Bucksport Tackle Shop (who sometimes provide reports for the monthly Fish Report) to see if I could replace my tackle box but it turned out they were closed. I would not be able to get a new tackle box or be able to see if they still carried tubeworms (a north-coast bait).
What I did do was head over to the Commercial Street Dock, which typically has produced quite a few fish. This time it would produce squat. When I arrived another angler was fishing with his son. “Having any luck?” “No, I was here yesterday and caught 39 fish but today I haven’t caught a single fish.” “What did you catch?” “Jacksmelt and walleyes, big ones.”
I wasn’t surprised that the fishing was slow as there was a strong current and eelgrass clogged the water. I would give it a one-hour shot but the fishing was dead excepting a few bullheads and shiners.
Next up was a visit to the Del Norte Street Pier where the conditions were the same as at Commercial Street. Inshore by the eelgrass beds the water was calm but deeper water saw a strong current. Some shiners and bullheads were available inshore but a group of locals crowded the end of the pier. After a short time I decided the visit was more a photo taking opportunity than a time for fish. I snapped a few photos and then decided to see if I could check into my motel.
I checked into the motel and then was faced with the question of what to do next. I could check out the other two local (pier) spots, the Adorni Center and the Boardwalk, but conditions would probably be the same. So, I decided to head up to Trinidad and the new pier, which was, after all, the main purpose for the trip.
A short half hour drive and I was at Trinidad. Upon exiting the car I found that I had caught the tip of my main rod in the door and had broken off about the last six inches of the rod. Normally I would have fixed it on the spot with my rod cement. This time the rod cement was gone having fallen from the tackle box when I broke the box. A missing rod butt, broken tackle box, broken rod tip, and slow fishing to date—all bad signs, but I hoped Trinidad would prove different. The pier itself looked beautiful (although having a few flaws for anglers) and I quickly baited up and was ready to fish.
I normally fish the inshore section down around the large rocks that parallel the pier and it’s why I had brought the worms and ghost shrimp. Unfortunately, the current was treacherous, it was windy, and it made it almost impossible to hold a bait in a spot without being swept into the rocks or having the bait grabbed by the kelp. I did manage a large striped seaperch and a decent-sized black rockfish but didn’t see a rock greenling, which was one of the species I was seeking out on the trip.
I did have a snaggle-toothed local come over to look at my fish since he had gone fishless. We had a nice talk and it was his feeling that the fishing had been poor ever since they started to remove the old wharf and built the new pier. Months of construction, pile driving, underwater noise, and disruption: not good. He felt the fish had left and not returned to date. I wound up giving him the perch and rockfish and wished him a good dinner.
It’s possible the disruption to the bottom has hurt the fishing. It’s possible the decrease in number of pilings has hurt the fishing. It’s also possible the rubberized coverings on the pilings has hurt (since piers that have the covering on their pilings almost always see a decrease in the number of fish). However, to be fair, this pier has traditionally ranked at or near the bottom for productivity for the north coast piers. My last trip had been really good but going way back, and checking my early records, it traditionally was not very good (even though it looks like a perfect setting for good fishing). Whatever the reason the fishing was very slow.
I would stay until nine PM, and get a few more fish, but primarily wound up fishing further out on the pier, casting out to the bay itself or near the floating dock; neither area was productive. I finally called it quits and headed back to the motel in a less than euphoric mood. Fish caught—Striped Seaperch, Black Rockfish, Kelp Greenling, what looked like a Black & Yellow Rockfish, White Seaperch and Shinerperch.
Day 4, Monday — Another early drive north with a planned stop at Trinidad before heading on to Crescent City. I stopped to take some pictures and then headed to the pier where I found the tide, current and wind a little more accommodating but the bite just as desultory. Worms, ghost shrimp, squid, and even plastics failed to produce more than a few fish so I only fished for 90 minutes. Results—White Seaperch and Shinerperch.
I finally decided to head north taking my time and snapping a few pictures along the way. Redwoods, elk, ocean beaches: all beautiful and a nice contrast from the Valley.
At 1:30 PM I arrived in Crescent City, checked into my motel and then headed over to Citizens Dock. The Dock actually looked better than the last time I had seen it due, I imagine, to improvements following the 2011 tsunami that destroyed much of the harbor. It looked like they were still working on the marina area to the right of the Dock and unhappily for me, it looked like they were dredging the harbor maybe 100 yards away from where I was fishing. The water looked dirty and the hole in the rock (literal) that I had fished on previous visits was no longer visible. The current wasn’t too bad but the wind was soon blowing at full strength.
