Date: March 3, 1999
To: Ken Jones
From: Glen
Subject: Paradise Beach Pier Report
Hi Ken, Just checked out your new update and was looking at the Paradise Pier report. The term “Pogies” refers to black perch. Don’t know where the term originated, but I’ve heard is used mostly from Black anglers on the shore, and most of us perch fishermen have placed it in our everyday fishing vernacular. Might be a local—Bay Area—phenomenon (it can’t rom Porgie, can it?). Accuracy is a premium, however, when it comes to species among folks around here. I’ve heard people call black perch rubberlips (and I’ve learned to discount reports of rubberlips until I see it with my own eyes), white perch called silver perch or splittail perch, barred perch called calico perch, and too often striped perch called rainbow perch. I’ve long since given up correcting anyone because people tend to know what they know—and no one likes a smartass.
Right now black perch are spawning. So are pile perch. I haven’t seen white perch for some time. My guess is that they’re getting black and pile perch in the Marin area just like here in the East Bay. I went out today at the Frontage Road in Berkeley and got 3 black perch and 1 pile perch, all nice sizes. Three were females, so loaded with babies they were about to burst. (Also got a 19” striper the day before at the same place. No one else got anything both days, and currently I’m the subject of irritation and frustration among my peers there—so I’ll lay low for a while.) With the spawning and warm and drier weather, the perch bite is final breaking wide open. Hard to say when they’re about to give birth. I’ll probably catch and release for the next few weeks. Later, Glen
Date: August 8, 1999
To: PFIC Message Board
From: roel cunanan
Subject: Paradise Beach Pier…
Stripers hit pretty hard out on Paradise Beach Pier. Since the water is already shallow (15ft at the end of the pier and 30ft out with a decent cast), wait for the incoming tide. The stripers hit on cut anchovies with a surf leader or use a stripper leader with a 3/0 hook. The best place on the pier is right at the cross of the pier. There is a hole about 30+ yards out. If you can cast out there, you'll be in prime location. To the left of the “T” of the pier, the rays will hit because of the mud and sand off that corner. I’ve caught a couple of shaker sturgeon on the right side using grass shrimp. The usual size of the stripers is from 16” to 32”, most running around the 20” range. When the water is churned up with silt, the action WILL slow down. So be patient.
Date: October 11, 1999
To: PFIC Message Board
From: rudy
Subject: Paradise Pier
Fished at Paradise on Saturday from noon to 4pm. Anticipated catching stripers since there were a lot of private fishing boats surrounding the pier. Ten minutes after first cast, one large jacksmelt. Next cast, one large bat ray but lost it under the pier after 10 minutes of fight. Bait used was cut frozen anchovies and pile worms. Total: seven large jacksmelt and one walleye surf perch. No striper action. At least, it was a nice hot day.
Date: May 30, 2000
To: PFIC Message Board
From: Nate D
Subject: Unsavory rumors
There is an unconfirmed, unsavory rumor that halibut are being caught in near-legal sizes on the flats off California City near Tiburon. Stripers are hoarding most of the bait in this area, but if a halibut run takes off here as well, look out. I'm going to research this personally using hands-on methods. That is, actually fishing. If this works out, it could be time for a Weekly West Bay Shoreliner’s Report, maybe just for the summer. Too bad I barely know how to turn this damn machine on. I'm surprised I haven’t put a bullet in it already. More to come!! Give ‘Em Hell!!!!! Nate D
Posted by Songslinger
Every year there are halibut found from the end of Marina Bay in Richmond all the way to California City. This is basically along a stretch known as Southhampton Shoals. Something attracts them, more than likely the jacksmelt for bait a muddy/sandy mix on the bottom. I've often wondered why Paradise Pier or even San Quentin Point weren’t more productive for halibut from the shore (or at least as productive as Richmond). But it’s mostly the province of boaters dragging hoochies or trolling. Anyway, should be interesting to see how things develop for a “halibut run” that way. Nate, you'd be great for a fish report and web site. Looking forward to it. I am at your disposal for anything you need. Songslinger.
Date: September 6, 2000
To: PFIC Message Board
From: ikiller
Subject: Paradise Pier
Went out to Paradise Pier yesterday afternoon with a crew of friends. They are still charging the summer $7.00 but now the place closes at 7PM!! That is pretty lame, summer prices for winter hours. Oh well, we got there at 5:30 so we got to fish for an hour and fifteen.
As for the fishing. One in our party who got there earlier said he saw large fish jumping way out, sturgeon maybe?? We fished grass shrimp on high low leaders, and on sturgeon leaders. Sometimes we would put an anchovy into the mix. Biggest hit was on a squid on a sturgeon leader; it got away. The only catch was a bullhead on grass shrimp.
The price sucked but we had a good time out there. I would buy a season pass (they work at McNears and Paradise) but I don't think I will be going to those places enough to make it worthwhile.
Date: September 17, 2000
To: PFIC Message Board
From: ikiller
Subject: Paradise Pier
Fished Paradise Pier on Saturday. Got there about 1:30 right before the top of the high tide and fished till around 6pm. Used anchovies, grass shrimp, and some shiner perch we were catching for bait (first time using a Sabiki rig, it worked great!! Sometimes one dip of the rig would bring up three bait fish!!!).
We caught a couple of large kingfish, a jacksmelt, a couple of crabs, and a leopard shark which was over 50” and weighed 20 lbs. Great weather, and lots of action. Helped a little girl catch a large jacksmelt on one of those little kiddy rods which are about a foot and a half long with a built in plastic closed face reel. The best part of the trip was that it was one of the first times I have gone out in months without catching any bat rays or bullheads. All fish were released unharmed except for the baitfish.
Date: July 10, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise Pier
7:30AM to 1:30PM. Bait was fresh anchovies. Nothing but bat rays. Again! Biggest about 60lbs. Smallest about 5lbs. We were targeting stripers but it's always fun catching bat rays. I think we caught about 15 or so, but we had a big group. Also caught a lot of smelt. It was a really nice hot day out there and I can't think of a better place for tackle testing. All fish released unharmed, of course. All of us used hi-lo rigs. Nothing on the live shiners and bullheads.
Posted by caffeinehigh
Excellent day on the bat rays. I think I've asked this question before but mentally I still can’t picture how a bat ray can take a bait off a hi/lo rig... unless your hook is over 12 inches away from the leader... hmm.... maybe I should set mine up that way too...hmm???
Posted by mel
Maybe I have it wrong. Maybe the proper terminology for the leaders I use is “surf leader.” There are 2 loops between the swivels to attach your hooks. There is actually about 8 or 9 inches of line between the leader and the hook. Sorry for the confusion.
Date: July 14 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Re: Big Poles on Pier
I use an 11’ pole at the pier because I don’t have a pole holder and sometimes at piers like Paradise Pier or others the railing is kind of high. They have some drainage holes along the length of the pier that I put the butt of my rod into and it works just fine. It’s actually easier to keep a fish out of the pilings because if he tries to go under, all you have to do is hang the rod out and sometimes it pulls it back out. At Paradise, I have a striper hole I like to cast into and it's pretty far out there, but with my long rod it’s reachable.
Date: August 11, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: grapeape168
Subject: Paradise Pier Marin (long post)
Fished from 11:00am till about 4:00pm. Bait was market shrimp, anchovies, squid, and bullheads. As soon as we got there a man was reeling in what looked to be a 30+inch striper. Unfortunately, it broke off by the piling. Which gave me a quick reminder to teach my wife how to net with the crab net. I set up one pole with the live bait rig (using a bull head) and the other pole with a hi/lo (‘chovie/squid). My wife was using a Sabiki (cut to three hooks) baited with shrimp. The bullhead bite was off the hook. People all over the pier were catching them. Then around 1:00 some insane action begins. An elderly Japanese man fishing about 3/4 of the way in got a bite that rang his bell so hard he almost fell into the drink. I ran over with the net ready to help, but unfortunately it broke off due to some old equipment. This would be the start of a great yet terrible day for the man. Next to get slammed was ME; my pole nearly gets yanked into the water. I fight it for about 10 minutes before I can even see what it is. When I finally saw it, it was a giant ray that barely fit into the net. (First thought was this would have been the MMD 2003 winner.) This was just the beginning. In the next few hours the Japanese man loses two more rod-bending fish. After the third he just left. I tried to help but the drags on both reels were gone. Next to me was a nice 3-ft leopard shark. Then the same gentleman loses another giant striper to the pilings; it bit on a sliding sinker rig with a small bullhead. Next, it was my wife’s turn. She got spooled in less than a minute (200+yards of 8lb test) Must have been a ray. She had fun though. All in all that day six rays (20lb plus) landed, one 3-ft leopard, two lost stripers, one legal striper, and countless other fish lost to the pilings. This pier is great! Great facilities, good people, very few fishermen. Sorry for the long post but, it was a slamming day! The worst day fishing is better than the best day at work!
Date: September 10, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: grapeape168
Subject: What took my bait?
I was out at Paradise Pier on Saturday from 1-7pm. High/low on the 9ft ugly stick. Size 4 bait holders. I baited up with two mudsuckers. Sat there for about 20 minutes with nothing then all of a sudden the pole goes bendo. I set the hook, nothing on. Brought in the rig finding two mudsucker heads only! Was it something that just bit short or was it just crabs you think. Report: Not much going on there but there are tons of white and striped perch. Towards the end of the day, my wife and I got bored, we set up a floating rig with Sabiki hooks and pulled in over a dozen giant smelt. All released. Drop in your two cents.
Date: September 28, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise pier, very slow day Sat 9-27
Got there about 7:00, fished till 3:00. Pretty dead day. Only landed three small rays. Never seen it so dead there before. Fished a whole incoming tide too. Lots of bait in the water but no stripers. Used fresh anchovies on a hi/lo and also fished live bait. There were a few others fishing a variety of baits, but no takers except for the rays, which were few. I think the seals had a lot to do with it as they were out in force and very close to the pier. All in all, a very dead day. The best catch of the day was some people getting married in the picnic area. Maybe I should've just worn my suit and joined the wedding.
