FISHING THE NORTH COAST
Tough Steelhead Season Comes to a Close
341 West Harris St., Eureka 707 445-3138
poletskis.com
By Kenny Priest
fishing@northcoastjournal.com
O
ne of the toughest and most frustrating steelhead seasons in many years close March 31. From the Chetco south to the South Fork Eel River, and all the rivers in between, the fish just never showed up in numbers we’re accustomed to. No one knows for certain what caused the decline but it’s safe to say we’ll all be holding our collective breath when next season rolls around. Now, as the calendar nears April, it’s time to change gears and look toward the next angling opportunity. The rockfish and Pacific halibut openers are right around the corner, and ocean salmon season will be coming in late June. It’s also time to start thinking about spring salmon on the Klamath (hopefully) and the lower Rogue rivers. There are redtails to be had from all the local beaches and the lagoons are full of trout. Steelhead season has been a real downer and I for one am ready to put this season in the rearview mirror.
Upcoming meetings The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) and its advisory bodies will meet April 6 to April 9 and April 12 to April 15 by webinar only to address issues related to groundfish, salmon, Pacific halibut, coastal pelagic species and administrative matters. One of the key agenda items is to adopt final management measures for 2021 ocean salmon fisheries. Also on the agenda are the 2021 Klamath River Basin quotas of adult Klamath River fall Chinook. For more information, visit www.pcouncil. org/documents/2021/03/april-2021-meeting-notice-and-detailed-agenda.pdf/. The California Fish and Game Commission meeting will be held via webinar and teleconference on April 14 starting at 9 a.m. to adopt and discuss changes to the upcoming sport fishing seasons. The meeting will be live streamed for viewing and listening purposes only. On the agenda is status review of Upper Klamath-Trinity rivers spring Chinook salmon and North-
ern California Ana Gonzalez, of Point Reyes Station, landed a nice winter steelhead summer steelhead. Saturday on the lower Eel River. Conditions were perfect over Proposed changes the weekend and the lower Eel will continue to be a good option to the Klamath through April. Photo courtesy of Kenny Priest/Fishing the North Coast Guide Service River Basin sport fishing will also and the Chetco all close to fishing on be discussed. For a complete agenda and March 31. comment submission, and viewing information, visit www.nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHanChetco/Rogue dler.ashx?DocumentID=190629&inline. According to Martin, steelhead fishing remained good on the Chetco right up to the March 31 closure. “The most consistent When the ocean’s been calm, the fishing of the season was in March, after redtail perch action has been decent along the crowds left, and the few boats still the beaches. There are some spots that fishing had decent numbers every day,” are typically better than others but you said Martin. “The bulk of the run came in can catch them just about anywhere this during high water periods, and big numtime of the year. Reportedly, the beaches bers of downrunners were caught late in are full of sand crabs, which is the one of the season. Spring salmon fishing has been the top choices for bait. Conditions look slow on the Rogue River. Just a handful of fishable for the weekend, with waves in springers have been caught so far. Fishing the 4- to 6-foot range and wind 5 to 10 usually improves in April and early May. knots. Black rockfish and the occasional With low catches, pressure is light.” lingcod are being caught on the north Eel River (main stem) jetty. Fishing has been slower on the south The main stem is in perfect shape, side. Five to 6-inch Gulp jerk shads are a running at 3,200 cubic feet per second as popular bait as well as smaller swimbaits. of Tuesday. The few boats still fishing were Egg sinkers or banana weights rigged with averaging two or three fish per day, mostly a herring also work well. downers along with some half-pounders. The main stem Eel, from its mouth to the South Fork, is open to fishing all year. From “Lingcod fishing busted wide open out April 1 through Sept. 30, only artificial lures of Brookings on Sunday, as calm weather with barbless hooks may be used. allowed boats of all sizes to get out and find easy limits of lings and rockfish,” said l Andy Martin with Brookings Fishing Charters. “The lingcod fishing has been better Read the complete fishing roundup at than normal, with charter boats getting www.northcoastjournal.com. limits of lings while targeting rockfish with light gear. Another round of nice weather Kenny Priest (he/him) operates is expected this weekend. The best fishing Fishing the North Coast, a fishing guide is Bird Island north, with limits coming service out of Humboldt specializing from 30 to 60 feet.” in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Reminder: The South Fork Eel, Van Coast river information, email kenny@ Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek, fishingthenorthcoast.com.
The Beach/Jetties
Brookings ocean update
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northcoastjournal.com • Thursday, April 1, 2021 • NORTH COAST JOURNAL
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