I fished inshore and managed a few fish—Black Rockfish, Striped Seaperch, Cabezon, Shinerperch and two strange little sculpin with a pending identification as Scalyhead Sculpin. Eventually though I headed out to the end of the Dock trying to find a place out of the wind. Unfortunately the waters around the Dock itself seemed devoid of the normal summer-time species (small rockfish and pelagics) and the fishing was dead. Eventually I moved back inshore to try to get some fish but the bite was slow, a marked contrast to my last visit a few years ago when the fishing was great.
Tired and a little hungry I finally decided on a break before heading out to the “B” Street Pier. However, by the time I reached the pier the wind was REALLY blowing as in it was almost hard to stand up straight. No one was on the pier and I hated NOT to fish a few more hours but it just seemed fruitless. A few more pictures and I called it a day.
Day 5 —Tuesday, I was scheduled to meet up with a friend at Trinidad at 1 PM but wanted to fish “B” Street for a few hours, and Citizens Dock one more time. Thus I was out at the pier at sunrise and got what I feel were some nice pictures. No wind, little current, but few fish. This has always been one of my most disappointing piers. It’s a beautiful pier, in a beautiful setting, but totally surrounded by a mud bottom. The perch have never shown an affinity for the pilings, the flatfish are few and far between, and you’re at the mercy of pelagics passing by the pier. It’s almost always good for crabs but I wasn’t crabbing. I’ve thought for years they should build an artificial reef by the pier and the feelings haven’t changed.
Other than a few juvenile black rockfish nothing really showed with the exception of a couple of king salmon smolt that had the audacity to hit my plle worms. Bullheads (staghorn sculpin) of course were present as they were throughout the trip (giving rise to the title—Bullhead Trip). It was an interesting visit however between the beautiful dawn and a lady who brought out her parrot to the pier. We had a nice talk and it added something different to an otherwise somewhat boring fishing trip.
At nine I moved over to the Citizens Dock but was greeted but slow fishing once again (where did my mojo go?). A nice male kelp greenling and a half dozen small black rockfish and nothing else. A little over an hour and it was time to head south.
I stopped for a drink at Klamath and got a call that my friend would be late. Still, I got to Trinidad by PM and gave it more one chance. This time it was really dead and the total fish I caught was one, a speckled sanddab from the bay since the rocks were unproductive. I decided to give my friend a call and see if we could meet up in Eureka, which we did after I stopped and got a new tip put on the rod.
We met at the Commercial St. Dock since I was still thinking of those 39 fish but once again the current was strong, there was too much grass in the water, and little was biting. We did have a nice three-hour talk, which included discussing a kid’s derby up there next year (a combo fishing/crabbing derby). My friend finally had to leave but I decided to try one more spot and headed down to Adornia.
The results were about the same, swift water, quite a bit of grass, and nothing but bullheads. Still it wasn’t too windy and a pretty evening. I finally headed back to the motel having spent three pretty fruitless days at the piers.
Day 6 — Wednesday. Anticipating about a 8-9 hour drive back to Fresno I was up early and on the road by 6AM which meant a pretty sunrise and time to take a few pictures along the way. I did decide to cut across from Ukiah via Clear Lake to I-5 but alas didn’t anticipate two delays for road work. Still, I was back home to Fresno at 4:30 and greeted by a 100-degree day.
* The Redwood Empire was as pretty and amazing as always but the cities, Eureka and Crescent City, are obviously depressed. Driving in to Eureka the first day saw seemingly every corner populated by a person begging for money. Combine high unemployment, an economy where drugs have replaced logging and commercial fishing, and apparently a progressive, somewhat anti-business city government, and you get a city that looks tired and depressing. It seems like a forsaken corner of California. Too bad!
To: Pier Fishing in California
From: Ken Jones
Subject: A trip north
Proper Prior Planning Prevents Pi.. Poor Performance. Well, not always. Last week saw a planned trip to San Rafael for the Kids Fishing Tournament and since I’ve been wanting to get up to Trinidad to photograph (and fish) the new Trinidad Pier, I convinced my wife the economical thing to do was to combine the two trips.
When I left Fresno I had everything organized—clothing, equipment pier cart, bait, etc. I’ve been doing these multi-day, multi-pier trips for some time and feel I have it down to a science. But, as the old saying goes, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go astray.
Day 1, Friday, saw the drive up to San Rafael. Along the way I stopped at the Martinez Marina where I picked up some ghost shrimp and additional pile worms to go with the pile worms and bloodworms that I had bought in Fresno. I also had frozen anchovies, squid and mussels in the shell. After checking into my motel I headed over to the Elephant Rock Pier where I figured to see some variety.
