Back from the dead

[hugs86]

Hi all, it seems like the forums were redone, I think this was my old username but I wasn't able to log in and I made a new account. I wasn't able to fish for a few years due to health problems but I've started again, real happy to be back. I mostly fish the bay for sharks and rays but am looking to get into freshwater fishing in the SF Bay Area near san mateo/santa clara. If anybody is experienced and maybe wants to trade knowledge or meet up at one of the lakes send me a message.

Other than that I've caught lots of small leopard sharks around the san mateo bridge, still trying to find a legal sized one. Hope the fishing has been well over the last couple years, cheers.

Edit: Wanted to ask, what happened to the fishsniffer forums? They just shut it down? I know they had some good knowledge there too.

 

[Stickman]

Hey Hugs, I had to re-up my old user name too after a long absence. The boards at PFIC are super well maintained and as fun and informative as ever.
The Fish Sniffer staff grew tired of maintaining the old boards and groused a couple/three months about it being an "archaic" platform. They told us all to learn how to use Facebook and such. Then they said they would keep the boards open because of the increased demand, and finally, right at the beginning of the state mandated shutdowns (when we all needed an online community more that ever) they pulled the plug.

I am really grateful that Ken Jones still has the "fire in the belly" to keep these boards going. He is definitely the patron Saint of Pier/Surf fishermen.

Regarding freshwater fishing in the bay area; there was a post last week from a member who has started a message board for bass fishermen. here is the text of his post. This would seem to be a great place for you to get into some local fresh water action with an online community. Welcome back and best of luck

Hello - just wanted to drop a note here to introduce Bay Bass and Beyond (https://forums.baybassandbeyond.com) a forum dedicated to bass fishing in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. There are a number of great freshwater fisheries around the greater bay area, ranging from world-class lakes like Clear Lake, vast expansive waters like the Delta, to the many ponds, creeks, and reservoirs that line the foothills and dot the urban landscape throughout the nine counties.

In the past, there have been great online communities specifically for bass fishing in the bay area but a number of those have been shuttered for various reasons. Bay Bass and Beyond is here to fill that void, and aims to create a great place for the community to discuss and discover the wonderful fishing that is available to us.

Here's our awesome logo that tries to capture the spirit of the community:

 

[evanluck]

Welcome back to the board and to fishing! Happy to hear you are feeling healthy and ready to catch fish!

 

[Ken Jones]

Welcome back!

 

[Red Fish]

Hi all, it seems like the forums were redone, I think this was my old username but I wasn't able to log in and I made a new account. I wasn't able to fish for a few years due to health problems but I've started again, real happy to be back. I mostly fish the bay for sharks and rays but am looking to get into freshwater fishing in the SF Bay Area near san mateo/santa clara. If anybody is experienced and maybe wants to trade knowledge or meet up at one of the lakes send me a message.

Other than that I've caught lots of small leopard sharks around the san mateo bridge, still trying to find a legal sized one. Hope the fishing has been well over the last couple years, cheers.

Edit: Wanted to ask, what happened to the fishsniffer forums? They just shut it down? I know they had some good knowledge there too.

There are a few good lakes around the hills, like Morgan and beyond to San Jose, Santa Cruz, ie Loch Lomond and there is Quarry around Fremont and Lake Chabot in Castro Valley.

One of the things that I have figured about the lakes and being primarily a big-bait, shark fisherman myself is: the smaller the better as far as weight, line, leader, hooks and bait. Don't put big globs of Powerbait on like I used to on a size 14, 12, 10 hook; roll up small balls or better, like a cigar shape. Dipping helps, ie cod liver oil. And with like crawlers, not too big for average trout and blow them up so they can float off the bottom. Never more than 6# mono on the leader for trout. Catfish? Well, you said you are a shark fisherman, there it is.

Final note about the sharks and the catfish: If you want bigger sharks or cats, use bigger bait to keep the little guys off. Even a whole chicken liver is too big for smaller cats. Two whole squid or something like salmon belly or midshipmen will get you keeper sharks 3'+.