Northern CA Saltwater

Half Moon Bay folks get salmon from boat, pier and beach BY CAPT. DAVID BACON/WON Staff Writer Published: Jul 11, 2018

Print This Article Email This Article Digg This Article

HALF MOON BAY — Anywhere near Half Moon Bay where people put a bait or lure in the water was probably a good place to hook a salmon. Solid successes were enjoyed by party boats, private boats, kayakers, pier anglers at Pacifica and beach casters throughout the area. Rockfish and lingcod fishing was good, but didn’t get much attention as usual. SOUTHSIDE CHARTER KING — Stan Sataka of San Jose caught this 18-pound king, one of his two, while trolling an anchovy aboard the Huli Cat out of Pillar Point Harbor, during a Southside Anglers salmon charter last week. Capt. Tom Mattusch reported 23 limits of salmon off Martin’s Beach on Thursday. On Friday, Huli Cat ran back down below Martin’s Beach to San Gregorio, however conditions had changed. Running back to Mussel Rock, anglers enjoyed 24 limits of salmon. Saturday, Capt Mattusch stopped just above Pedro Point for 9 salmon before running up to Mussel Rock to finish with 23 limits of salmon to 23 pounds. Parker Cirillo edged his dad, Rick out of big fish. The Fairfield duo landed a 15-pound and a 14.5 pounder at the buoys out of Pillar Point Harbor while trolling anchovies. Mike Montoya from Pacifica, caught a 17.5-pound salmon trolling an anchovy off Martins Beach in 80 feet of water. Rico Mazzucco of San Martin caught a 23 pounder at Mussel Rock, trolling an anchovy on a crowbar hook. Marque Glisson at New Coastside Bait & Tackle in Pacifica said, “So many Salmon on the Pacifica pier. Well over 200 caught in the last week using pier trolley rigs with herring and anchovy tray baits. Also, shore casters are getting salmon from the beach using 2.5-ounce Krocodiles in a die#5 version.” Those beach casters were hooking striped bass as well, because the bass have been prowling the beaches in good numbers. From Half Moon Bay Sportfishing, Que Sera Sera, Riptide and New Captain Pete went after salmon and limits were consistent, just how early limits were reached was the variable. Que Sera Sera managed it by 9 a.m. Capt. Dennis Baxter on New Captain Pete reported early limits off Linda Mar and off Mussel Rock, with 15 pounders being large fish and more shakers than the skipper had seen in years. On Sunday, young Will Fanning’s first ever salmon, a 19 pounder taken off of Mussel Rock, turned out to be the jackpot fish. THRESHER CATCH — Dave Kasheta of Union City caught this thresher shark using bait while fishing for salmon aboard the Huli Cat out of Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay last week. He also caught his kings! ANCHOVIES WERE THE answer for anglers aboard the Mooch Better out of Half Moon Bay when early limits came for all on board. John Natsume of San Francisco and WON Field Reporter Bill Nakaki of Tracy show off the quality of the fish, all caught trolling anchovies at the Deep Reef area. * * * We hope you enjoyed this article on our no-charge website wonews.com. Of course, this site contains only a small fraction of the stories that Western Outdoor Publications produces each week in its two northern and southern editions and its special supplements. You can subscribe to the print issue that is mailed weekly and includes the easy flip-page full-color digital issues, or you can purchase a digital only subscription. Click here to see the choice.