Date: October 12, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: I’ve actually been targeting Stripers
I also use live mudsuckers for bass too. I never thought of keeping them and freezing them for later. Yesterday at Paradise Pier a lady was catching them on shrimp and she gave us a few and was catching them all day and had to throw them back. Sometimes she would catch double headers. Are there any restrictions I should be aware of as far as keeping mudsuckers?
Date: October 25, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: grapeape168
Subject: Paradise Pier
Limited out today! Arrived at Paradise Pier at about 12:00pm. Caught a few shiners but no large perch to be found. A friend caught a short striper 16 inches. Not much going on until 3:40pm. Caught two back to back. The first was caught on a 1/3 piece of frozen ‘chovie. The second was caught on a whole ‘chovie tied with rubber bands! (Thanks for the tip guys!) The second striper even did a little hop out of the water. Man, these guys fight.
Date: October 27, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: TheCrw
Subject: Paradise Pier Report
Kaw! Kaw! Okay, the wifey changed her mind on the fishing, so we had a late breakfast instead. OCD and I then headed over to Paradise Pier around 1pm to try to get one of those stripers but nothing doing. We fished the right side w/a variety of bait: squid on a slydo, mudsuckers on a hi/lo, shiners and bullheads on floats and hi/lo's = nada. Meanwhile, this girl, Jessie was nailing sharks like crazy on the left side (where they say the water is deeper). We were fishing the right to try to take advantage of the outgoing and the fish getting “stacked” along the cliff. Oh, well, time to rethink the game plan, as Paradise has been played out (for us at least). ~Elric, aka TheCrw
Posted by mel
FYI, in my experiences there, which is often, the right side, even straight out from the tee, is good during the outgoing tide. There’s a little shelf there off the cliffs that stacks up bait really nice with a strong current. Try drifting a live shiner or bullhead about 15’ off the end of the tee and let the current carry it over. I caught a 27-incher there last month doing that. On the incoming, most anywhere casting far out will get you fish. If not stripers, rays and leppies will help pass the time. Oh yeah, get your live bait under the pier in the corner of the tees or by the fish cleaning station. I may go back out there this weekend. Did they go into their winter schedule yet?
Posted by grapeape168
I’ve had better luck on the left hand side also. I'm not sure how much of a difference this makes but when there is a plus/minus tide of 4ft or greater there seems to be better fishing. Look at the tide chart for 11/8. I will be there for SURE! Also, I've been using Seagar flouro Leader Material. This stuff is kinda expensive but I've been on mooching trips and others where this SEEMS to be the difference. One last thing, I really think distance out from the pier is key to catching stripers on the left side. Good Luck, I might try to make it out this weekend, depending on the weather. I love this place.
Posted by mel
Forgot to mention, if you want mudsuckers there, just put on a couple of small hooks with shrimp and go to the corner of the tee and cast out towards the leg part of the tee. Mudsuckers all day long. You can catch them as you need them. That must be a dynamite fishing spot at night. Too bad they don't open at night.
Date: November 1, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: DSRTEGL
Subject: Paradise Pier
Fished from noon to 4pm. Other notables present were grapeape, mel and cheddah. I had the hot rod of the day to the tune of one small bat ray, one good sized one, and one 46” MALE Leopard Shark. WHOO-HOO! SHARK: The other, other, other white meat. Mel was right there on hand with his crab ring to help me land all three fish, so it was my pleasure to help him land his 22.5” striper, the only one caught for the day. Cheddah caught two jumbo jacksmelt and had several other bites, and a few perch were caught but that was about it.
Date: November 1, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: The San Quentin and Paradise routine (long)
Started the morning at San Quentin. Was there about 6:30 AM. Started with a chrome RTL trap. Got numerous hits, but no hook ups. A fly fisherman showed up and he too was getting a lot of hits. Then we started hooking up. In the next hour, I must've caught 5 or 6, about 12 to 20 inches, keeping one 19 incher. Another guy showed up throwing a Kastmaster and he was getting hits too. He changed to a white hairaiser and landed a nice 26 to 28 incher, which he released.
I looked at my watch and saw that it was already past 8AM. I was in the bait-soaking mood, (I usually always am), so I wanted to make a move to Paradise Pier for some striper and ray action. It's seems kind of weird to leave a spot with a red hot bite going on but I had my meal and I didn't want to limit yet because I wanted to fish all day. Those guys there thought I was crazy to leave but...I left. When I turned around for one last look, I could see both guys hooked into fish. What fun!
I got in my truck and took off and called my fiancée to let her know I was changing locations. I told her before I left the house that I wanted to be at Paradise by 9AM when they open. Why are you going so early she asked me. It then dawned on me that the watch that I put on still had the “old” time. I never moved it back an hour. Oh well. Good time to get some Mickey D’s. By the time I got to Paradise, the gate was already open. Wow, they opened early! Amazing. When I drove into the park I saw the sign that they opened at 8AM.
Gee whiz, I'm on a roll. A group of guys just got there before I did and I was hoping they wouldn’t go to my spot but that’s right where they went. Anyway, to make a long story not too much longer, it turned out to be an OK day but I wish everybody could have caught more fish. Everyone had a good time there, though. I caught one more striper at 22” and a half inches right before I was about to go back to SQ. The last fish saved me a trip. DSRTEGL kept us all entertained in the meantime, catching some rays and a nice leppie. There was a bunch of other guys from the board and I don't mean any disrespect but I don't think I can type much more. DSRTEGL pretty much summed it up in his report. I need to take a break.
Date: November 11, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise Pier and a lost sturgeon. WAAAH!
Went to Paradise today. Here's the gory details. At about 2:00PM I hooked into what I thought was a huge bat ray. I envisioned one of those manta rays that you see on public TV. My rod just bent and drag was peeling and I couldn’t get it turned around at first but I did get it to stop. I was in the middle of baiting my other rod so I put the pole back down in the holder and went to bait my other rod. I told my friend to go ahead and see if he could reel it in while I baited and casted my rod. I wasn't in the mood to fight a huge ray so I just watched.
We passed the rod off about five times between me and my friends. I jokingly kept telling them it was a sturgeon but I knew it was a ray because I was using cut anchovies on a hi/lo. Then after about 20 minutes it surfaced. It IS a sturgeon! About a 5 footer! I noticed that it may have been foul hooked because it was coming in sideways and my friend had the net ready. He managed to get just the head into the net and that's all that fit.
The sturgeon was thrashing around and it must have unfoul hooked itself because it took off. We got it back up, it turned, ran under the pier, wrapped and popped. AWWWW! Oh well, considering it was such an unexpected thing, it sure was exciting. Mister sturgy wins today, but... all in all, should’ve, would’ve, could’ve. That's the way it goes. Still, not bad for 15lb. test. We did at least get it partway into the net. It's the first sturgeon I ever hooked. Now I'm hooked!
Posted by DSRTEGL
You will never land a sturgeon that size with a crab net. A noose is best with the larger fish, but only if you intend to keep them. I beach my sturgeon whenever possible.
Posted by mel
I remember seeing posts before with pics of sturgeon snares. Getting one up a pier is a tremendous feat. The thing with this one was if we had one, it would’ve been a perfect opportunity. What happened was one hook was in his mouth, and the rest of my leader with my weight and my other hook was wrapped around him. When we almost had it in the net, it started thrashing around so hard that all you could see was white water for a while and it dove under the pier. My friend was playing the fish at the time and I was trying to tell him that he was right near a piling and he had to try to horse it out but my line was only 15lb test. We actually almost had it out but like I said before, it wrapped and popped. Funny thing was my friend thought I was using 25lb test and he was playing the fish like it was. That P-Line CXX is some good stuff. That was probably the biggest fish I ever had on my line. It made that big ray I caught the other day feel like a guppy.
Date: December 6, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise Pier: Should’ve seen the size of this one
Got there about 8:00AM, gate already open. Set up one rod with a hi lo for 'chovies in case any stripers around, set up another loaded with 65lb power pro and 5/0 sturgeon leader for you know who. DSRTEGL showed up about 8:30AM too. Weather was bearable with a little wind but no rain. He quickly caught about a couple of rays and small sharks.
Must have been about noon, the tide already shifted, now going out but nothing too drastic. I was staring at my rod tip, the one that was baited with ‘chovies, and I saw it twitch a little and the line went slack. Darn bat rays! I picked up my rod, pointed the tip down and started to reel in the slack slowly, until it tightened up a little then I stopped. Got another little twitch then I slammed it home. Yeehaw! Papa bat ray on the line. It was taking out line at a good pace and I had to adjust the drag because I thought I had it too loose. After I had it adjusted to where I thought it was right, I gained about 10 yards back but I could hear the fish laughing at me and tell me “watch this.”
The fish turned and went on another run, like a speeding freight train. All I could do was stand there and let it go. I looked at DSRTEGL and just shrugged my shoulders at him, giving him the “what the heck can I do” look. I made a visual check of my line and reel and prepared myself to do battle. I jumped up on the bench started doing my thing, pulling, reeling down, pulling, reeling down, and my arms started to tire.
The thing took off on a couple more runs, up and down the pier and I started flashing back. Another sturgeon maybe? DSRTEGL was standing there, ready with the net. After about 10 minutes I told him “hey, get my snare out of my bag just in case.” When he ran back I wanted to get a look at what it was. I reeled down, pulled up, reeled down, pulled up what seemed like forever. I finally got a glimpse. STURGEON! And a monster at that! I had it up, it was defeated. I saw the face and the monster body of this thing. I estimated it at between 5 and 6 feet. I was standing on the bench, fish was belly up, I win!
Now, I've never used a snare before and neither did Derek. I didn't know he didn't until then. We managed to slip the cable over my rod part way down my line but then it stopped. The snare somehow got caught in the line. Sure enough, like the fish knew, did a little shake and POP! And off it went. Line broke. Oh well. All I could do was laugh. Again. I had it this time though. I really had it. He was on the surface belly up waiting for my next move. Ha! Just one of them things. I'll have plenty more chances.
