Diamond Classic Catch & Release Sturgeon Derby 2/4

[Red Fish]

The annual Diamond Classic Catch & Release Derby is happening this Saturday, February 4th at Pittsburg Marina. This is the first time the event has been held at Pittsburg Marina in the decade I have been working on it.


Usually, it is held at the Martinez Marina. I will be there Saturday morning along with PFICers David and Doug Shigematsu and
perhaps Hans Jones.

Last year's event was more minor and the Martinez Pier was closed off except for the small section at the entrance to the pier that we fished off.
In spite of the limitations of the pier last year, we did catch a couple of stripers and a starry flounder.

We work the pier contingency of this event, sponsored by the charter boats and the marina. The boaters have a C&R sturgeon event and take some kids on vessels. The children that cannot get a boat trip fish on the pier with our group and receive the same prizes as the ones on the boats. At the end of the fishing event, there are a raffle, ceremony, and prizes in the marina harbor house. Rods, bait, and terminal tackle are provided for kids that don't bring their own.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working on this event for the last decade, and for many years it has been my only annual fishing trip to Martinez Pier. For the first time, it is being held at Pittsburg Marina off Railroad Ave.

The pier I remember there past the downtown area (near the free public launch area) was very small (like Red Barn Pier) and very snaggy. I believe the secret there would be to try very tiny hooks for mudsuckers, squawfish, and stripers for the kids. Actually, if I am mindful and remember to ask Olivia Ortega (the coordinator), to provide Night Crawlers, as they are a good bait there because it is far enough inland enough to catch catfish and black bass!

-Red

 

[Ken Jones]

I don't think there will be a place for the kids to pier fish. At one time the fishing pier, actually a large float attached to a pier, was a great place to fish. In fact, I averaged more than 15 fish per hour due to the many small stripers in the cove. Stripers were the main fish but I also caught three types of catfish, Sacramento pikeminnow, splittail and even a yellowfin goby from the float. The float is gone and though I think the pier, which was actually used more as a way to get to the float, may still be there, it isn't as easy to fish the cove as when the float was there. However, the rock jetty adjacent to the cove and marina is also considered a good fishing spot for several species including sturgeon.

https://www.pierfishing.com/pittsburg-pier/

 

[Once You're Hook]

You mean the 4th of this Saturday.

 

[Red Fish]

I don't think there will be a place for the kids to pier fish. At one time the fishing pier, actually a large float attached to a pier, was a great place to fish. In fact, I averaged more than 15 fish per hour due to the many small stripers in the cove. Stripers were the main fish but I also caught three types of catfish, Sacramento pikeminnow, splittail and even a yellowfin goby from the float. The float is gone and though I think the pier, which was actually used more as a way to get to the float, may still be there, it isn't as easy to fish the cove as when the float was there. However, the rock jetty adjacent to the cove and marina is also considered a good fishing spot for several species including sturgeon.

https://www.pierfishing.com/pittsburg-pier/

Ken, what you are calling the Pittsburg Pier is actually Riverview Park. That is not where we fished today (although we should have ). We fished the tiny pier by the public boat launch (across from the Pittsburg Yacht Club.) I’ve caught a few fish at Riverview to include: catfish, striped bass, salmon, black bass… but no sturgeon.

 

[Red Fish]

This is the tiny pier Ken that is located across from the Yacht Clubhouse that is oh so snaggy (the reason I never fished it back in ‘92 when I worked for the cable company in Pittsburg ). The only picture I took as I was very busy re-tying lines all day. We must have donated at least (50) weights (from snagging) to this small pier and the adjacent shore area to the right of the bathrooms where we staged another group of youngsters.
Captain Steve Talmadge is shown on the photo along with Doug Shigematsu from PFIC. A few more pics were added courtesy of Art's Sliders.

Shout out to Billzerkly from PFIC that stopped by and said hello.

 

[SC McCarty]

Nice picture, but I have to wonder what those kids would have done if they hooked into even a moderate sized sturgeon.

