October 2018 Fishing Report, Carquinez Strait, Suisun Bay, and West Delta (#241)

Ken Jones

Administrator
Staff member
#1
Piers in the Carquinez Strait, Suisun Bay and West Delta.

Sturgeon regulations: Sturgeon must be between 40 and 60 inches (fork length) to keep.

Eckley Pier — Angler’s Edge reports “Eckley fishing is still slow.” 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 — Olivia at the Martinez Marina Bait & Tackle reports good fishing. Striped bass—a lot of shakers and a lot of keepers with fish hitting on grass shrimp and bullheads. Sturgeon—good fishing with under-sized, legal-sized, and over-sized white sturgeon being caught on grass shrimp (and she has a good supply). She said a high number of green sturgeon are also showing up which is good to hear since there numbers were so low (and they are illegal to keep). Lastly, one salmon was reported from the pier, a fish caught surprisingly on grass shrimp (by Rodney). Olivia says this has been the best year for grass shrimp in many years and she wonders if that’s why the fishing has improved? 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 – Kelly, at Benicia Bait & Tackle. 509 Claverie Way, says anglers continue to pick up a few stripers from the pier using bloodworms, pile worms and grass shrimp. 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 — Kelly, at Benicia Bait & Tackle. 509 Claverie Way, says not much is happening at the pier although there’s a chance for sturgeon since they are in the area. If you do seek them out, he suggests fishing the incoming tide and fish on the left side with a cast towards the islands. That’s your best chance to avoid tangling on the bottom. Salmon are being taken from the shoreline. 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 and sturgeon 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 – Danny, at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), reports most of the fish are shaker-size stripers. 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 – Danny, at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), reports most of the pier action is on shaker-size sturgeon although a legal-size fish is occasionally caught. It’s slow on stripers. Good numbers of salmon are being taken from the shore and the dock to the left of the pier. 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 Humphrey's Restaurant.

Antioch Bridge Pier — Danny, at Gotcha Bait and Tackle (3500 18th St., Antioch), reports most of the action is on stripers and most of them are shakers— 9-15” fish. Apparently salmon have also entered the picture as PFIC member Redfish caught a nice-sized salmon on 10/1. 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 getting striped bass and salmon. The stripers are being taken on (in order of preference) 1. mudsuckers, 2. fresh shad, 3. sardine. Anglers are also getting salmon with most being caught on the Mepps Flying C’s in orange, chartreuse and hot pink colors. She said the sturgeon should start showing up in about a month. 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.