SJ Fishing Report

[Wahoo!]

Benicia: Not too many people have gone fishing lately, though one angler fought hard
to catch a 49-inch sturgeon off Eckley Pier on Wednesday. An oversize sturgeon
(seven feet long) was caught and released in the Ozol area Sunday at the bottom of
the tide on salmon roe. Anglers fishing for striped bass from the banks have been
faring well. The top spots were the state park and 12th Street. Benicia Bait and
Tackle. (707) 745-4921.
San Pablo Bay: The weather has been windy, cold and a bit rainy, and fishing has
been poor. The best fishing option is for sturgeon and striped bass from shore using
pile worms and shrimp baits. Anchoring at the Pumphouse area and using shrimp baits
still may be effective. Loch Lomond Bait Shop (415) 456-0321.
San Francisco Bay: A Saturday leopard shark trip with 16 anglers finished with 11
sharks up to 30 pounds. Anglers await the delivery of live bait to start fishing for
halibut this weekend. Halibut trips are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. So far, a
few halibut have been caught near Oyster Point and the Genentech building in South
San Francisco. Emeryville Sportfishing (510) 654-6040, Berkeley Marina Sportsfishing
(510) 849-3333, Bass Tub (415) 456-9055, Miss Farallones (415) 346-2399, Oyster
Point Bait & Tackle Marina (650) 589-FISH.
San Francisco: Recreational salmon season south of Point Arena starts this Saturday,
not last Saturday as incorrectly reported last week. Emeryville Sportfishing (510)
654-6040, Berkeley Marina Sportsfishing (510) 849-3333.
Half Moon Bay: Salmon fishing south of Pigeon Point averages about one fish per rod.
Some days are better, some days worse. On Wednesday's three trips, the final numbers
were: 11 salmon for 19 anglers, nine for 12 and nine for 10. The biggest fish was 12
pounds. Huck Finn Sportfishing (800) 572-2934.
Santa Cruz: Daily salmon trips catch from less than one fish per rod to about 1 1/2.
The past few trips to the south Pajaro area have returned with one per rod or
better. Two fish weighed more than 20 pounds, but most are 10 to 12. Santa Cruz
Sportfishing (831) 426-4690, Stagnero's (831) 427-0230.
Monterey: Some salmon trips are staying in local waters and are requiring a bit of
work to average one fish per rod. There were a few days with limits last week, but
Sunday was the worst of the season, when only a few fish were caught. Chris' Fishing
Trips (831) 375-5951, Randy's Fishing Trips (831) 372-7440.

-- MERCURY NEWS STAFF