The whole ironic thing about it? It hit my 11’ Sealine-X and Okuma Avenger 65 loaded with 17# P-line CXX, with a 6' 25# Stren leader. The fish went for the TOP bait. Cut anchovies again. There's about 5’ between the hook and weight. That's the second time that happened to me there. Why couldn’t he hit my other rod with 65lb power pro and a 50# test leader baited with ghost shrimp like he was supposed to? Guys, if you can, go there tomorrow. I sure wish I can. BTW, Red Fish showed up later in the afternoon. Nice fishin’ with you guys. It sure was fun, but it could've been even more fun.
Date: January 19, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise pier skunk. Again.
Fished Paradise today with Grapeape and his wife. Skunks for all. I don't know what the heck is going on with that place but I remember last year about this time we were killing the stripers and rays. Maybe the weather has a lot to do with it? Don't know. Anyway, offered up eel, ghost and grass shrimp and anchovies. Very good tidal movement today too. I think Grapeape said he had one honest to goodness bite but I didn't see it. Not even anything on the Sabikis. Oh well. I'll be back at it again next weekend. Nothing else noteworthy to put into a report but it was cold!
Date: February 10, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: FutureOlympian
bject: Paradise Park Pier
Fished Paradise Park pier today from 11-4:30. Looked promising when I was there. There were birds everywhere and 2 or 3 herring boats fishing the water right off the pier. But then sturgeon just didn't bite at all. To many crabs all over my line all day long. Bait used was herring.
Posted by grapeape168
Paradise Pier is a great place to fish unfortunately, it's also a place that’s tough to near impossible to keep your bait near the bottom without the crabs tearing it up. I've even tried to wrap my ghost shrimp in my wife's stockings. This helps a bit but it also kills the presentation. Good luck!
Date: February 18, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Sturgeon topic... (In reply to: Sturgeon topic... posted by STURGEON KING on Feb-18-04 8:07pm)
I caught three last year. One was about 5 ft at Paradise Pier. I think it was about November, but that one got away after wrapping around the pilings on 15lb mono. Then in December, I got one that was probably oversized but it got away after getting tangled in the snare on 17 lb mono. (Also at Paradise Pier). Do those count? Anyway, the other one was a shaker caught at McNears and I caught another shaker there also, but that was in January. I think the best pier sturgeon wise has to be McNears. I've seen the most sturgeon caught there. BTW: I only plan on keeping one a year. That’s enough to fill my freezer and my brother's too. I have too much respect for these magnificent creatures. Nine in one year is a bit much to keep but it's your prerogative. You should think more about C&R.
Date: June 1, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: thecrw
Subject: Memorial Day Picnic
Had a Memorial Day picnic w/ my wife, OCD, Redfish and his friend Gerald at beautiful Paradise Park. The place was packed but all of us got lucky w/ cars leaving the FULL parking lot just as we got there. There were a couple bat rays caught on the left side of the pier but besides Gerald’s small walleyes, not much else going on. Also, OCD caught a baby salmon on a Sabiki, so there must be a couple salmon in the Bay or do the babies come in only to feed? For those of you who haven't visited Paradise Pier, it’s in Tiburon and is sheltered from the winds, has great picnic grounds and clean bathrooms. Redfish may organize a get together sometime in August when the bite gets a little better. ~Elric aka TheCrw
Date: June 18, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: MinnowMagnet
Subject: Bay Area Pier Rat Meeting at Paradise Pier 6/11/04
I got there With RR at about 2:00 Pier Rat was already there and said he had already caught a Leopard Shark We started fishing and everyone was making bait. Then Pier Rat caught two Walleye Surfperch in his cast net. Then, when I was throwing my cast net my rod got a hard bite. I set the hook and after a few minutes we got it in. It was a big bat ray that was 23lbs, 30” WS. Then I caught a D crab. Then Pier Rat caught a small bat ray, then a big sand Shark!!! Then I caught a bullhead. Everything was tossed back except the baitfish. I Had Lots Of Fun!!!!!
Total Catch: A Leopard Shark (Pier Rat), A Small Bat Ray (Pier Rat), A Big Sand Shark (Pier Rat), Lots of Smelt (Pier Rat), Two Walleye Surfperch (Pier Rat), A few Smelt (Rockin Robin), Lots of Smelt (MinnowMagnet), A Big Bat Ray (MinnowMagnet), A D Crab (MinnowMagnet), A Bullhead (MinnowMagnet)
Posted by crazyguy
It was a fairly long, but fun day for Salty Nick and I. We arrived at Berkeley Pier at around 6:15 to meet up with SetHook, but he slept in. We threw out cast nets around at Berkeley a few times, and got a few shiners and a few smelt. We then headed over to Paradise Pier. There was a steady flow of action throughout the day. We must have landed at least seven rays on live bait. They kept hitting our live smelt and shiners. Bait was pretty tough to come by at the pier during the daytime, but during the afternoon/evening it got easier. Caught a few anchovies, a decent sized herring, a baby lingcod, a baby salmon (Salty Nick got a photo), and miscellaneous perch. Once again, it was a great time out. Too bad about that striper SetHook, it was a dandy. Until next time...
Posted by mel
There was a good bite of sharks and rays the first two hours. Smoothhounds on every cast or a ray on every cast. Hooked a monster too. A close second if it was the MMD. (ok, well not that close) It was one of those fat, tall-headed monsters. Sure was fun. It's been a while since I had a drag peeling fish on. Then it kind of died out. The tide changed and it got slow. I did manage a couple more rays and one broke me off under the pier. Wasn't too crowded. Met CalRat out there. He was fishing live bait (anchovies) but didn't get anything when I was there. Hope his luck got better when I left. Started to get pretty windy in the afternoon and the water started to get a little murky. Bait used was anchovies, ghost shrimp and pile worms. Also messed around with a Hair Raiser for a while for nada. Tomorrow morning I’m hitting the beach. I’ll be at Bakers Beach after some stripers. I'll probably be there from 6:30ish till noon? I'll be wearing my green hodgman waders and my wife will probably be with me. If anyone is game, meet me there.
Date: June 26, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise Pier 7:00AM to 4:00PM
Only two people there at opening, me and Yakfisher, who was launching his kayak there. Beautiful day. Shorts and tank top at 8AM. Steady shark and ray action all morning. All were small, (good thing), and the sharks were too. Grapeape and his wife showed up about 11ish. I think they brought bananas. Anyway, the afternoon tides slowed the fishing down a little but we still caught fish here and there. I also caught a small striper, (about 17 inches), released of course. A DFG guy came on the pier in the afternoon. He had one of those measuring boards with him. He wasn’t all that friendly when I tried to talk to him. Oh well, no biggie. Maybe his mom told him not to talk to strangers. I did overhear him tell the rangers that he wasn’t enforcing today, just measuring and doing fish counts. While he was on the pier, he just sat around for about an hour and he had his back turned to a group of people with kids who were catching perch and throwing them in their bucket. The DFG guy started walking over there and I was thinking hmmmmm, wonder if they'll get a ticket. Well, he was talking to them for a while, then he took out his measuring board and began to measure the perch! He gave them back! Well, he did mention that he wasn't enforcing anything today so I guess if I hooked a sturgeon that was oversize and wanted to gaff and keep it, today would’ve been the day. Maybe I could’ve asked him to help me so he would have a good specimen to measure. Heck, I don’t know what to make of the whole situation but... Anyway, bait used was fresh dead anchovies, ghost shrimp, pile worms and a live bullhead. Count: About 12 bat rays (small to medium), one 17” striper, released, three sharks from 18 to 24” and lots of confusion.
Date: July 10, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: (In reply to: Re: Weekly Reminder 1st Annual Paradise Mud Marlin posted by cheddah on Jul-9-04 9:04pm)
Just about any bait works there, but the best are anchovies fresh or frozen, (although fresh works better). Use a bigger hook, maybe a 2/0 to 4/0, unless you tie your own hooks so in case you hook into a ray, you have more chance of bringing it in. I tie my own leaders, using 50 to 60lb test, with 3/0 or 4/0 Eagle Claw pre snelled baitholders and 5 or 6 oz’s of weight. (Also, there's always a chance there that Mr. Sturgy will come for a visit and accept your anchovy offering). If you use 2 rods, I suggest you cast 1 far and the other not too far. That way you cover more ground. Sometimes they’re close, sometimes they’re far. Use at least good 15 to 20lb test. If it's cheap line, go 25 and up. After catching a few rays you can be sure your line will be stretched pretty good. When tying your leaders, (yes, tie your own), put about at least 5 feet of leader line between your bottom hook and weight and keep your line taught when it’s in the water. That’s the key to catching more fish there. Although you have to get used to casting like that, it’s a notorious crab spot, so tying your leader like that will keep the crabs off and therefore keeps your bait in the water longer. If you cast far, the left side of the pier is best. At least for rays and sharks. There's a hole or something there and I always hook up there. Cast out about a 45 degree angle off the corner. The middle of the pier is good too, and there are a lot of stripers caught right in the middle, in close. For live bait guys, drop whatever live bait you have off the corners. I have caught big halibut and big stripers that way. (See PFIC, volume 2, pg. 400). That fish was caught on a live shiner, on a 3 way with the weight and hook line reversed. I tie the weight on a longer leader and put the hook side on a shorter one to keep it off the bottom. That keeps the crabs off. I'm sure the ever popular BP bobber rig will work also. Live bait can be caught around the pier, either with a Sabiki or with a cast net. Be careful when catching shiners. Inspect it to make sure it’s not a small walleye, which would make it illegal. On a good out going tide, try to drift a live bait offering in the current towards the rocks. Did I leave anything out? Oh yeah, the DFG has been frequenting the area, doing their fish counts and stuff. Make sure you keep it legal. Why did I spill the beans or let the cat out of the bag? As it says in Ken's book about the fishing there being so-so, (thanks Ken!), that's partly true. There will be periods of time where no one at all, no matter what they use or how they use it, will get even a nibble. Go there with a good friend or a good book. Maybe even PFIC 2?. Plus, I'm going on vacation so if I can't catch any fish there I may as well let you guys catch 'em. Good luck guys!
