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DELTA ANGLERS win big in Super Bowl Sturgeon Derby, WON BASS Nitro/Mercury Invitational
BY ROBIN WADE/WON Staff Writer Published: Feb 08, 2010
NORTHERN CAL DELTA UPDATE
ANTIOCH —While not as many anglers as anticipated showed for the Delta’s Super Bowl Sturgeon Derby, the winner walked away with $7806, and a largemouth bass angler in a WON BASS tournament broke the Delta record with a 14.60-pound bass for a $10,000 paycheck.
The WON BASS Nitro/Mercury Invitational, the first in the series for the WON BASS Pro Circuit event of 2010, produced a record with Guyle Sternat's record-shattering 14.60-pound Delta largemouth worth $10,000. Read more on this event in WON future features and in WON BASS.
As for the Super Bowl Sturgeon Derby, Saturday morning the radio call went out with the slot size for the event, a 63-inch fish was to be the target length. That day, with a lighter than hoped for turnout, Larry Ramirez won the event while fishing on board the California Dawn out of Martinez. The 63.5 incher took first place and $7,806 in prize money. The Cal Dawn derby charter was an all nighter with captain duties split between owner James Smith and his brother Chris. Full results will be reported in next week’s issue of WON.
During the week Can Nguyen from Bob’s Bait in Isleton reported improved water conditions with less debris in the system and slowing currents. “Fishing for sturgeon was still very good last week from Rio Vista Bridge up to Walnut Grove or Liberty Island. The chance to get at least one sturgeon bite per fishing trip was higher than usual,” he said. The range for sturgeon caught last week went from 49 to 80 inches on grass and ghost shrimp baits. Showing how to “get ‘er done,” Nguyen even caught a 57 incher himself on a pile worm at Isleton Bridge.
Fishing for striped bass has been slower. Due to very muddy water, the baitfish the sideliners target tend to move into smaller sloughs and the striped bass follow them. “Waters from Wimpy’s Marina up to Snodgrass Slough has been good for striped bass,” he said. Live bait and mudsuckers are very good for striped bass now.
From the San Joaquin River side of the system, anglers struggled with winds and threatening rains but managed the majority of sturgeon, although anglers searched for them throughout the system. A fresh supply of bait in the bay may have sent fish south. “We started out in the Pittsburg area and found a few, but they were not even close to the targeted length for the derby,” said Capt. Kev from Lucky Strike Charters. Even with improved water conditions this past week and many sturgeon marked, few would take bait.
For bass, both striped and black, anglers fought it out with the elements. Heavy boat traffic inside Frank's Tract, Mildred Island and in Broad Slough (or wherever the cleanest water could be found) was on the minds of pros fishing the WON BASS Nitro/Mercury Delta Invitational. In the end, it was Sean Stafford from Fairfield with his 39.05-pound two-day total that edged out Robert Lee from Angels Camp with his impressive 38.07 pounds, to take home $4000 for first place and $1000 for the top spot in the optional pool. For stripers the best bet was to anchor up at Santa Clara Shoals, which was producing some stripers weighing 4 or 5 pounds on threadfin shad.
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NORTHERN CAL DELTA UPDATE ANTIOCH —While not as many anglers as anticipated showed for the Delta’s Super Bowl Sturgeon Derby, the winner walked away with $7806, and a largemouth bass angler in a WON BASS tournament broke the Delta record with a 14.60-pound bass for a $10,000 paycheck. The WON BASS Nitro/Mercury Invitational, the first in the series for the WON BASS Pro Circuit event of 2010, produced a record with Guyle Sternat's record-shattering 14.60-pound Delta largemouth worth $10,000. Read more on this event in WON future features and in WON BASS. As for the Super Bowl Sturgeon Derby, Saturday morning the radio call went out with the slot size for the event, a 63-inch fish was to be the target length. That day, with a lighter than hoped for turnout, Larry Ramirez won the event while fishing on board the California Dawn out of Martinez. The 63.5 incher took first place and $7,806 in prize money. The Cal Dawn derby charter was an all nighter with captain duties split between owner James Smith and his brother Chris. Full results will be reported in next week’s issue of WON. During the week Can Nguyen from Bob’s Bait in Isleton reported improved water conditions with less debris in the system and slowing currents. “Fishing for sturgeon was still very good last week from Rio Vista Bridge up to Walnut Grove or Liberty Island. The chance to get at least one sturgeon bite per fishing trip was higher than usual,” he said. The range for sturgeon caught last week went from 49 to 80 inches on grass and ghost shrimp baits. Showing how to “get ‘er done,” Nguyen even caught a 57 incher himself on a pile worm at Isleton Bridge. Fishing for striped bass has been slower. Due to very muddy water, the baitfish the sideliners target tend to move into smaller sloughs and the striped bass follow them. “Waters from Wimpy’s Marina up to Snodgrass Slough has been good for striped bass,” he said. Live bait and mudsuckers are very good for striped bass now. From the San Joaquin River side of the system, anglers struggled with winds and threatening rains but managed the majority of sturgeon, although anglers searched for them throughout the system. A fresh supply of bait in the bay may have sent fish south. “We started out in the Pittsburg area and found a few, but they were not even close to the targeted length for the derby,” said Capt. Kev from Lucky Strike Charters. Even with improved water conditions this past week and many sturgeon marked, few would take bait. For bass, both striped and black, anglers fought it out with the elements. Heavy boat traffic inside Frank's Tract, Mildred Island and in Broad Slough (or wherever the cleanest water could be found) was on the minds of pros fishing the WON BASS Nitro/Mercury Delta Invitational. In the end, it was Sean Stafford from Fairfield with his 39.05-pound two-day total that edged out Robert Lee from Angels Camp with his impressive 38.07 pounds, to take home $4000 for first place and $1000 for the top spot in the optional pool. For stripers the best bet was to anchor up at Santa Clara Shoals, which was producing some stripers weighing 4 or 5 pounds on threadfin shad. |
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