Bodega Bay Fishing Report

The salmon action has been very good the past couple of days with HUGE fresh fish moving into the local waters. On Wednesday 7-30 the bite got even faster. Rick on the New Sea Angler ran a combo trip today with excellent results. Mooching along the top end of Ten Mile in 50 to 70 feet of water Rick reported 30 salmon to 34 pounds with most running 15 to 20 pounds with several in the 20 class bracket. Switching over to rockfish they added 278 rockfish and 8 lings to 12 pounds for 36 anglers.
On the private boater front Hunt Conrad who writes the Healdsburg fishing report was out with GGSA founder Victor Gonella. They had three limits of salmon with four of the six fish going over 25 pounds including this well deserved (considering all his hard work to preserve our salmon fishery) 37 pounder landed by Victor. (pictured below right in "soap box")
One good friend Frank Sof Napa shows off his season best a 39 pounder caught on Wednesday July 30th(left).
Another reader Karl commented that there were 8 squid seiners setting on the abundant squid schools currently spawning over a wide area from Bodega head to upper Ten Mile. Hopefully this does not kill our salmon bite but commercial seine net pressure of this magnitude is unprecedented off the near coastal waters of Bodega bay. We did hear of one boat out on Monday but eight (and how that would effect both local bait conditions and sport salmon fishing) is a real concern given that this was done during the best salmon bite off Bodega Bay this summer. (Picture left is from Karl K who was out on Wednesday)
The weather was much better than forecasted and many who just looked at the forecast instead of the real conditions missed out on an excellent day of fishing.
Private boaters can expect very long wait times at the lunch ramps in the coming days (hopefully weeks if the fish keep pushing through in these numbers). Get out soon as they fish are just stopping to feed on their way back to the Central Valley rivers.

Getting out my soap box I want to remind readers that the only reason we have any hope of good salmon fishing in the next two years is the hard work that has been done by the Golden Gate Salmon Association. They ARE the reason that both the state and Federal hatcheries trucked all their salmon to the Delta and Suisun bay this past spring.
GGSA has also pushed both the State and Feds to adopt several habitat and river projects that will help to help recover natural spawners of this fishery whichhave been hit hard by the current drought. They have also been directly involved with both fishery and water managers to ensure that during this drought that salmon are not overlooked when it comes to water management.
I encourage all readers to get off their "tails" and support GGSA. If not for what they accomplished this past year in getting all the salmon trucked it would be very likely that the fishery would have been shut down again come 2016. Currently GGSA is working on stopping the Delta Twin Tunnel Project.
Support by sport anglers is key to stopping this project that will surely destroy our salmon and all fisheries connected to the Delta. Readers can join GGSA and support them by becoming a member for just $25. That's just a fraction of the cost of trailering your boat to the coast which you won't have a use for if there are no salmon to be caught.
I know a lot of you readers consider yourselves "sportsmen" but part of being a sportsman is supporting our fishing and hunting heritage.
In fact EVERY local party boat and six pack skipper in Bodega Bay has vetted GGSA and have donated full boat charters to the "cause". These include Rick on the New Sea Angler, Vince on the Miss Anita, Bob on the Relentless and Les on the Samantha Irene and Jay Lopes among others.
GGSA is the group that deserves your support as well. To learn more about GGSA please go to their website to donate and learn more about this diverse group with one goal: a healthy, sustainable California salmon fishery.
Mike Aughney

Salmon Demise Likely Under Proposed Twin Tunnel Plan

GGSA comments on project’s clear threat to salmon

San Francisco -- Plans to build a massive new water diversion and conveyance structure in the Delta will spell the end of California’s salmon runs according to comments submitted today by the Golden Gate Salmon Association. The comments responded to a draft EIR/EIS describing the twin tunnel project. GGSA’s comments echo earlier findings from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service showing the project would greatly damage salmon runs in California’s Central Valley.

“There’s no doubt the current manmade system for diverting Sacramento River delta water south has badly harmed our native fisheries, including our salmon runs. However, it’s also clear that the state Department of Water Resources and water users south of the Delta have proposed this massive water diversion and twin tunnels that suits their needs and then tried unsuccessfully to manipulate the science to show it won’t wipe out salmon,” said GGSA executive director John McManus.

“The proposed massive water diversion and tunnel project would basically take too much upper Sacramento River basin water in many years, leaving too little cold water available to sustain salmon spawning,” said GGSA chairman Roger Thomas. Thomas is also the president of the Golden Gate Fishermen’s Association, a group representing charter boat operators. “We don’t have enough water for salmon as is in most years. Where are they going to get the extra water from?”

“The relative trickle of water left downstream of the diversion point near Sacramento would be too little to flush baby salmon to the bay and ocean or sustain the health of the Delta and bay,” said GGSA vice-chair Zeke Grader. Grader is also the executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, a group representing commercial salmon fishermen.

Other comments point to the likelihood that the three giant diversion intake screens used to supply the twin tunnels, will harm or kill salmon. Baby salmon will be sucked up against the screens, more than a third of a mile long each, since the river current isn’t strong enough at the planned site to safely sweep them by. The screens will operate at times of the year when the highest concentrations of baby salmon are passing by and will create conditions favorable to bigger fish that feed on juvenile salmon. More dangerous reverse currents will be created downstream of the diversion in side channels pulling baby salmon off course to their death in the interior Delta. These are just some of the ways the proposed project will harm salmon and other native species.

“As currently planned, the BDCP will wreak carnage on salmon. Wiping out salmon will kill jobs and harm the economy of our coastal and inland communities,” said McManus. “It’s hard to imagine a scenario where the current tunnel proposal could survive a court challenge since it blatantly violates laws intended to protect wildlife,” he concluded.