Date: July 19, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: SmurfSmelt
Subject: 1st Annual Paradise Mud Marlin Get Together
(In reply to: 1st Annual Pardise Mud Marlin Get Together posted by MinnowMagnet on Jul-18-04 4:38pm)
The person with the “GAP” shirt is me... That’s my bat ray..... The rays hit and run kind of like striper's, but the bat rays hit and run with some strong power... I was pretty amazed that the ray hit with a sturgeon hook with full whole squid. I wonder why the only thing that hit that day was bat rays... I hope next time I go to Paradise Pier I hope we are going to catch some giant sharks & skates... Anyways thanks MinnowMagnet for the awesome get together... I want to come to the next one you have!!!!
Posted by xpostman
(In reply to: The list of the rays that were caught at the MMG posted by MinnowMagnet on Jul-17-04 8:25pm)
Thanks for hosting this event. Paradise Pier can hold about 20 anglers. I was able meet many of our PFIC members. You guys are all first class anglers. My son and I had a blast. Excellent weather, beautiful location, and good people. This location is mud marlin heaven. I have a lived in the SF bay area all my life and never been to Paradise Pier. Keep up the good work.
Posted by Red Fish
(In reply to: 1st Annual Pardise Mud Marlin Get Together posted by MinnowMagnet on Jul-18-04 4:38pm)
Good Fishing With All Of You Guys!!! We had a 100% turnout plus a few special guest like DSRTEGAL, which was a treat. Somehow I thought he might come as he is on the 101 side of the bridge and likes the pier. One of the first people I met at Paradise along with Mel. Nice guy and helped me pick out two nice Penns at the Santa Rosa Tackle show (one of which I have added a nice Red Accu-Frame to. It was good to finally put a face with UncleSteve's name after not recognizing you at Berkeley (I guess your nephew was in attendance??). Nice pics Robin (very flattering). Ha, ha I was joking with Johnthefisherman69 about how we should put together a pierfishing calendar [guns (muscles) & fishing]. Think Mel would be interested
I would like to be Mr. May, LOL!!!
Posted by will_fish
(In reply to: See above- and I have been a member for 2-3 yrs posted by climberb9 on Jul-18-04 6:19pm).
This get together had nothing to do with the one in Berkeley other than through inspiration. It was a good time, great BBQ and met some more good PFIC fisherdudes!
Justin, you made it happen! and thanks Robin, Red and fishoff for the bbq and live chovies. If you have it next year, we'll still call it MMGT at Paradise. but it will mean (Minnow Magnet get together ha ha). It was nice meeting all you other guys for the first time. Also, a special thanks to all those rays that turned out. Of course they were only hitting my line when I was off talking to somebody ( which was from the time I got there til the time I left. That park and pier are nice and clean with great facilities. It was worth 8 bucks to me to be a part of it.
Date: July 23, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: unclesteve
Subject: Paradise Pier July 22, 2004
I decided to re-visit Paradise Pier after finishing up some business in Frisco. I got to Paradise Pier around 2pm and fished until 6pm. I fished the left side of the T, sometimes going at an angle, and others shooting straight out. I did hook something that made my reel scream only to find the line holding the hook had been chewed off when I tried to set the hook. Wonder what it was?
2 Leopard Sharks (One of the Leps had a ID number and phone number to call after measuring its size. Some marine place and so I did.)
4 Sting Rays (Larger rays were about 20-25lbs)
All were caught on a high lo with 3/0 G-Matsu Hooks.
10 ft. Daiwa Sealine X w/ Shimano Baitrunner 4500
12 Telescoping Silstar w/ Shimano Baitrunner 4500
20lb. Mono line.
Date: July 31, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise Pier 7:00AM to 6:00PM
Lots and lots of little sharks. Fished anchovies on hi lo’s and live bait. Unclesteve, Grapeape and his wife, DSRTEGL and a friend of grapeapes were there. Grapeapes friend caught a nice hallie about 30 inches on a freshwater plastic crawdad lure. I'll let them report about it. Or did I already? We also caught rays, perch, smelt, kingfish. It got really windy in the afternoon.
Date: August 11, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: DSRTEGL
Subject: Paradise Pier
Fished from 9-2:30 for 4 bat rays. One small 24", two medium 30-40", and one Bodega Sized at about 4'. Was only able to beach the small one. Note to self- Get a damn crab ring stupid! Additional Note to Self- Bring yellowjacket traps next time Word of warning, the yellowjackets are terrible around the pier right now. I was able to pop the hooks on the other three rays. Lost one large SOMETHING under the pier within minutes of starting to fish. I was using an 11' Roddy Hunter Casting Rod and a big Daiwa casting reel loaded with 30# line and I had NO control over the fish. Several missed opportunities including a blistering baitrunner run that came unpinned shortly after the hookset. Crabs and large schools of bait stealing smelt made keeping bait on the hook a chore. Will be back for more on Saturday. Used squid, anchovies, and sardines. All worked. Only saw one other fish caught, a smelt, but it was a BIG smelt.
Posted by mel
What you lost were sturgeon. Those SOMETHING'S fight real good as always. If it’s large and you lose it to where you have to call it SOMETHING, and not a ray, it was a sturgeon. Ha! Just kidding Derek. Don't mean to rub it in. You'll get them next time!
Posted by Songslinger
Ah, and I almost went there today (per your invite, and thank you!). But I was out at 6am, lost in the deep fog, and I went north instead of south on 101.
Funny thing, Paradise was the place that taught me, rudely, all about crab nets. And yellowjackets. They provide the one exception when I actually wish for the wind. If you use bait, you risk their company, and the best defense is a clean area. Saltwater is plentiful and will cleanse an area well. It even works momentarily as a repellent. But these flying nasties will be around until the rains return.
Should be some game fish lurking that area right now, stripers, halibut, and salmon. The rays will beat them to the punch when it comes down to the scent of bait. Krocodile time.
Posted by DSRTEGL
Just so you know....It could have been a sturgeon as I did see a BIG one jump about 100 yards off the end of the pier. It came completely out of the water. Lord what a wonderful thing to see. Seals and sea lions were working off the rocky point to the south which bring forth all sorts of interesting possibilities (sp?). Was fishing in my usual spot BTW. If possible stop by on Saturday, I will be there. The weather was perfect today and promises to be even better as the weekend approaches. May even invest in a cast net if I can figure out how to use one of the silly things.
Posted by Ken Jones
Paradise Pier will have to replace Aliso Pier (since it was closed) as one of the two worst piers in the state for yellow jackets. The other one that has my vote is Gaviota. All of these piers adjoin picnic areas.
Date: August 14, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: DSRTEGL
Subject: Paradise Pier
Only three bat rays today. All caught in a 30-minute window during my six hour stay. Cold, Windy, brief flurry of light drizzle. Where did the summer go?
Caught the first two rays simultaneously. Got a hit on a sardine chunk as I was reeling in. Lots of head shaking, nice bulldog runs, I was hoping for a Hali or striper but was denied as a wing hooked little ray comes to the surface. It was caught on my light rig. Just as I was wondering how I wag going to get my crab net rope untangled to land it, my heavy rod starts screaming. One ray ready to land, a second one freshly hooked and pulling some serious drag, my crab ring rope is tangled, AND I WAS ALONE ON THE PIER.
I had lots of line on my heavy rig so I left it in the rod holder as the the rays was swinning away from the pier, netted the little one after untangling the $%*(#@$)@&$_&_ rope, and then fought and landed the bigger ray on my heavy rig. Caught my largest ray (much smaller than the big one on Wed) about 30 min later and that was it. I saw no other fish caught when I was there but there were people trying. Quite a few missed bites on my end I am sorry to say. Bait stealers were out in force again as were the yellowjackets even with the wind.
Date: August 24, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: unclesteve
Subject: Paradise Pier 7:00AM to about 2:00PM
We fished from 12:00pm. until 7:00pm. We were set up with all types of rods around the right side of the pier. Two rods were casted straight out with squid and anchovies (thanks for hooking it up Mel), one pole was rigged with live bait, and the rest were on bobbers. We weren't hooking up too many sharks/ray, so I decided to try and fish for some perch/jacksmelt. We must have caught at least 30 smelts on shrimp to keep us occupied. I also had two solid hits on my live bait set up, but nothing hooked up...
Date: September 9, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: DSRTEGL
Subject: McNear's Beach Pier vs. Paradise Pier
(In reply to: McNear's Beach Pier vs. Paradise Pier posted by Heretic on Sep-9-04 6:22pm)
If you like combat fishing try McNears, want things more laid back with slightly less chances of getting a striper, try Paradise.
Posted by mel
Also depends on what kind of tackle you'll be using. McNears has a notorious current. Rips bait right off of hooks and it's a tough spot to hold bottom. Makes it worse if there's a crowd there but if you go on a weekday you should be ok. Cut sardines works well for stripers if you’re bait fishing. Last weekend I was at Paradise and there were smallish stripers hanging around. Paradise will yield more varieties of fish though. I like both spots. Paradise in the summer; McNears in the winter.
Date: September 11, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: DSRTEGL
Subject: Paradise Pier
Fished with Mel and Unclesteve. Lots of rays, big jacksmelt, a few sharks (all smoothies, no leopards) and a serious sunburn. SIGH, when will I learn? Some fish caught on squid, some on salted anchovies and sardines, and most on fresh anchovies provided by Mel. Tried my new cast net without success. The bait was not near as evident as last weekend.
Date: September 25, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: unclesteve
Subject: Paradise Pier 09.25.04
We got to Paradise Pier around 10:30 a.m. and there were two other groups fishing. One on the leftside using shrimp/squid while the other two guys were throwing rattle traps along the middle of the pier. The sharay action was decent, but the whooper was a 80-100 ray that wouldn’t fit into my net. The guy next to me was sweating and hurting from the fight and it was wing hooked which made it even worse. It got away! The guys throwing lures landed a nice size keeper by the time I left. I had brought Eel/Squid as bait and tried mixing it up, but I was pretty lazy the whole day....
