The salmon are spear out all along the 45 to 50+ fathom curve. On Tuesday 5-15 Rick Powers checked in on his way in. Fishing off the river in 50 fathoms they ended the day one fish shy of 12 limits with fish to 18 pounds. Rick says the water is still dark and clear but is starting to get that "tinge" of brown and they did get most of their fish up high at 35 to 70 feet. They had about 15 knots of wind at first light and the reason Rick ran north. he wanted some "elevation" if the winds did ramp higher but they actually started to drop off a bit in the early afternoon.
Private boats are seeing mixed action with some reporting fast limits and others fishing most of the day for a fish per rod or less. The bulk of the smaller boats fished SW of the Head to Bird Rock today while the commercial fleet is fishing from to Ross to Salt Point.
On Monday Vince on the Miss Anita trolled in 40 to 50+ fathoms from below the Head to Bird Rock. They had decent action and landed 4 for 6 anglers, losing a few other opportunities along the way. They finished up the day puling through their short string of 6 pots adding 23 crabs.

The action is picking up outside Bodega Bay. Vince on the Miss Anita called in with early salmon limits for four anglers at 11AM on Saturday 5-12. He was fishing 7 miles SW of the Head in 50 fathoms. The fish were big with a solid 12 pound average and going to nearly 20. All came on straight bait at 20 to 80 feet on the wire. He set 6 crab pots that morning and after just a 4 hour soak they gave up 22 keepers.
This writer along with my son jumped on with Vince and a few other regulars to see if the late bite that materialized the afternoon before would happen again. We trolled for less three hours for one triple with fish or 10 and 22 pounds to show for our efforts. The big fish was landed my 17 year old son Tyler (left) and has made for a quick menu change for Mother's Day dinner. There were pockets of krill from 20 to 60 feet some an acre or more in size. The water was still dark and clear with an SST of 50 degrees. As conditions brown up the bite should only improve. The weather was beautiful with high fog, less than 5 knots of breeze over a lazy 4 foot swell. The forecast calls for calm weather through Wednesday. Vince has room Tuesday and Wednesday.
Rick on the Sea Angler was headed in to pull his crab pots when we were arriving on the grounds. Rick had 31 salmon for 18 anglers adding full limits of crabs, Rick said the bite was best before 9AM, got scratchy through about 1:PM and they only landed one fish in their last two hours. Rick has room most days this week. These are straight salmon trips with the "captain's option" of pulling the crab gear.

After nearly a week of chitty weather the seas have laid out like a mill pond on Friday 5-11 Captain Vince on the Miss Anita was trolling in 50 fathoms SW of the Head with five anglers. They scratched 6 commercial grade fish to 18 pounds and lost a few others. Vince said both the weather and the action improved as the day wore on. He is full for the weekend but has room next week.
Rick on the New Sea Angler had 12 anglers. They picked up 11 salmon to 19 pounds with a solid 12 pound average. He finished up the day with an added bonus of limits of crabs for all.
Rick says the water is still very clear (15 feet of viz) but the fish did come up and play for an hour or so. Water temp is 50 degrees and with calmer weather forecasted conditions should brown up and fishing only improve in the days ahead. Rick has lots of room all next week.

The 2nd annual Golden Gate Salmon Association  Santa Rosa dinner is scheduled for June 8th at the Friedman Center. Last year this dinner sold out with over 330 sport, commercial and party boat supporters attending. Last year many attendees were local commercial salmon anglers. Due to their huge support, this year's dinner was scheduled during a period when the commercial season is closed. This says a lot of both GGSA and the commercial fleet. GGSA continues to fight for the future of salmon and we hope that readers will continue to support this great organization. There will be special guest speakers, tons of door and raffle prizes and a delicious dinner and cocktails. Tickets are $75. Additional dinners will be held over the next few months in the Central Valley, Marin and San Francisco. 


Golden Gate Salmon Association Santa Rosa Dinner
Friday, June 8th, 2012
Freidman Event Center
4676 Mayette Ave
Santa Rosa