Fish Sniffer Magazine Issue 4013 | Page 17

VOL . 40 • ISS . 13

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July 9 , 2021
17

Bodega Bay-Marin Coast Facts

Sonoma County / Marin County Coast Fishing Regulations
Salmon Regulations : The recreational fishery for ocean salmon is open from June 26 , 2021 through October 31 , 2021 . The daily bag and possession limit is 2 salmon of any species except coho , with a minimum size limit of 20 inches total length . No more than two daily bag limits may be in possession when on land . On a vessel in ocean waters , no person shall possess or bring ashore more than one daily bag limit .
Rockfish Regulations : The recreational fishery for rockfish ( Sebastes species ) is open year-round to divers and shorebased anglers . This fishery is open to boat-based anglers from April 1 , 2021 through December 31 , 2021 . Take of these species is prohibited seaward of the 50 fathom ( 300 feet ) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line , which is a series of connected waypoints defined in Federal regulations ( 50 CFR Part 660 , Subpart C ). The daily bag and possession limit is 10 fish in combination of all species within the RCG Complex ( includes all species of Rockfish , Cabezon and Greenlings ) per person , with a sub-limit on vermilion rockfish ( 5 fish per person ), also included in the 10-fish RCG Complex aggregate limit . There is no size limit for rockfish . Yelloweye rockfish , bronzespotted rockfish ( opens in new tab ), and cowcod may not be retained ( bag limit : zero ).
Lingcod Regulations : The recreational fishery for lingcod ( Ophiodon elongatus ) is open year-round to divers and shore-based anglers . This fishery is open to boat-based anglers from April 1 , 2021 through December 31 , 2021 . Take of lingcod is prohibited seaward of the 50 fathom ( 300 feet ) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line , which is a series of connected waypoints defined in Federal regulations ( 50 CFR Part 660 , Subpart C ). The daily bag and possession limit is 2 fish , with a minimum size limit of 22 inches total lengthand possession limit is 2 fish , with a minimum size limit of 22 inches total length .
Other Species : Fishing for California halibut , striped bass and leopard sharks is open year round in the ocean and in Tomales and San Francisco bays . The bag limit for striped bass is two fish 18 inches or over ; halibut , three fish over 22 inches ; and leopard sharks , 3 fish over 36 inches .

Bodega Bay Area Fishing

Marin and Sonoma Counties
Fishing Notes
• King Salmon season is set every spring at the Pacific Fishery Management Council meetings . Although fishing can be good anytime during the season , this area is known for the large chinooks that it produces in June , July and August . Trolling is the most popular method , but mooching will work also .
• Rockfish and Lingcod fishing for boaters will remain open through December 31 . Boats fish both north of Bodega Bay near the mouth of the Russian River , Fort Ross and Timber Cove or south of the harbor at Point Reyes . Fish shrimp flies , bars , swimbaits and live bait . Make sure you check the latest ocean sport fishing regulations before pursuing bottomfish .
• Albacore Tuna appear at Cordell Bank and other areas during the summer and fall . Troll Tuna Clones and other lures until you locate the fish and then start casting jigs and swimbaits to entice the tuna .
• Humboldt ( Jumbo ) Squid Charter boats will offer squid / crab combos after rockfish season ends – if the squid show .