To: Ken Jones
From: Glen
Subject: Paradise Beach Pier Report
Hi Ken, Just checked out your new update and was looking at the Paradise Pier report. The term “Pogies” refers to black perch. Don’t know where the term originated, but I’ve heard is used mostly from Black anglers on the shore, and most of us perch fishermen have placed it in our everyday fishing vernacular. Might be a local—Bay Area—phenomenon (it can’t rom Porgie, can it?). Accuracy is a premium, however, when it comes to species among folks around here. I’ve heard people call black perch rubberlips (and I’ve learned to discount reports of rubberlips until I see it with my own eyes), white perch called silver perch or splittail perch, barred perch called calico perch, and too often striped perch called rainbow perch. I’ve long since given up correcting anyone because people tend to know what they know—and no one likes a smartass.
Right now black perch are spawning. So are pile perch. I haven’t seen white perch for some time. My guess is that they’re getting black and pile perch in the Marin area just like here in the East Bay. I went out today at the Frontage Road in Berkeley and got 3 black perch and 1 pile perch, all nice sizes. Three were females, so loaded with babies they were about to burst. (Also got a 19” striper the day before at the same place. No one else got anything both days, and currently I’m the subject of irritation and frustration among my peers there—so I’ll lay low for a while.) With the spawning and warm and drier weather, the perch bite is final breaking wide open. Hard to say when they’re about to give birth. I’ll probably catch and release for the next few weeks. Later, Glen
Date: August 8, 1999
To: PFIC Message Board
From: roel cunanan
Subject: Paradise Beach Pier…
Stripers hit pretty hard out on Paradise Beach Pier. Since the water is already shallow (15ft at the end of the pier and 30ft out with a decent cast), wait for the incoming tide. The stripers hit on cut anchovies with a surf leader or use a stripper leader with a 3/0 hook. The best place on the pier is right at the cross of the pier. There is a hole about 30+ yards out. If you can cast out there, you'll be in prime location. To the left of the “T” of the pier, the rays will hit because of the mud and sand off that corner. I’ve caught a couple of shaker sturgeon on the right side using grass shrimp. The usual size of the stripers is from 16” to 32”, most running around the 20” range. When the water is churned up with silt, the action WILL slow down. So be patient.
Date: October 11, 1999
To: PFIC Message Board
From: rudy
Subject: Paradise Pier
Fished at Paradise on Saturday from noon to 4pm. Anticipated catching stripers since there were a lot of private fishing boats surrounding the pier. Ten minutes after first cast, one large jacksmelt. Next cast, one large bat ray but lost it under the pier after 10 minutes of fight. Bait used was cut frozen anchovies and pile worms. Total: seven large jacksmelt and one walleye surf perch. No striper action. At least, it was a nice hot day.
Date: May 30, 2000
To: PFIC Message Board
From: Nate D
Subject: Unsavory rumors
There is an unconfirmed, unsavory rumor that halibut are being caught in near-legal sizes on the flats off California City near Tiburon. Stripers are hoarding most of the bait in this area, but if a halibut run takes off here as well, look out. I'm going to research this personally using hands-on methods. That is, actually fishing. If this works out, it could be time for a Weekly West Bay Shoreliner’s Report, maybe just for the summer. Too bad I barely know how to turn this damn machine on. I'm surprised I haven’t put a bullet in it already. More to come!! Give ‘Em Hell!!!!! Nate D
Posted by Songslinger
Every year there are halibut found from the end of Marina Bay in Richmond all the way to California City. This is basically along a stretch known as Southhampton Shoals. Something attracts them, more than likely the jacksmelt for bait a muddy/sandy mix on the bottom. I've often wondered why Paradise Pier or even San Quentin Point weren’t more productive for halibut from the shore (or at least as productive as Richmond). But it’s mostly the province of boaters dragging hoochies or trolling. Anyway, should be interesting to see how things develop for a “halibut run” that way. Nate, you'd be great for a fish report and web site. Looking forward to it. I am at your disposal for anything you need. Songslinger.
Date: September 6, 2000
To: PFIC Message Board
From: ikiller
Subject: Paradise Pier
Went out to Paradise Pier yesterday afternoon with a crew of friends. They are still charging the summer $7.00 but now the place closes at 7PM!! That is pretty lame, summer prices for winter hours. Oh well, we got there at 5:30 so we got to fish for an hour and fifteen.
As for the fishing. One in our party who got there earlier said he saw large fish jumping way out, sturgeon maybe?? We fished grass shrimp on high low leaders, and on sturgeon leaders. Sometimes we would put an anchovy into the mix. Biggest hit was on a squid on a sturgeon leader; it got away. The only catch was a bullhead on grass shrimp.
The price sucked but we had a good time out there. I would buy a season pass (they work at McNears and Paradise) but I don't think I will be going to those places enough to make it worthwhile.
Date: September 17, 2000
To: PFIC Message Board
From: ikiller
Subject: Paradise Pier
Fished Paradise Pier on Saturday. Got there about 1:30 right before the top of the high tide and fished till around 6pm. Used anchovies, grass shrimp, and some shiner perch we were catching for bait (first time using a Sabiki rig, it worked great!! Sometimes one dip of the rig would bring up three bait fish!!!).
We caught a couple of large kingfish, a jacksmelt, a couple of crabs, and a leopard shark which was over 50” and weighed 20 lbs. Great weather, and lots of action. Helped a little girl catch a large jacksmelt on one of those little kiddy rods which are about a foot and a half long with a built in plastic closed face reel. The best part of the trip was that it was one of the first times I have gone out in months without catching any bat rays or bullheads. All fish were released unharmed except for the baitfish.
Date: July 10, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise Pier
7:30AM to 1:30PM. Bait was fresh anchovies. Nothing but bat rays. Again! Biggest about 60lbs. Smallest about 5lbs. We were targeting stripers but it's always fun catching bat rays. I think we caught about 15 or so, but we had a big group. Also caught a lot of smelt. It was a really nice hot day out there and I can't think of a better place for tackle testing. All fish released unharmed, of course. All of us used hi-lo rigs. Nothing on the live shiners and bullheads.
Posted by caffeinehigh
Excellent day on the bat rays. I think I've asked this question before but mentally I still can’t picture how a bat ray can take a bait off a hi/lo rig... unless your hook is over 12 inches away from the leader... hmm.... maybe I should set mine up that way too...hmm???
Posted by mel
Maybe I have it wrong. Maybe the proper terminology for the leaders I use is “surf leader.” There are 2 loops between the swivels to attach your hooks. There is actually about 8 or 9 inches of line between the leader and the hook. Sorry for the confusion.
Date: July 14 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Re: Big Poles on Pier
I use an 11’ pole at the pier because I don’t have a pole holder and sometimes at piers like Paradise Pier or others the railing is kind of high. They have some drainage holes along the length of the pier that I put the butt of my rod into and it works just fine. It’s actually easier to keep a fish out of the pilings because if he tries to go under, all you have to do is hang the rod out and sometimes it pulls it back out. At Paradise, I have a striper hole I like to cast into and it's pretty far out there, but with my long rod it’s reachable.
Date: August 11, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: grapeape168
Subject: Paradise Pier Marin (long post)
Fished from 11:00am till about 4:00pm. Bait was market shrimp, anchovies, squid, and bullheads. As soon as we got there a man was reeling in what looked to be a 30+inch striper. Unfortunately, it broke off by the piling. Which gave me a quick reminder to teach my wife how to net with the crab net. I set up one pole with the live bait rig (using a bull head) and the other pole with a hi/lo (‘chovie/squid). My wife was using a Sabiki (cut to three hooks) baited with shrimp. The bullhead bite was off the hook. People all over the pier were catching them. Then around 1:00 some insane action begins. An elderly Japanese man fishing about 3/4 of the way in got a bite that rang his bell so hard he almost fell into the drink. I ran over with the net ready to help, but unfortunately it broke off due to some old equipment. This would be the start of a great yet terrible day for the man. Next to get slammed was ME; my pole nearly gets yanked into the water. I fight it for about 10 minutes before I can even see what it is. When I finally saw it, it was a giant ray that barely fit into the net. (First thought was this would have been the MMD 2003 winner.) This was just the beginning. In the next few hours the Japanese man loses two more rod-bending fish. After the third he just left. I tried to help but the drags on both reels were gone. Next to me was a nice 3-ft leopard shark. Then the same gentleman loses another giant striper to the pilings; it bit on a sliding sinker rig with a small bullhead. Next, it was my wife’s turn. She got spooled in less than a minute (200+yards of 8lb test) Must have been a ray. She had fun though. All in all that day six rays (20lb plus) landed, one 3-ft leopard, two lost stripers, one legal striper, and countless other fish lost to the pilings. This pier is great! Great facilities, good people, very few fishermen. Sorry for the long post but, it was a slamming day! The worst day fishing is better than the best day at work!
Date: September 10, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: grapeape168
Subject: What took my bait?
I was out at Paradise Pier on Saturday from 1-7pm. High/low on the 9ft ugly stick. Size 4 bait holders. I baited up with two mudsuckers. Sat there for about 20 minutes with nothing then all of a sudden the pole goes bendo. I set the hook, nothing on. Brought in the rig finding two mudsucker heads only! Was it something that just bit short or was it just crabs you think. Report: Not much going on there but there are tons of white and striped perch. Towards the end of the day, my wife and I got bored, we set up a floating rig with Sabiki hooks and pulled in over a dozen giant smelt. All released. Drop in your two cents.
Date: September 28, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise pier, very slow day Sat 9-27
Got there about 7:00, fished till 3:00. Pretty dead day. Only landed three small rays. Never seen it so dead there before. Fished a whole incoming tide too. Lots of bait in the water but no stripers. Used fresh anchovies on a hi/lo and also fished live bait. There were a few others fishing a variety of baits, but no takers except for the rays, which were few. I think the seals had a lot to do with it as they were out in force and very close to the pier. All in all, a very dead day. The best catch of the day was some people getting married in the picnic area. Maybe I should've just worn my suit and joined the wedding.