Steve

 

[Red Fish]

Nice picture, but I have to wonder what those kids would have done if they hooked into even a moderate sized sturgeon.

Steve

The biggest fish that has been landed from the pier event in past years was a 26" striper on a Barbie pole. The event is for boats and shore liners. The pier contingency is for the kids that cannot get on a boat. Kids on the boats have caught sturgeon whereas there has never been a sturgeon caught at the pier by a kid or adult in the 9 years I have worked on the event. The event has been held at Martinez Pier every other year than this. Plus, some kids that really want to catch a sturgeon and know how to fish have brought their own bigger rod in past years. PFIC has some other rods that could hold 30# braid and catch a sturgeon similar to this one I caught on 30# braid with a 4000 spinner.

 

[Red Fish]

I don't think there will be a place for the kids to pier fish. At one time the fishing pier, actually a large float attached to a pier, was a great place to fish. In fact, I averaged more than 15 fish per hour due to the many small stripers in the cove. Stripers were the main fish but I also caught three types of catfish, Sacramento pikeminnow, splittail and even a yellowfin goby from the float. The float is gone and though I think the pier, which was actually used more as a way to get to the float, may still be there, it isn't as easy to fish the cove as when the float was there. However, the rock jetty adjacent to the cove and marina is also considered a good fishing spot for several species including sturgeon.

https://www.pierfishing.com/pittsburg-pier/

Note again Ken, what you call "Pittsburg Pier" is Riverview Park which used to have a wooden pier and an aluminum floating dock. There is a tiny pier right past the public launch area and bait shop across from the Yacht Clubhouse.

 

[hphilpott]

The annual Diamond Classic Catch & Release Derby is happening this Saturday, February 4th at Pittsburg Marina. This is the first time the event has been held at Pittsburg Marina in the decade I have been working on it.


Usually, it is held at the Martinez Marina. I will be there Saturday morning along with PFICers David and Doug Shigematsu and
perhaps Hans Jones.

Last year's event was more minor and the Martinez Pier was closed off except for the small section at the entrance to the pier that we fished off.
In spite of the limitations of the pier last year, we did catch a couple of stripers and a starry flounder.

We work the pier contingency of this event, sponsored by the charter boats and the marina. The boaters have a C&R sturgeon event and take some kids on vessels. The children that cannot get a boat trip fish on the pier with our group and receive the same prizes as the ones on the boats. At the end of the fishing event, there are a raffle, ceremony, and prizes in the marina harbor house. Rods, bait, and terminal tackle are provided for kids that don't bring their own.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working on this event for the last decade, and for many years it has been my only annual fishing trip to Martinez Pier. For the first time, it is being held at Pittsburg Marina off Railroad Ave.

The pier I remember there past the downtown area (near the free public launch area) was very small (like Red Barn Pier) and very snaggy. I believe the secret there would be to try very tiny hooks for mudsuckers, squawfish, and stripers for the kids. Actually, if I am mindful and remember to ask Olivia Ortega (the coordinator), to provide Night Crawlers, as they are a good bait there because it is far enough inland enough to catch catfish and black bass!

-Red

Hello Red,

Nice to see that you are still fishing and doing the things you love such as being a supporter of children to learn and love fishing the same as us. Big Rich was my brother and as you know fishing was in his blood. Keep up the great fishing !!!

 

[Red Fish]

Hello Red,

Nice to see that you are still fishing and doing the things you love such as being a supporter of children to learn and love fishing the same as us. Big Rich was my brother and as you know fishing was in his blood. Keep up the great fishing !!!

Lois, I really miss Rich; is in spirit with me on every trip. His support helped me to support Ken and these events all throughout California. Pier fishing is not easy, it takes a whole lot of patience. Rich would always say, "Red, you're just lucky." I think I would respond sometimes with, "When opportunity meets skill, you have luck," What we would also say is T.O.W. (time on the water). Took me years to know the little I know about SF Bay fishing, but I differently have enough knowledge to write a book or two, Little Richie Emerson McIntosh lives on... Rich kept saying, "I miss Clayton." Well, he went on to join his twin brother.