Fort Bragg Fishing Report

Fort Bragg:
After spending most of this season "stuck in the middle" it appears that off this old school harbor town the salmon have arrived. The salmon fishing is literally the best action in 8 years with boats reporting fast limits just a 10 minute boat ride out of the harbor.
On Wednesday 6-19 Kevin Browning with the Noyo Fish Co reported that the Ambush and all other party and private boats were in with limits before 11:AM. The fish are right out front in 180 to 200 feet with boats spread 3 to 5 miles North. The grade was a bit smaller today with lost of 10 to 15 pounders in the mix but the bite was fast and Kevin feels that more fish are moving into the area.

On Monday 6-17 Kevin Browning with the Noyo Fish Co. reported fast limits of BIG salmon. Fishing in 200 feet of water they were limited for 8 anglers in less than two hours time. Kevin said private boats were coming back in with 1 to 2 limits at 7 AM as they were motoring out to the grounds just 2 to 3 miles straight out in front. Boats were spread as far north as 5 miles and out to 300 feet but Kevin said there was no reason to burn fuel with dark water, bird life everywhere and even some salmon breaking the surface. They lost many fish due to the big size with a solid 18 to 20 pound average. One couple asked "what their fillets weighed" and tossing the 8 fillets on his scale it totaled 43 pounds.
The weather was perfect with 5 to 8 knots of wind over a tiny 3 foot swell. They have lots of space this week and it looks like Fort Bragg is back on the map.

On Sunday 6-16 the Ambush ran a local rockfish trip in the morning taking limits of quality rockfish mostly coppers and vermilions adding easy limits of lings. The lings are so thick they actually ran from them they were releasing so many. On the afternoon trip Captain Kevin left at 2:PM and called back in at 4:12 with limits of salmon averaging 15 to 18 pounds and going to 25. They were trolling out front in 160 feet of water just a mile north of town. He said that the local conditions are the best he has seen in years with brown water, krill and hard bait in every direction. The weather was great with less than 10 knots of wind over a 5 foot swell. With the fish close by this is a great bet for North Bay private anglers tired of being blown off the Sonoma coast. Salmon fishing here is open 7 days per week.
On Saturday the Ambush ran north to the Lost Coast for 15 limits of all big quality reds and coppers adding 15 limits of lings to 20 pounds. The Noyo Fish Company has lots of room open for half and full day salmon, rockfish and ling cod trips.

Shelter Cove:
Captain Trent Slate of Shelter Cove Sport Fishing has had Wednesday and Thursday 6-13 off, and it was a good time to be off since the wind was blowing hard out of the Northwest. Jim Cleary, former owner of the Seahawk, took his Duckworth vessel out into the slop and chop on Thursday for limits of salmon out of 15 landed from 22 hookups right out in front near the Red Can – one mile from the Shelter Cove Harbor. He culled through the smaller fish and came in with limits of ‘beautiful’ salmon. Slate’s last trip was on Tuesday, and they ended up with 7 salmon to 34-pounds, releasing a 22.5-incher that would have made limits. He said, “We saw several schools of sardines on our trip similar to the big bait balls we found up north in Spanish Canyon.” They were fishing south near the ‘Old Man.’ On Friday, Slate and Captain Jerad Morris on the Seahawk will be chartered for a three-boat wedding party – hope the salmon bite for the groom and his group.

Shelter Cove:
The salmon bite was outstanding on Monday, and it was merely very good on Tuesday 6-11. Captain Jerad Morris of the Seahawk was out in the same area near the Old Man on Tuesday for one fish shy of 4 limits at 7 salmon with a few over 20-pounds. Captain Trent Slate matched his former deckhand with 7 salmon for 4 clients. Morris said, “It was nice in the morning, but it was blowing 25 knots by the time we returned to the harbor.”

Fort Bragg
Kevin Browning from the Noyo Fish Company reports that they are seeing improving salmon counts. Fishing right out from on Monday the Ambush had five salmon for five anglers. All nice quality fish running from 12 to 18 pounds. Private boats are seeing a fish per rod to 3 limits trolling out front in 120 to 200 feet of water. ON their rockfish trip they took 15 limits of mixed rockfish adding 17 lings. Due to the winds they have been limited to the local waters but are planning trips up to the "Lost Coast" this weekend if Ma Nature allows.

The PFMC came out with the final salmon regulations for the balance of the season.
On the North coast from the Oregon border to Point Arena the season will run from May 1st -September 8th with a 20" minimum size limits for the length of the season.
South of Point Arena, recreational king salmon fishing is scheduled to be open five days per week, Wednesday through Sunday, between June 1 and July 9; and seven days per week otherwise. The minimum size limits have become a bit tricky to follow. South of Pigeon Point the minimum size limit will be 24 inches for the entire season. For the San Francisco area or from Point Arena to Pigeon Point, the minimum size limit will be 24 inches from April 6 to July 31, but 20 inches August 1st to November 10th.
The commercial fleet once again drew the short straw with several closures during their May 1 through September fishing time frame.
These sport and commercial closures are due to the dwindling numbers of winter run salmon. The winter run hit a 20 year peak of 17K fish in 2006 but their numbers have fallen to just 2500 this past winter. While sport and to a (much) lesser degree commercial anglers take a few hundred winter run fish in the ocean fisheries, 1000s of out migrating winter run salmon are killed at the Delta pumps every year. For this writer (and for YOU readers) it is unacceptable that we see our seasons shorted under "best management" while the Delta pumps kills 100s X more fish each and every year.
If the winter run continues to drop in numbers we could see a much shorter ocean fishery in 2014 and beyond. Next season's (2013 / 2014) winter run will be coming off a drought year in 2011 / 2012 making it difficult at best for the run to see any recovery. If next winter's run drops below 2500 we can expect to see additional closures (much more severe compared to this year) next season. If return numbers drop below 2000 fish we could be back to no ocean fishery while the pumps keep sending water (and our salmon) south to sustain farms built in the desert.

The Golden Gate Salmon Association is currently working on recovery of the fall and winter runs issues like pumping as well as several habitat projects that will help these runs recover. If you love fishing for salmon I suggest you make a donation to this well respected group. You can learn more about what GGSA is doing on their website and you can also support them by attending one of their 5 dinner events planned this year.

New 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.

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