First though, as I removed my rods from the car, I noticed the butt cap on my favorite rod was missing. Curious, but not a big problem. Then, once I began to set up the rigs on the pier, my tackle box fell from my cart spilling out most everything from one side of the box. Luckily only a corner was broken off and I was still able to use the tackle box but several items had fallen through the cracks in the walkway on the pier. I could see some sinkers, some hooks, and a few other items down on the rock under the walkway but there was no way to retrieve the items. Luckily most items were still on the pier. A bad start, but again I didn’t feel it was too bad even though I wondered if the events were a harbinger of things to come (yep, I guess I’m a little superstitious).
As for the fishing, a variety of species were caught although all were on the small side—Blackperch, Rainbow Seaperch, Striped Seaperch, Pileperch, Dwarf Perch, Cabezon, Spotted Kelpfish and Brown Rockfish. What was nice was that I was soon joined by Brian, Redfish, and Big Rich and we all caught some fish. That night we headed back to room and home and got ready for some sleep before the derby.
Day 2, Saturday, saw the “Kids Day on the Pier” at the Marin Rod and Gun Club Pier (as reported) and some fishing on the pier after the derby (as reported). I did not have a single bite during the time I spent fishing and when combined with the two previous events was beginning to wonder about the trip. That night I headed the hour or so trip up to Santa Rosa, refilled the gas tank, and settled in for a good night’s sleep.
Day 3, Sunday, saw an early departure from Santa Rosa and even with the roughly four-hour trip and a few pictures along the way I was in Eureka by 11AM. I had hoped to stop in at the Bucksport Tackle Shop (who sometimes provide reports for the monthly Fish Report) to see if I could replace my tackle box but it turned out they were closed. I would not be able to get a new tackle box or be able to see if they still carried tubeworms (a north-coast bait).
What I did do was head over to the Commercial Street Dock, which typically has produced quite a few fish. This time it would produce squat. When I arrived another angler was fishing with his son. “Having any luck?” “No, I was here yesterday and caught 39 fish but today I haven’t caught a single fish.” “What did you catch?” “Jacksmelt and walleyes, big ones.”
I wasn’t surprised that the fishing was slow as there was a strong current and eelgrass clogged the water. I would give it a one-hour shot but the fishing was dead excepting a few bullheads and shiners.
Next up was a visit to the Del Norte Street Pier where the conditions were the same as at Commercial Street. Inshore by the eelgrass beds the water was calm but deeper water saw a strong current. Some shiners and bullheads were available inshore but a group of locals crowded the end of the pier. After a short time I decided the visit was more a photo taking opportunity than a time for fish. I snapped a few photos and then decided to see if I could check into my motel.
I checked into the motel and then was faced with the question of what to do next. I could check out the other two local (pier) spots, the Adorni Center and the Boardwalk, but conditions would probably be the same. So, I decided to head up to Trinidad and the new pier, which was, after all, the main purpose for the trip.
A short half hour drive and I was at Trinidad. Upon exiting the car I found that I had caught the tip of my main rod in the door and had broken off about the last six inches of the rod. Normally I would have fixed it on the spot with my rod cement. This time the rod cement was gone having fallen from the tackle box when I broke the box. A missing rod butt, broken tackle box, broken rod tip, and slow fishing to date—all bad signs, but I hoped Trinidad would prove different. The pier itself looked beautiful (although having a few flaws for anglers) and I quickly baited up and was ready to fish.
I normally fish the inshore section down around the large rocks that parallel the pier and it’s why I had brought the worms and ghost shrimp. Unfortunately, the current was treacherous, it was windy, and it made it almost impossible to hold a bait in a spot without being swept into the rocks or having the bait grabbed by the kelp. I did manage a large striped seaperch and a decent-sized black rockfish but didn’t see a rock greenling, which was one of the species I was seeking out on the trip.
I did have a snaggle-toothed local come over to look at my fish since he had gone fishless. We had a nice talk and it was his feeling that the fishing had been poor ever since they started to remove the old wharf and built the new pier. Months of construction, pile driving, underwater noise, and disruption: not good. He felt the fish had left and not returned to date. I wound up giving him the perch and rockfish and wished him a good dinner.
It’s possible the disruption to the bottom has hurt the fishing. It’s possible the decrease in number of pilings has hurt the fishing. It’s also possible the rubberized coverings on the pilings has hurt (since piers that have the covering on their pilings almost always see a decrease in the number of fish). However, to be fair, this pier has traditionally ranked at or near the bottom for productivity for the north coast piers. My last trip had been really good but going way back, and checking my early records, it traditionally was not very good (even though it looks like a perfect setting for good fishing). Whatever the reason the fishing was very slow.
I would stay until nine PM, and get a few more fish, but primarily wound up fishing further out on the pier, casting out to the bay itself or near the floating dock; neither area was productive. I finally called it quits and headed back to the motel in a less than euphoric mood. Fish caught—Striped Seaperch, Black Rockfish, Kelp Greenling, what looked like a Black & Yellow Rockfish, White Seaperch and Shinerperch.