The Golden Gate Salmon Association (www.goldengatesalmonassociation.org) is a coalition of salmon advocates that includes commercial and recreational salmon fisherman, businesses, restaurants, an Indian tribe, environmentalists, elected officials, families and communities that rely on salmon. GGSA’s mission is to protect and restore California’s largest salmon producing habitat comprised of the Central Valley river’s that feed the Bay-Delta ecosystem and the communities that rely on salmon as a long-term, sustainable, commercial, recreational and cultural resource.

Currently, California’s salmon industry is valued at $1.4 billion in economic activity annually and about half that much in economic activity and jobs again in Oregon. The industry employs tens of thousands of people from Santa Barbara to northern Oregon. This is a huge economic bloc made up of commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen (fresh and salt water), fish processors, marinas, coastal communities, equipment manufacturers, the hotel and food industry, tribes, and the salmon fishing industry at large.

On Tuesday 7-29 we received several reports from friends and trusted readers of good action from south of Jingle Bells to Bird Rock. By 9:AM Billy "G" had two limits to 30 pounds. Kenny who is a regular reporter during the crab season reported two limits ranging from 18 to 31 pounds. Both were trolling in 60 to 80 feet off Elephant rock and all fish hooked deep. There has been a huge squid spawn in the area the past few weeks and in turn is attracting the big four year old salmon (that are making up most of this year's return) to stop and feed as they head south to the Golden Gate. The weather was flat calm today but the forecast calls for some breezy weather on Wednesday and Thursday.

On Monday 7-28 Rick on the New Sea Angler reported 10 salmon hooked and four landed to 16 pounds adding 29 limits of rockfish and 27 lings to 15 pounds. They got the salmon off Bird and Elephant Rock the quality coppers, browns, reds and blacks off Point Reyes.

The salmon bite picked up on Sunday 7-27 and it looks like all those fish on the North Coast the past three months are "sliding down". Six packs reported a fish per rod to limits of HUGE fish with some touting average fish size at 20 to 25 and up to 40 pounds. Private boaters reported up to three limits while one reader David reported 7 hooked and all but one lost including one that "had to be 40 pounds or better lost when the swivel failed at the net". The salmon fleet has been working along the beach from Bodega Head to Bird Rock and along the upper half of Ten Mile beach in 50 to 100 feet of water.
Rick on the New Sea Angler had a big load of 44 anglers. Fishing down at Point Reyes Rick reported limits of coppers, browns, blacks and vermilions adding 38 lings to 16 pounds. Rick said there was lots of chatter on the radio of all the big salmon with reports of fish to 40 pounds landed and rumors of one 50 pounder lost by an experienced six pack captain. The weather was flat with morning fog, less than five knots of breeze and a four foot swell. I wonder how many long time Bodega anglers will be calling in to work with "salmonitis" on Monday morning?

We are back after two fish filled weeks of action on the Kenai peninsula. Back home in Sonoma county there are some HUGE salmon being taken off Bodega. Private boaters are seeing scores of 0 to 3 and rumors of up to 3 limits of pigs. The bulk of the action has been in the shallows from Bird to Elephant rock and along the top of Ten Mile beach in 50 to 100 feet. There has been quite a bit of jelly on some days making the trollers work for their fish but many have switched to mooching with very similar scores. Jim D. reported 1 fish for three rods on Friday 7-25. Darrel B. checked in Wednesday to report 4 salmon for three anglers fishing off Elephant rock with fish all 18 to 25 pounds. Catching up on my emails from this past week plus private boaters overall are seeing 0 to 5 fish with pretty much equal results whether if they are mooching or trolling.
Rick Powers on the New Sea Angler has been seeing a few salmon as well as limits of rockfish and a ling per rod to limits on his trips this past week. He was still fishing when I spoke to him early Saturday 7-26 afternoon. He started the day trolling for salmon (he has been mooching on most recent trips) and he had hooked 10 fish and landed three to 30 pounds. They have near limits of rockfish in the sacks and a ling per rod and are still working the rockfish at this time. The weather is good with currently 12 knots of wind over a 5 foot swell at the buoy. It's likely much nicer in tight off Tomales bay. Water temps have climbed to 59 degrees which have the fish hugging close to the bottom
I'm still getting a handle on the local action and will add to the report over the weekend.

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Catch Em Products

Catch Em Products has a full line of sport crab blocks including the "Brutus Ace Line Haulers along with a full line of crab pots and gear. Dave is a long time Bodega angler and is a great source of info and more than willing to help sport anglers on what is the best for their particular boat. He offers very competitive pricing for those looking for "everything crabbing" He can be reached at 707 538-5440 or at davengman@gmail.com

Vacation Rental at Point Arena
Brand New House in Irish Beach with 2 bedrooms and a huge loft. Sleeps 6. Blue Water Ocean View to the Point Arena Light House and great local fishing. The house is located on a private court with access to the Members only Irish Beach.

Upcoming Events:
USAFishing proudly supports the many fishery and wildlife organizations that benefit anglers and hunters throughout Northern California. Does your organization have an upcoming event? Contact us at fishsite@aol.com and we will gladly post the information on our reports pages.

California Waterfowl Dinners and Youth Events Calendar

Golden Gate Salmon Association Events Calendar

Party Boat Contacts:
The Bodega Bay Sportfishing Center is currently booking trips on the New Sea Angler. They also book the six pack Sandy Ann, Profishn't and during the summer the Predator. Reservations can be made at 707 875-3344.