Northern CA Saltwater Fishing Report

Live bait potluck Bay trips a huge success, rockfish opener good, salmon continue to bite BY CAPT. DAVID BACON/WON Staff WriterPublished: Jun 04, 2012

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EMERYVILLE — Live bait potluck fishing in the San Francisco Bay picked up steam with good catches of halibut and striped bass, while salmon action remained strong outside the Gate whenever the winds backed off. Early season rockfish hovered above half-limits with full limits possible. On Monday the New Huck Finn ran a live bait potluck trip inside the Bay scoring 23 halibut to 19 pounds and 8 stripers to 12 pounds. The boat went back out Tuesday with more great results — 11 halibut to 15 pounds and 10 stripers to 5 pounds for 9 fishers. “Live bait potluck Bay trips are awesome this week,” said Frank Salazar at Emeryville Sportfishing Center. Salmon trips averaged 1 fish per rod or better, plus numerous lost fish, when weather allowed comfortable fishing. Mid-week winds kept boats away from favored areas. The Farallons hosted great rockfish forays this week with limits of quality fish common. On days when the weather dictated fishing along the coast, half–to-full limits prevailed. “Interestingly, we’re finding more lingcod along the coast this week than we are at the islands,” said Salazar.