Date: October 12, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: I’ve actually been targeting Stripers
I also use live mudsuckers for bass too. I never thought of keeping them and freezing them for later. Yesterday at Paradise Pier a lady was catching them on shrimp and she gave us a few and was catching them all day and had to throw them back. Sometimes she would catch double headers. Are there any restrictions I should be aware of as far as keeping mudsuckers?
Date: October 25, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: grapeape168
Subject: Paradise Pier
Limited out today! Arrived at Paradise Pier at about 12:00pm. Caught a few shiners but no large perch to be found. A friend caught a short striper 16 inches. Not much going on until 3:40pm. Caught two back to back. The first was caught on a 1/3 piece of frozen ‘chovie. The second was caught on a whole ‘chovie tied with rubber bands! (Thanks for the tip guys!) The second striper even did a little hop out of the water. Man, these guys fight.
Date: October 27, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: TheCrw
Subject: Paradise Pier Report
Kaw! Kaw! Okay, the wifey changed her mind on the fishing, so we had a late breakfast instead. OCD and I then headed over to Paradise Pier around 1pm to try to get one of those stripers but nothing doing. We fished the right side w/a variety of bait: squid on a slydo, mudsuckers on a hi/lo, shiners and bullheads on floats and hi/lo's = nada. Meanwhile, this girl, Jessie was nailing sharks like crazy on the left side (where they say the water is deeper). We were fishing the right to try to take advantage of the outgoing and the fish getting “stacked” along the cliff. Oh, well, time to rethink the game plan, as Paradise has been played out (for us at least). ~Elric, aka TheCrw
Posted by mel
FYI, in my experiences there, which is often, the right side, even straight out from the tee, is good during the outgoing tide. There’s a little shelf there off the cliffs that stacks up bait really nice with a strong current. Try drifting a live shiner or bullhead about 15’ off the end of the tee and let the current carry it over. I caught a 27-incher there last month doing that. On the incoming, most anywhere casting far out will get you fish. If not stripers, rays and leppies will help pass the time. Oh yeah, get your live bait under the pier in the corner of the tees or by the fish cleaning station. I may go back out there this weekend. Did they go into their winter schedule yet?
Posted by grapeape168
I’ve had better luck on the left hand side also. I'm not sure how much of a difference this makes but when there is a plus/minus tide of 4ft or greater there seems to be better fishing. Look at the tide chart for 11/8. I will be there for SURE! Also, I've been using Seagar flouro Leader Material. This stuff is kinda expensive but I've been on mooching trips and others where this SEEMS to be the difference. One last thing, I really think distance out from the pier is key to catching stripers on the left side. Good Luck, I might try to make it out this weekend, depending on the weather. I love this place.
Posted by mel
Forgot to mention, if you want mudsuckers there, just put on a couple of small hooks with shrimp and go to the corner of the tee and cast out towards the leg part of the tee. Mudsuckers all day long. You can catch them as you need them. That must be a dynamite fishing spot at night. Too bad they don't open at night.
Date: November 1, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: DSRTEGL
Subject: Paradise Pier
Fished from noon to 4pm. Other notables present were grapeape, mel and cheddah. I had the hot rod of the day to the tune of one small bat ray, one good sized one, and one 46” MALE Leopard Shark. WHOO-HOO! SHARK: The other, other, other white meat. Mel was right there on hand with his crab ring to help me land all three fish, so it was my pleasure to help him land his 22.5” striper, the only one caught for the day. Cheddah caught two jumbo jacksmelt and had several other bites, and a few perch were caught but that was about it.
Date: November 1, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: The San Quentin and Paradise routine (long)
Started the morning at San Quentin. Was there about 6:30 AM. Started with a chrome RTL trap. Got numerous hits, but no hook ups. A fly fisherman showed up and he too was getting a lot of hits. Then we started hooking up. In the next hour, I must've caught 5 or 6, about 12 to 20 inches, keeping one 19 incher. Another guy showed up throwing a Kastmaster and he was getting hits too. He changed to a white hairaiser and landed a nice 26 to 28 incher, which he released.
I looked at my watch and saw that it was already past 8AM. I was in the bait-soaking mood, (I usually always am), so I wanted to make a move to Paradise Pier for some striper and ray action. It's seems kind of weird to leave a spot with a red hot bite going on but I had my meal and I didn't want to limit yet because I wanted to fish all day. Those guys there thought I was crazy to leave but...I left. When I turned around for one last look, I could see both guys hooked into fish. What fun!
I got in my truck and took off and called my fiancée to let her know I was changing locations. I told her before I left the house that I wanted to be at Paradise by 9AM when they open. Why are you going so early she asked me. It then dawned on me that the watch that I put on still had the “old” time. I never moved it back an hour. Oh well. Good time to get some Mickey D’s. By the time I got to Paradise, the gate was already open. Wow, they opened early! Amazing. When I drove into the park I saw the sign that they opened at 8AM.
Gee whiz, I'm on a roll. A group of guys just got there before I did and I was hoping they wouldn’t go to my spot but that’s right where they went. Anyway, to make a long story not too much longer, it turned out to be an OK day but I wish everybody could have caught more fish. Everyone had a good time there, though. I caught one more striper at 22” and a half inches right before I was about to go back to SQ. The last fish saved me a trip. DSRTEGL kept us all entertained in the meantime, catching some rays and a nice leppie. There was a bunch of other guys from the board and I don't mean any disrespect but I don't think I can type much more. DSRTEGL pretty much summed it up in his report. I need to take a break.
Date: November 11, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise Pier and a lost sturgeon. WAAAH!
Went to Paradise today. Here's the gory details. At about 2:00PM I hooked into what I thought was a huge bat ray. I envisioned one of those manta rays that you see on public TV. My rod just bent and drag was peeling and I couldn’t get it turned around at first but I did get it to stop. I was in the middle of baiting my other rod so I put the pole back down in the holder and went to bait my other rod. I told my friend to go ahead and see if he could reel it in while I baited and casted my rod. I wasn't in the mood to fight a huge ray so I just watched.
We passed the rod off about five times between me and my friends. I jokingly kept telling them it was a sturgeon but I knew it was a ray because I was using cut anchovies on a hi/lo. Then after about 20 minutes it surfaced. It IS a sturgeon! About a 5 footer! I noticed that it may have been foul hooked because it was coming in sideways and my friend had the net ready. He managed to get just the head into the net and that's all that fit.
The sturgeon was thrashing around and it must have unfoul hooked itself because it took off. We got it back up, it turned, ran under the pier, wrapped and popped. AWWWW! Oh well, considering it was such an unexpected thing, it sure was exciting. Mister sturgy wins today, but... all in all, should’ve, would’ve, could’ve. That's the way it goes. Still, not bad for 15lb. test. We did at least get it partway into the net. It's the first sturgeon I ever hooked. Now I'm hooked!
Posted by DSRTEGL
You will never land a sturgeon that size with a crab net. A noose is best with the larger fish, but only if you intend to keep them. I beach my sturgeon whenever possible.
Posted by mel
I remember seeing posts before with pics of sturgeon snares. Getting one up a pier is a tremendous feat. The thing with this one was if we had one, it would’ve been a perfect opportunity. What happened was one hook was in his mouth, and the rest of my leader with my weight and my other hook was wrapped around him. When we almost had it in the net, it started thrashing around so hard that all you could see was white water for a while and it dove under the pier. My friend was playing the fish at the time and I was trying to tell him that he was right near a piling and he had to try to horse it out but my line was only 15lb test. We actually almost had it out but like I said before, it wrapped and popped. Funny thing was my friend thought I was using 25lb test and he was playing the fish like it was. That P-Line CXX is some good stuff. That was probably the biggest fish I ever had on my line. It made that big ray I caught the other day feel like a guppy.
Date: December 6, 2003
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise Pier: Should’ve seen the size of this one
Got there about 8:00AM, gate already open. Set up one rod with a hi lo for 'chovies in case any stripers around, set up another loaded with 65lb power pro and 5/0 sturgeon leader for you know who. DSRTEGL showed up about 8:30AM too. Weather was bearable with a little wind but no rain. He quickly caught about a couple of rays and small sharks.
Must have been about noon, the tide already shifted, now going out but nothing too drastic. I was staring at my rod tip, the one that was baited with ‘chovies, and I saw it twitch a little and the line went slack. Darn bat rays! I picked up my rod, pointed the tip down and started to reel in the slack slowly, until it tightened up a little then I stopped. Got another little twitch then I slammed it home. Yeehaw! Papa bat ray on the line. It was taking out line at a good pace and I had to adjust the drag because I thought I had it too loose. After I had it adjusted to where I thought it was right, I gained about 10 yards back but I could hear the fish laughing at me and tell me “watch this.”
The fish turned and went on another run, like a speeding freight train. All I could do was stand there and let it go. I looked at DSRTEGL and just shrugged my shoulders at him, giving him the “what the heck can I do” look. I made a visual check of my line and reel and prepared myself to do battle. I jumped up on the bench started doing my thing, pulling, reeling down, pulling, reeling down, and my arms started to tire.
The thing took off on a couple more runs, up and down the pier and I started flashing back. Another sturgeon maybe? DSRTEGL was standing there, ready with the net. After about 10 minutes I told him “hey, get my snare out of my bag just in case.” When he ran back I wanted to get a look at what it was. I reeled down, pulled up, reeled down, pulled up what seemed like forever. I finally got a glimpse. STURGEON! And a monster at that! I had it up, it was defeated. I saw the face and the monster body of this thing. I estimated it at between 5 and 6 feet. I was standing on the bench, fish was belly up, I win!
Now, I've never used a snare before and neither did Derek. I didn't know he didn't until then. We managed to slip the cable over my rod part way down my line but then it stopped. The snare somehow got caught in the line. Sure enough, like the fish knew, did a little shake and POP! And off it went. Line broke. Oh well. All I could do was laugh. Again. I had it this time though. I really had it. He was on the surface belly up waiting for my next move. Ha! Just one of them things. I'll have plenty more chances.
