January 2020 Fishing Report, Carquinez Strait, Suisun Bay, and West Delta (#254)
Sturgeon regulations: Sturgeon must be between 40 and 60 inches (fork length) to keep.
Eckley Pier — No report this month although a few stripers and sturgeon should still be available. How To Get There: From I80, take the Crockett exit, turn east on Pomona Dr. which becomes Carquinez Scenic Dr., travel 1.5 miles to the Bull Valley Staging area entrance to the park. From I680 take Hwy 4 to the Cummings Skyway. Take the Crockett Blvd. exit and turn right on Pomona Dr. which becomes Carquinez Scenic Dr., travel 1.5 miles to the entrance of the park.
Martinez Pier — Brent at the Martinez Marina Bait & Tackle reports that fishing on the pier has been really good with a mix of sturgeon, stripers and flounder. Sturgeon are hitting on ghost shrimp, grass shrimp and eel while most of the stripers are being taken on grass shrimp. The flounder, and some people are catching quite a few, are available on grass shrimp or piling worms (or a combo of both). How To Get There: The pier is found at the foot of North Court Street. From I680, take the Marina Vista exit west off of the freeway, continue to the middle of the downtown area to Ferry Street and turn right, follow Ferry Street to Joe DiMaggio Road where you take another right, follow it a short distance to North Court Street, turn left, and follow the street through the Martinez Shoreline Park out to the pier parking lot. From Highway 4, take the Alhambra exit north and follow it to Escobar Street, turn right and follow it to Ferry Street, turn left and follow to Joe DiMaggio Drive, turn right and follow it to North Court Street, turn left and follow it out to the pier.
Benicia 9th Street Pier – Tony, at Benicia Bait & Tackle. 509 Claverie Way, says anglers continue to pick up some stripers (including some keeper-size fish) and a few flounder (but not too many people fish the pier). He says most anglers are getting fish on grass shrimp at present. How To Get There: From I780 take the Seventh Street exit south to Military Street, turn right and follow to Ninth Street, turn left and follow it to the end of the street and the pier.
City of Benicia Fishing Pier/First Street — Tony, at Benicia Bait & Tackle. 509 Claverie Way, says a few fish are being caught, mostly stripers, but also a few shaker sturgeon. He reminds anglers that if you’re going to fish the pier you probably need heavy gear since the tides can really be treacherous (especially the incoming tides), sometimes requiring 12-14 ounces of weight. He says you can fish inshore, on the right side of the pier in the shallows, and actually pick up some stripers but the water is only deep enough at high tide, at low tide it’s basically mud. The bait to use right now — grass shrimp. How To Get There: From Interstate 780, take the Second Street exit south to Military Street, turn right and follow it west to First Street, turn left and then follow it south to the end of the street.
Pittsburg Pier — No report but a few stripers as well as a mix of freshwater species (catfish, squawfish, etc.) should be available. How To Get There: From Highway 4 take the Railroad Exit north toward the center of Pittsburg; when Railroad ends, turn left on Third Street and follow it to Marina Boulevard; at Marina turn left and follow to Bay Side Drive; now turn right and follow it to Riverview Park Drive. Turn left and follow it to the parking lot.
Antioch Pier – Jacob, at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), reports fairly good striper fishing with quite a few shakers but also enough keeper-size fish to keep it interesting. He says it’s kind of late for the stripers but no one is complaining. Top baits include frozen shad, mudsuckers and ‘chovies. A few flounder and freshwater species, i.e., catfish, may also show up. How To Get There: The pier is located at the foot of H Street in downtown Antioch. From Highway 4, go north on G. Street; follow it to Second Street where you will turn left; follow Second Street about a block to the free public parking lot near the Jerome Waldie Plaza. A short walk through the park and down the hill will take you to the foot of the pier.
Antioch Marina Pier – Jacob, at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), reports it’s basically the same results as the nearby Antioch Pier: fairly good striper fishing with quite a few shakers but also enough keeper-size fish to keep it interesting. Top baits include frozen shad, mudsuckers and ‘chovies. A few flounder and freshwater species, i.e., catfish, may also show up. How To Get There: From Highway 4, take the G Street exit and go north to Sixth Street; turn left and follow Sixth to L Street; turn right on L Street and simply follow it to the Antioch Public Marina and Marina Plaza Drive which takes you straight to the pier. The pier is to the right of the large restaurant.
Antioch Bridge Pier — Jacob, at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), said he hasn’t had too many reports from the pier. Usually there are a lot of shaker stripers and a few keepers but he’s just not getting reports. The Angler’s Edge reports “Fishing has been quite slow. Staff reports limited catches along the Antioch Shoreline.” How To Get There: Follow Highway 4 east until it turns into Highway 160; just before you get to the bridge take the Wilbur Avenue off ramp (it is the last exit before the bridge), then turn left on Bridgehead Road and follow it to the entrance to the Antioch Regional Shoreline Park - the pier is the main feature of the park.
Rio Vista Pier — Jeanette at Rio Vista Bait and Tackle (510 CA-12), says anglers are still getting quite a few stripers and an occasional sturgeon off the pier. The stripers are basically running 18-21 inches in length and are hitting on mudsuckers or frozen shad. The sturgeon, mostly shakers, 40-43 inches, are hitting on ghost shrimp, grass shrimp, or a cocktail combo made up with lamprey eel and nightcrawlers. How To Get There: The pier is located near the west end of the Rio Vista Bridge (the Rio Vista side of the bridge). Going east on HY 12 take the last exit right before the bridge. Go one block until you see Front Street, turn left, and the entrance to the pier parking lot is approximately one half block on your right. Going west on HY 12 continue past the bridge until you can turn left safely. You can turn around and continue to the last exit or go through the downtown area until you hit Front Street. Turn left on Front Street and follow it to the pier parking lot.