Day 4, Monday — Another early drive north with a planned stop at Trinidad before heading on to Crescent City. I stopped to take some pictures and then headed to the pier where I found the tide, current and wind a little more accommodating but the bite just as desultory. Worms, ghost shrimp, squid, and even plastics failed to produce more than a few fish so I only fished for 90 minutes. Results—White Seaperch and Shinerperch.
I finally decided to head north taking my time and snapping a few pictures along the way. Redwoods, elk, ocean beaches: all beautiful and a nice contrast from the Valley.
At 1:30 PM I arrived in Crescent City, checked into my motel and then headed over to Citizens Dock. The Dock actually looked better than the last time I had seen it due, I imagine, to improvements following the 2011 tsunami that destroyed much of the harbor. It looked like they were still working on the marina area to the right of the Dock and unhappily for me, it looked like they were dredging the harbor maybe 100 yards away from where I was fishing. The water looked dirty and the hole in the rock (literal) that I had fished on previous visits was no longer visible. The current wasn’t too bad but the wind was soon blowing at full strength.
I fished inshore and managed a few fish—Black Rockfish, Striped Seaperch, Cabezon, Shinerperch and two strange little sculpin with a pending identification as Scalyhead Sculpin. Eventually though I headed out to the end of the Dock trying to find a place out of the wind. Unfortunately the waters around the Dock itself seemed devoid of the normal summer-time species (small rockfish and pelagics) and the fishing was dead. Eventually I moved back inshore to try to get some fish but the bite was slow, a marked contrast to my last visit a few years ago when the fishing was great.
Tired and a little hungry I finally decided on a break before heading out to the “B” Street Pier. However, by the time I reached the pier the wind was REALLY blowing as in it was almost hard to stand up straight. No one was on the pier and I hated NOT to fish a few more hours but it just seemed fruitless. A few more pictures and I called it a day.
Day 5 —Tuesday, I was scheduled to meet up with a friend at Trinidad at 1 PM but wanted to fish “B” Street for a few hours, and Citizens Dock one more time. Thus I was out at the pier at sunrise and got what I feel were some nice pictures. No wind, little current, but few fish. This has always been one of my most disappointing piers. It’s a beautiful pier, in a beautiful setting, but totally surrounded by a mud bottom. The perch have never shown an affinity for the pilings, the flatfish are few and far between, and you’re at the mercy of pelagics passing by the pier. It’s almost always good for crabs but I wasn’t crabbing. I’ve thought for years they should build an artificial reef by the pier and the feelings haven’t changed.
Other than a few juvenile black rockfish nothing really showed with the exception of a couple of king salmon smolt that had the audacity to hit my plle worms. Bullheads (staghorn sculpin) of course were present as they were throughout the trip (giving rise to the title—Bullhead Trip). It was an interesting visit however between the beautiful dawn and a lady who brought out her parrot to the pier. We had a nice talk and it added something different to an otherwise somewhat boring fishing trip.
At nine I moved over to the Citizens Dock but was greeted but slow fishing once again (where did my mojo go?). A nice male kelp greenling and a half dozen small black rockfish and nothing else. A little over an hour and it was time to head south.
I stopped for a drink at Klamath and got a call that my friend would be late. Still, I got to Trinidad by PM and gave it more one chance. This time it was really dead and the total fish I caught was one, a speckled sanddab from the bay since the rocks were unproductive. I decided to give my friend a call and see if we could meet up in Eureka, which we did after I stopped and got a new tip put on the rod.
We met at the Commercial St. Dock since I was still thinking of those 39 fish but once again the current was strong, there was too much grass in the water, and little was biting. We did have a nice three-hour talk, which included discussing a kid’s derby up there next year (a combo fishing/crabbing derby). My friend finally had to leave but I decided to try one more spot and headed down to Adornia.
The results were about the same, swift water, quite a bit of grass, and nothing but bullheads. Still it wasn’t too windy and a pretty evening. I finally headed back to the motel having spent three pretty fruitless days at the piers.
Day 6 — Wednesday. Anticipating about a 8-9 hour drive back to Fresno I was up early and on the road by 6AM which meant a pretty sunrise and time to take a few pictures along the way. I did decide to cut across from Ukiah via Clear Lake to I-5 but alas didn’t anticipate two delays for road work. Still, I was back home to Fresno at 4:30 and greeted by a 100-degree day.
* The Redwood Empire was as pretty and amazing as always but the cities, Eureka and Crescent City, are obviously depressed. Driving in to Eureka the first day saw seemingly every corner populated by a person begging for money. Combine high unemployment, an economy where drugs have replaced logging and commercial fishing, and apparently a progressive, somewhat anti-business city government, and you get a city that looks tired and depressing. It seems like a forsaken corner of California. Too bad!