Pacific Ocean

Pt . Reyes Beach South
Pt . Reyes
Pt . Reyes Beach North
Drakes Beach
Ten Mile Beach
Drakes Estero
Goat Rock Beach
Gull Rock
Shell Beach
Duncan Pt . Duncan Cove
Gleason Beach Poruguese Beach Schoolhouse Beach Arched Rock Beach
Bodega Marine Life Refuge
Bodega Head
Kehoe Beach
Pt Reyes National Seashore
Salmon Cr Beach
Bodega Harbour
Bodega Bay
Estero de San Antonio Dillon Beach
McClures Beach
Seahaven Inverness
Inverness Park
To Ft Ross Jenner
Bridge Haven
Sereno del Mar
Carmet
Salmon Creek
Bodega Bay
Miller Co . Park
Duncan Mills
Salmon Creek
Estero Americano
Tomales Bay
Walker Cr
Marshall
Point Reyes
Guerneville
Guernwood Monte Park Cristo
Rolands Vacation Beach
Villa Grande Russian River
Bodega
Valley Ford
Fallon
Monte Rio
Keyes Cr
Camp Meeker
Occidental
Freestone
Soulajule Res .
To Olema Via Highway 1 & San Francisco Via Highway 101
To Santa Rosa & Sebastopol
Graton Rd .
To Graton
Bodega Highway
Bloomfield
To Petaluma & Highway 101
Cat Kaiser of the Golden State Salmon Association had a memorable day of salmon trolling on July 26 when she successfully battled this big king off the Sonoma County Coast .
Photo courtesy of Cat Kaiser
salmon being caught up the coast today , with the biggest 3 coming in at 15-31 pounds ,” said Cabanas . “ We had lots of bait marking , and lots of scratched baits during the day , with a few shakers and more than our fair share of missed opportunities .” Information : ( 650 ) 726-2926 .
Slow Ocean Salmon Trip Produces 35 Lb . King for Lucky Angler
Anglers continue to catch kings in the Monterey Bay Management Region as the fishing fleet enjoys the great fishing in the San Francisco Management Zone from Point Arena to Pigeon Point on Saturday , June 26 . There are some huge salmon out there in the ocean to catch . Clara Ricabal of Boulder Creek , a tournament bass angler , outdoor writer and registered nurse ( RN ), landed a whopping 35-pound king aboard the Hulicat , skippered by Michael Cabanas , on Friday , January 18 . She was trolling early in the morning south of Pigeon Point when the giant fish , her personal-best salmon , hit her anchovy . “ At first the fish was swimming towards the boat , and my rod was in the middle of the port side ,” Ricabal recounted . “ I had to go over a few rods and eventually move some out of the way as I fought the fish .” “ It took about 10 minutes to land with 3 attempts of netting it . I blame my 5 ’ 3 ” height ,” Ricabal , a mother of four , quipped . That salmon ended up being the only one caught that day out of the two charter boats from Pillar Point Harbor , although many previous charter boat trips this season by the Hulicat and other boats have produced limits or near-limits of salmon .
Not only was Ricabal the luckiest angler on the boat that day – but she was the most successful angler on June 15 when she boarded the Checkmate out of Chris ’ Fishing Trips in Monterey for a mooching trip . She landed the first two out of the three salmon caught on the boat that day in Monterey Bay . With all of that salmon to eat , she noted , ” The doctor ordered me to eat a cardiac diet high in omega 3s . What better to eat than some fresh pink salmon meat ?” The doctor she mentioned was the one assigned to care for the 43-year-old when she was hospitalized after experiencing a heart attack in April . “ Unfortunately I just found out the hard way that I was born with a congenital anomaly of my left anterior descending artery where I have a myocardial bridge ,” said Ricabal . “ I temporarily have a stent , but go in this Wednesday for an angiogram in preparation for open heart surgery known as ‘ I roofing ’ at Stanford Medical Center to correct this debilitating condition .” After moving back to the Santa Cruz area 6-1 / 2 years ago , the ocean drew Ricabal , the daughter of Cuban immigrants , back to her childhood days of fishing the Berkeley Marina and Delta with her father . “ I was hooked for life this time . After a few good pictures , and even better stories via social media , I was offered the column I now have in Western Outdoor News , called ‘ Catching California .’ Hopefully
Clara Ricabal of Boulder Creek landed this giant 32 lb . Chinook while troliing aboard the Hulicat below Pigeon Point this June .
Photo courtesy of Clara Ricabal
after my procedure on Wednesday and beyond , I will have many more tales to tell ,” she said . Her current bass fishing partner and best friend is Alex Niapas of Angels Camp . She is on the California BASS Nation ’ s state team and placed third for California at the Western Regionals in Havasu .