The whole ironic thing about it? It hit my 11’ Sealine-X and Okuma Avenger 65 loaded with 17# P-line CXX, with a 6' 25# Stren leader. The fish went for the TOP bait. Cut anchovies again. There's about 5’ between the hook and weight. That's the second time that happened to me there. Why couldn’t he hit my other rod with 65lb power pro and a 50# test leader baited with ghost shrimp like he was supposed to? Guys, if you can, go there tomorrow. I sure wish I can. BTW, Red Fish showed up later in the afternoon. Nice fishin’ with you guys. It sure was fun, but it could've been even more fun.
Date: January 19, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise pier skunk. Again.
Fished Paradise today with Grapeape and his wife. Skunks for all. I don't know what the heck is going on with that place but I remember last year about this time we were killing the stripers and rays. Maybe the weather has a lot to do with it? Don't know. Anyway, offered up eel, ghost and grass shrimp and anchovies. Very good tidal movement today too. I think Grapeape said he had one honest to goodness bite but I didn't see it. Not even anything on the Sabikis. Oh well. I'll be back at it again next weekend. Nothing else noteworthy to put into a report but it was cold!
Date: February 10, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: FutureOlympian
bject: Paradise Park Pier
Fished Paradise Park pier today from 11-4:30. Looked promising when I was there. There were birds everywhere and 2 or 3 herring boats fishing the water right off the pier. But then sturgeon just didn't bite at all. To many crabs all over my line all day long. Bait used was herring.
Posted by grapeape168
Paradise Pier is a great place to fish unfortunately, it's also a place that’s tough to near impossible to keep your bait near the bottom without the crabs tearing it up. I've even tried to wrap my ghost shrimp in my wife's stockings. This helps a bit but it also kills the presentation. Good luck!
Date: February 18, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Sturgeon topic... (In reply to: Sturgeon topic... posted by STURGEON KING on Feb-18-04 8:07pm)
I caught three last year. One was about 5 ft at Paradise Pier. I think it was about November, but that one got away after wrapping around the pilings on 15lb mono. Then in December, I got one that was probably oversized but it got away after getting tangled in the snare on 17 lb mono. (Also at Paradise Pier). Do those count? Anyway, the other one was a shaker caught at McNears and I caught another shaker there also, but that was in January. I think the best pier sturgeon wise has to be McNears. I've seen the most sturgeon caught there. BTW: I only plan on keeping one a year. That’s enough to fill my freezer and my brother's too. I have too much respect for these magnificent creatures. Nine in one year is a bit much to keep but it's your prerogative. You should think more about C&R.
Date: June 1, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: thecrw
Subject: Memorial Day Picnic
Had a Memorial Day picnic w/ my wife, OCD, Redfish and his friend Gerald at beautiful Paradise Park. The place was packed but all of us got lucky w/ cars leaving the FULL parking lot just as we got there. There were a couple bat rays caught on the left side of the pier but besides Gerald’s small walleyes, not much else going on. Also, OCD caught a baby salmon on a Sabiki, so there must be a couple salmon in the Bay or do the babies come in only to feed? For those of you who haven't visited Paradise Pier, it’s in Tiburon and is sheltered from the winds, has great picnic grounds and clean bathrooms. Redfish may organize a get together sometime in August when the bite gets a little better. ~Elric aka TheCrw
Date: June 18, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: MinnowMagnet
Subject: Bay Area Pier Rat Meeting at Paradise Pier 6/11/04
I got there With RR at about 2:00 Pier Rat was already there and said he had already caught a Leopard Shark We started fishing and everyone was making bait. Then Pier Rat caught two Walleye Surfperch in his cast net. Then, when I was throwing my cast net my rod got a hard bite. I set the hook and after a few minutes we got it in. It was a big bat ray that was 23lbs, 30” WS. Then I caught a D crab. Then Pier Rat caught a small bat ray, then a big sand Shark!!! Then I caught a bullhead. Everything was tossed back except the baitfish. I Had Lots Of Fun!!!!!
Total Catch: A Leopard Shark (Pier Rat), A Small Bat Ray (Pier Rat), A Big Sand Shark (Pier Rat), Lots of Smelt (Pier Rat), Two Walleye Surfperch (Pier Rat), A few Smelt (Rockin Robin), Lots of Smelt (MinnowMagnet), A Big Bat Ray (MinnowMagnet), A D Crab (MinnowMagnet), A Bullhead (MinnowMagnet)
Posted by crazyguy
It was a fairly long, but fun day for Salty Nick and I. We arrived at Berkeley Pier at around 6:15 to meet up with SetHook, but he slept in. We threw out cast nets around at Berkeley a few times, and got a few shiners and a few smelt. We then headed over to Paradise Pier. There was a steady flow of action throughout the day. We must have landed at least seven rays on live bait. They kept hitting our live smelt and shiners. Bait was pretty tough to come by at the pier during the daytime, but during the afternoon/evening it got easier. Caught a few anchovies, a decent sized herring, a baby lingcod, a baby salmon (Salty Nick got a photo), and miscellaneous perch. Once again, it was a great time out. Too bad about that striper SetHook, it was a dandy. Until next time...
Posted by mel
There was a good bite of sharks and rays the first two hours. Smoothhounds on every cast or a ray on every cast. Hooked a monster too. A close second if it was the MMD. (ok, well not that close) It was one of those fat, tall-headed monsters. Sure was fun. It's been a while since I had a drag peeling fish on. Then it kind of died out. The tide changed and it got slow. I did manage a couple more rays and one broke me off under the pier. Wasn't too crowded. Met CalRat out there. He was fishing live bait (anchovies) but didn't get anything when I was there. Hope his luck got better when I left. Started to get pretty windy in the afternoon and the water started to get a little murky. Bait used was anchovies, ghost shrimp and pile worms. Also messed around with a Hair Raiser for a while for nada. Tomorrow morning I’m hitting the beach. I’ll be at Bakers Beach after some stripers. I'll probably be there from 6:30ish till noon? I'll be wearing my green hodgman waders and my wife will probably be with me. If anyone is game, meet me there.
Date: June 26, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise Pier 7:00AM to 4:00PM
Only two people there at opening, me and Yakfisher, who was launching his kayak there. Beautiful day. Shorts and tank top at 8AM. Steady shark and ray action all morning. All were small, (good thing), and the sharks were too. Grapeape and his wife showed up about 11ish. I think they brought bananas. Anyway, the afternoon tides slowed the fishing down a little but we still caught fish here and there. I also caught a small striper, (about 17 inches), released of course. A DFG guy came on the pier in the afternoon. He had one of those measuring boards with him. He wasn’t all that friendly when I tried to talk to him. Oh well, no biggie. Maybe his mom told him not to talk to strangers. I did overhear him tell the rangers that he wasn’t enforcing today, just measuring and doing fish counts. While he was on the pier, he just sat around for about an hour and he had his back turned to a group of people with kids who were catching perch and throwing them in their bucket. The DFG guy started walking over there and I was thinking hmmmmm, wonder if they'll get a ticket. Well, he was talking to them for a while, then he took out his measuring board and began to measure the perch! He gave them back! Well, he did mention that he wasn't enforcing anything today so I guess if I hooked a sturgeon that was oversize and wanted to gaff and keep it, today would’ve been the day. Maybe I could’ve asked him to help me so he would have a good specimen to measure. Heck, I don’t know what to make of the whole situation but... Anyway, bait used was fresh dead anchovies, ghost shrimp, pile worms and a live bullhead. Count: About 12 bat rays (small to medium), one 17” striper, released, three sharks from 18 to 24” and lots of confusion.
Date: July 10, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: (In reply to: Re: Weekly Reminder 1st Annual Paradise Mud Marlin posted by cheddah on Jul-9-04 9:04pm)
Just about any bait works there, but the best are anchovies fresh or frozen, (although fresh works better). Use a bigger hook, maybe a 2/0 to 4/0, unless you tie your own hooks so in case you hook into a ray, you have more chance of bringing it in. I tie my own leaders, using 50 to 60lb test, with 3/0 or 4/0 Eagle Claw pre snelled baitholders and 5 or 6 oz’s of weight. (Also, there's always a chance there that Mr. Sturgy will come for a visit and accept your anchovy offering). If you use 2 rods, I suggest you cast 1 far and the other not too far. That way you cover more ground. Sometimes they’re close, sometimes they’re far. Use at least good 15 to 20lb test. If it's cheap line, go 25 and up. After catching a few rays you can be sure your line will be stretched pretty good. When tying your leaders, (yes, tie your own), put about at least 5 feet of leader line between your bottom hook and weight and keep your line taught when it’s in the water. That’s the key to catching more fish there. Although you have to get used to casting like that, it’s a notorious crab spot, so tying your leader like that will keep the crabs off and therefore keeps your bait in the water longer. If you cast far, the left side of the pier is best. At least for rays and sharks. There's a hole or something there and I always hook up there. Cast out about a 45 degree angle off the corner. The middle of the pier is good too, and there are a lot of stripers caught right in the middle, in close. For live bait guys, drop whatever live bait you have off the corners. I have caught big halibut and big stripers that way. (See PFIC, volume 2, pg. 400). That fish was caught on a live shiner, on a 3 way with the weight and hook line reversed. I tie the weight on a longer leader and put the hook side on a shorter one to keep it off the bottom. That keeps the crabs off. I'm sure the ever popular BP bobber rig will work also. Live bait can be caught around the pier, either with a Sabiki or with a cast net. Be careful when catching shiners. Inspect it to make sure it’s not a small walleye, which would make it illegal. On a good out going tide, try to drift a live bait offering in the current towards the rocks. Did I leave anything out? Oh yeah, the DFG has been frequenting the area, doing their fish counts and stuff. Make sure you keep it legal. Why did I spill the beans or let the cat out of the bag? As it says in Ken's book about the fishing there being so-so, (thanks Ken!), that's partly true. There will be periods of time where no one at all, no matter what they use or how they use it, will get even a nibble. Go there with a good friend or a good book. Maybe even PFIC 2?. Plus, I'm going on vacation so if I can't catch any fish there I may as well let you guys catch 'em. Good luck guys!
