NORCAL SALT REPORTS

Published: Sep 08, 2010 SALT UPDATE: Emeryville action finds rockfish, halibut Fort Bragg mixed finish on salmon...more

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WON NORCAL SALT REPORTS 'They ripped the salmon' By Bud Neville/WON Staff Writer EMERYVILLE   — While there were a couple salmon efforts on Emeryville Sportfishing Center’s boats during the final week of ocean salmon season, the main focus continued to be “sure thing” bottomfishing. The Farallon Islands drew most of the boats, producing limits of rockfish and a few lingcod each trip. A couple boats tried for halibut on the way back in, finding some flatties. On board the Talisman, six anglers scored rockfish limits, one 8-pound lingcod and four halibut to 16 pounds on Wednesday. The New Huck Finn had 25 rockfish limits and one ling the same day, then followed with 21 limits on Thursday, 32 on Friday with 10 bonus lings. The C Gull II had 19 limits on Thursday with five lings, while the New Seeker put 28 rockfish limits and three lings and the Superfish 30 limits and two lings down on Friday. “The weather came up on Saturday,” said Frank Salazar at the landing. Scores suffered, with not quite full limits of rockfish, and fewer lings. Sunday’s bite returned, and the boats that reported in by deadline had rockfish limits again.   Fort Bragg mixed finish on salmon FORT BRAGG   — Some of the best and some of the worst salmon fishing of the year came in the last week of the season for anglers on Fort Bragg boats, with last Tuesday’s action wide open for anglers on the Telstar. “We were fishing off of Virgin Creek in 130 to 170 feet of water,” said Captain Randy Thornton. “We had great action, with five limits of fish to 21 pounds. Even I got to catch a limit of salmon!” Suzy Copeland of Fort Bragg took big fish honors, but Dennis Barney of Fort Bragg wasn’t far behind with his 17 pounder. “We had some hot rods,” said Thornton. “We put a new downrigger on the boat, and a small gold Krocodile worked great in that spot.” The very next day, his group of 10 drew a complete skunk. Now that both rockfish and salmon season are closed, Thornton said he was going to try to look around for giant squid and Pacific halibut, plus offer abalone dive trips if the interest warrants. Rogue River anglers turning to other rivers By Bud Neville/WON Staff Writer LOCH LOMOND — For the month of August, in bay fishing for halibut was a tough proposition, but mid-week efforts during slow tides showed a little improvement for bay ‘buts. The Morning Star had light loads that scored flattie counts nearing one around. “On Tuesday, we had nine anglers who caught seven halibut, plus about 60 rockfish,” said Captain Gordon Hough. “On Wednesday, we had 11 anglers and eight halibut, but they were biting; we just couldn’t get them to the boat.” Also boxed that day were 55 rockfish. “We’ve been fishing for halibut at Alcatraz and Angel islands, and the Raccoon Straights,” he said. On the slack tides, he ran out and drifted at Point Bonita for the rockfish. “The halibut bite has picked up the last four or five trips,” he noted. “This week, we had the slow tides that makes fishing the deeper spots in the main bay easy.” In addition to the halibut, he’s going to explore reports of striped bass up in San Pablo Bay on trips scheduled this week.