Sturgeon regulations: Sturgeon must be between 40 and 60 inches (fork length) to keep.
Eckley Pier — No report this month although a few stripers and sturgeon should still be available. How To Get There: From I80, take the Crockett exit, turn east on Pomona Dr. which becomes Carquinez Scenic Dr., travel 1.5 miles to the Bull Valley Staging area entrance to the park. From I680 take Hwy 4 to the Cummings Skyway. Take the Crockett Blvd. exit and turn right on Pomona Dr. which becomes Carquinez Scenic Dr., travel 1.5 miles to the entrance of the park.
Martinez Pier — Brent at the Martinez Marina Bait & Tackle reports that fishing on the pier has been really good with a mix of sturgeon, stripers and flounder. Sturgeon are hitting on ghost shrimp, grass shrimp and eel while most of the stripers are being taken on grass shrimp. The flounder, and some people are catching quite a few, are available on grass shrimp or piling worms (or a combo of both). How To Get There: The pier is found at the foot of North Court Street. From I680, take the Marina Vista exit west off of the freeway, continue to the middle of the downtown area to Ferry Street and turn right, follow Ferry Street to Joe DiMaggio Road where you take another right, follow it a short distance to North Court Street, turn left, and follow the street through the Martinez Shoreline Park out to the pier parking lot. From Highway 4, take the Alhambra exit north and follow it to Escobar Street, turn right and follow it to Ferry Street, turn left and follow to Joe DiMaggio Drive, turn right and follow it to North Court Street, turn left and follow it out to the pier.
Benicia 9th Street Pier – Tony, at Benicia Bait & Tackle. 509 Claverie Way, says anglers continue to pick up some stripers (including some keeper-size fish) and a few flounder (but not too many people fish the pier). He says most anglers are getting fish on grass shrimp at present. How To Get There: From I780 take the Seventh Street exit south to Military Street, turn right and follow to Ninth Street, turn left and follow it to the end of the street and the pier.
City of Benicia Fishing Pier/First Street — Tony, at Benicia Bait & Tackle. 509 Claverie Way, says a few fish are being caught, mostly stripers, but also a few shaker sturgeon. He reminds anglers that if you’re going to fish the pier you probably need heavy gear since the tides can really be treacherous (especially the incoming tides), sometimes requiring 12-14 ounces of weight. He says you can fish inshore, on the right side of the pier in the shallows, and actually pick up some stripers but the water is only deep enough at high tide, at low tide it’s basically mud. The bait to use right now — grass shrimp. How To Get There: From Interstate 780, take the Second Street exit south to Military Street, turn right and follow it west to First Street, turn left and then follow it south to the end of the street.
Pittsburg Pier — No report but a few stripers as well as a mix of freshwater species (catfish, squawfish, etc.) should be available. How To Get There: From Highway 4 take the Railroad Exit north toward the center of Pittsburg; when Railroad ends, turn left on Third Street and follow it to Marina Boulevard; at Marina turn left and follow to Bay Side Drive; now turn right and follow it to Riverview Park Drive. Turn left and follow it to the parking lot.
Antioch Pier – Jacob, at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), reports fairly good striper fishing with quite a few shakers but also enough keeper-size fish to keep it interesting. He says it’s kind of late for the stripers but no one is complaining. Top baits include frozen shad, mudsuckers and ‘chovies. A few flounder and freshwater species, i.e., catfish, may also show up. How To Get There: The pier is located at the foot of H Street in downtown Antioch. From Highway 4, go north on G. Street; follow it to Second Street where you will turn left; follow Second Street about a block to the free public parking lot near the Jerome Waldie Plaza. A short walk through the park and down the hill will take you to the foot of the pier.
Antioch Marina Pier – Jacob, at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), reports it’s basically the same results as the nearby Antioch Pier: fairly good striper fishing with quite a few shakers but also enough keeper-size fish to keep it interesting. Top baits include frozen shad, mudsuckers and ‘chovies. A few flounder and freshwater species, i.e., catfish, may also show up. How To Get There: From Highway 4, take the G Street exit and go north to Sixth Street; turn left and follow Sixth to L Street; turn right on L Street and simply follow it to the Antioch Public Marina and Marina Plaza Drive which takes you straight to the pier. The pier is to the right of the large restaurant.
Antioch Bridge Pier — Jacob, at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), said he hasn’t had too many reports from the pier. Usually there are a lot of shaker stripers and a few keepers but he’s just not getting reports. The Angler’s Edge reports “Fishing has been quite slow. Staff reports limited catches along the Antioch Shoreline.” How To Get There: Follow Highway 4 east until it turns into Highway 160; just before you get to the bridge take the Wilbur Avenue off ramp (it is the last exit before the bridge), then turn left on Bridgehead Road and follow it to the entrance to the Antioch Regional Shoreline Park - the pier is the main feature of the park.
Rio Vista Pier — Jeanette at Rio Vista Bait and Tackle (510 CA-12), says anglers are still getting quite a few stripers and an occasional sturgeon off the pier. The stripers are basically running 18-21 inches in length and are hitting on mudsuckers or frozen shad. The sturgeon, mostly shakers, 40-43 inches, are hitting on ghost shrimp, grass shrimp, or a cocktail combo made up with lamprey eel and nightcrawlers. How To Get There: The pier is located near the west end of the Rio Vista Bridge (the Rio Vista side of the bridge). Going east on HY 12 take the last exit right before the bridge. Go one block until you see Front Street, turn left, and the entrance to the pier parking lot is approximately one half block on your right. Going west on HY 12 continue past the bridge until you can turn left safely. You can turn around and continue to the last exit or go through the downtown area until you hit Front Street. Turn left on Front Street and follow it to the pier parking lot.