Date: July 19, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: SmurfSmelt
Subject: 1st Annual Paradise Mud Marlin Get Together
(In reply to: 1st Annual Pardise Mud Marlin Get Together posted by MinnowMagnet on Jul-18-04 4:38pm)
The person with the “GAP” shirt is me... That’s my bat ray..... The rays hit and run kind of like striper's, but the bat rays hit and run with some strong power... I was pretty amazed that the ray hit with a sturgeon hook with full whole squid. I wonder why the only thing that hit that day was bat rays... I hope next time I go to Paradise Pier I hope we are going to catch some giant sharks & skates... Anyways thanks MinnowMagnet for the awesome get together... I want to come to the next one you have!!!!
Posted by xpostman
(In reply to: The list of the rays that were caught at the MMG posted by MinnowMagnet on Jul-17-04 8:25pm)
Thanks for hosting this event. Paradise Pier can hold about 20 anglers. I was able meet many of our PFIC members. You guys are all first class anglers. My son and I had a blast. Excellent weather, beautiful location, and good people. This location is mud marlin heaven. I have a lived in the SF bay area all my life and never been to Paradise Pier. Keep up the good work.
Posted by Red Fish
(In reply to: 1st Annual Pardise Mud Marlin Get Together posted by MinnowMagnet on Jul-18-04 4:38pm)
Good Fishing With All Of You Guys!!! We had a 100% turnout plus a few special guest like DSRTEGAL, which was a treat. Somehow I thought he might come as he is on the 101 side of the bridge and likes the pier. One of the first people I met at Paradise along with Mel. Nice guy and helped me pick out two nice Penns at the Santa Rosa Tackle show (one of which I have added a nice Red Accu-Frame to. It was good to finally put a face with UncleSteve's name after not recognizing you at Berkeley (I guess your nephew was in attendance??). Nice pics Robin (very flattering). Ha, ha I was joking with Johnthefisherman69 about how we should put together a pierfishing calendar [guns (muscles) & fishing]. Think Mel would be interested
I would like to be Mr. May, LOL!!!Posted by will_fish
(In reply to: See above- and I have been a member for 2-3 yrs posted by climberb9 on Jul-18-04 6:19pm).
This get together had nothing to do with the one in Berkeley other than through inspiration. It was a good time, great BBQ and met some more good PFIC fisherdudes!
Justin, you made it happen! and thanks Robin, Red and fishoff for the bbq and live chovies. If you have it next year, we'll still call it MMGT at Paradise. but it will mean (Minnow Magnet get together ha ha). It was nice meeting all you other guys for the first time. Also, a special thanks to all those rays that turned out. Of course they were only hitting my line when I was off talking to somebody ( which was from the time I got there til the time I left. That park and pier are nice and clean with great facilities. It was worth 8 bucks to me to be a part of it.
Date: July 23, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: unclesteve
Subject: Paradise Pier July 22, 2004
I decided to re-visit Paradise Pier after finishing up some business in Frisco. I got to Paradise Pier around 2pm and fished until 6pm. I fished the left side of the T, sometimes going at an angle, and others shooting straight out. I did hook something that made my reel scream only to find the line holding the hook had been chewed off when I tried to set the hook. Wonder what it was?
2 Leopard Sharks (One of the Leps had a ID number and phone number to call after measuring its size. Some marine place and so I did.)
4 Sting Rays (Larger rays were about 20-25lbs)
All were caught on a high lo with 3/0 G-Matsu Hooks.
10 ft. Daiwa Sealine X w/ Shimano Baitrunner 4500
12 Telescoping Silstar w/ Shimano Baitrunner 4500
20lb. Mono line.
Date: July 31, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: mel
Subject: Paradise Pier 7:00AM to 6:00PM
Lots and lots of little sharks. Fished anchovies on hi lo’s and live bait. Unclesteve, Grapeape and his wife, DSRTEGL and a friend of grapeapes were there. Grapeapes friend caught a nice hallie about 30 inches on a freshwater plastic crawdad lure. I'll let them report about it. Or did I already? We also caught rays, perch, smelt, kingfish. It got really windy in the afternoon.
Date: August 11, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: DSRTEGL
Subject: Paradise Pier
Fished from 9-2:30 for 4 bat rays. One small 24", two medium 30-40", and one Bodega Sized at about 4'. Was only able to beach the small one. Note to self- Get a damn crab ring stupid! Additional Note to Self- Bring yellowjacket traps next time Word of warning, the yellowjackets are terrible around the pier right now. I was able to pop the hooks on the other three rays. Lost one large SOMETHING under the pier within minutes of starting to fish. I was using an 11' Roddy Hunter Casting Rod and a big Daiwa casting reel loaded with 30# line and I had NO control over the fish. Several missed opportunities including a blistering baitrunner run that came unpinned shortly after the hookset. Crabs and large schools of bait stealing smelt made keeping bait on the hook a chore. Will be back for more on Saturday. Used squid, anchovies, and sardines. All worked. Only saw one other fish caught, a smelt, but it was a BIG smelt.
Posted by mel
What you lost were sturgeon. Those SOMETHING'S fight real good as always. If it’s large and you lose it to where you have to call it SOMETHING, and not a ray, it was a sturgeon. Ha! Just kidding Derek. Don't mean to rub it in. You'll get them next time!
Posted by Songslinger
Ah, and I almost went there today (per your invite, and thank you!). But I was out at 6am, lost in the deep fog, and I went north instead of south on 101.
Funny thing, Paradise was the place that taught me, rudely, all about crab nets. And yellowjackets. They provide the one exception when I actually wish for the wind. If you use bait, you risk their company, and the best defense is a clean area. Saltwater is plentiful and will cleanse an area well. It even works momentarily as a repellent. But these flying nasties will be around until the rains return.
Should be some game fish lurking that area right now, stripers, halibut, and salmon. The rays will beat them to the punch when it comes down to the scent of bait. Krocodile time.
Posted by DSRTEGL
Just so you know....It could have been a sturgeon as I did see a BIG one jump about 100 yards off the end of the pier. It came completely out of the water. Lord what a wonderful thing to see. Seals and sea lions were working off the rocky point to the south which bring forth all sorts of interesting possibilities (sp?). Was fishing in my usual spot BTW. If possible stop by on Saturday, I will be there. The weather was perfect today and promises to be even better as the weekend approaches. May even invest in a cast net if I can figure out how to use one of the silly things.
Posted by Ken Jones
Paradise Pier will have to replace Aliso Pier (since it was closed) as one of the two worst piers in the state for yellow jackets. The other one that has my vote is Gaviota. All of these piers adjoin picnic areas.
Date: August 14, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: DSRTEGL
Subject: Paradise Pier
Only three bat rays today. All caught in a 30-minute window during my six hour stay. Cold, Windy, brief flurry of light drizzle. Where did the summer go?
Caught the first two rays simultaneously. Got a hit on a sardine chunk as I was reeling in. Lots of head shaking, nice bulldog runs, I was hoping for a Hali or striper but was denied as a wing hooked little ray comes to the surface. It was caught on my light rig. Just as I was wondering how I wag going to get my crab net rope untangled to land it, my heavy rod starts screaming. One ray ready to land, a second one freshly hooked and pulling some serious drag, my crab ring rope is tangled, AND I WAS ALONE ON THE PIER.
I had lots of line on my heavy rig so I left it in the rod holder as the the rays was swinning away from the pier, netted the little one after untangling the $%*(#@$)@&$_&_ rope, and then fought and landed the bigger ray on my heavy rig. Caught my largest ray (much smaller than the big one on Wed) about 30 min later and that was it. I saw no other fish caught when I was there but there were people trying. Quite a few missed bites on my end I am sorry to say. Bait stealers were out in force again as were the yellowjackets even with the wind.
Date: August 24, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: unclesteve
Subject: Paradise Pier 7:00AM to about 2:00PM
We fished from 12:00pm. until 7:00pm. We were set up with all types of rods around the right side of the pier. Two rods were casted straight out with squid and anchovies (thanks for hooking it up Mel), one pole was rigged with live bait, and the rest were on bobbers. We weren't hooking up too many sharks/ray, so I decided to try and fish for some perch/jacksmelt. We must have caught at least 30 smelts on shrimp to keep us occupied. I also had two solid hits on my live bait set up, but nothing hooked up...
Date: September 9, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: DSRTEGL
Subject: McNear's Beach Pier vs. Paradise Pier
(In reply to: McNear's Beach Pier vs. Paradise Pier posted by Heretic on Sep-9-04 6:22pm)
If you like combat fishing try McNears, want things more laid back with slightly less chances of getting a striper, try Paradise.
Posted by mel
Also depends on what kind of tackle you'll be using. McNears has a notorious current. Rips bait right off of hooks and it's a tough spot to hold bottom. Makes it worse if there's a crowd there but if you go on a weekday you should be ok. Cut sardines works well for stripers if you’re bait fishing. Last weekend I was at Paradise and there were smallish stripers hanging around. Paradise will yield more varieties of fish though. I like both spots. Paradise in the summer; McNears in the winter.
Date: September 11, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: DSRTEGL
Subject: Paradise Pier
Fished with Mel and Unclesteve. Lots of rays, big jacksmelt, a few sharks (all smoothies, no leopards) and a serious sunburn. SIGH, when will I learn? Some fish caught on squid, some on salted anchovies and sardines, and most on fresh anchovies provided by Mel. Tried my new cast net without success. The bait was not near as evident as last weekend.
Date: September 25, 2004
To: PFIC Message Board
From: unclesteve
Subject: Paradise Pier 09.25.04
We got to Paradise Pier around 10:30 a.m. and there were two other groups fishing. One on the leftside using shrimp/squid while the other two guys were throwing rattle traps along the middle of the pier. The sharay action was decent, but the whooper was a 80-100 ray that wouldn’t fit into my net. The guy next to me was sweating and hurting from the fight and it was wing hooked which made it even worse. It got away! The guys throwing lures landed a nice size keeper by the time I left. I had brought Eel/Squid as bait and tried mixing it up, but I was pretty lazy the whole day....