FISHING THE NORTH COAST
Eureka Boats Finally Get Offshore By Kenny Priest
fishing@northcoastjournal.com
A
fter sitting on the sidelines watching the wind blow for nearly two weeks, boats fishing out of Eureka were finally able to make their way to the halibut grounds Monday. The fishing was decent but the sample size was small as only a handful gave it a go. Gary Blasi of Full Throttle Sport Fishing landed on the hotspot and boated limits for his crew. The other boats all landed a few and reported some missed opportunities. Tuesday’s flat ocean allowed more boats on the water and the fishing was reportedly pretty good. The smaller ports to the north and south continue to benefit from short rides to the fishing grounds and have enjoyed some of the best rockfish action we’ve seen in years. Strong winds are forecast to return Wednesday and, at least, blow through Saturday.
Weekend marine forecast
After a nice ocean Tuesday, the north winds will pick back up beginning Wednesday and are forecast to stick around through Saturday. Winds will be out of the north Friday, blowing 15 to 20 knots and waves north 9 feet at nine seconds. The wind will start to come down Saturday, coming out of the north at 5 to 15 knots with north waves 7 feet at eight seconds and west 3 feet at 13 seconds. Sunday is calling for north winds 5 to 15 knots with north waves 5 feet at 11 seconds and west 3 feet at 13 seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www. weather.gov/eureka/ or www.windy. com. To monitor the latest Humboldt bar conditions, visit www.wrh.noaa.gov/ eka/swan. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.
The Oceans: Eureka
“The wind finally eased up and we were able to get back on the water Monday,” said Skipper Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “The Pacific halibut fishing started off slow but after the tide change, the bite picked up. We only landed a couple and I heard the bite may have been
slightly better to the north. All the sign that we saw the last time we were out was gone. It looked like the ocean turned over and it was pretty dirty, which could affect the halibut bite. Looks like we’ll only get a couple days on the water before the wind picks back up,” said Klassen.
Trinidad
The rockfish bite along the North Coast continues to be redCapt. Curt Wilson hot. Black rockfish, like these caught Sunday out of Crescent of Wind Rose Charters City, are making up the majority of the catch. reports the rockfish bite Photo courtesy of Steve Huber/Crescent City Fishing continues to be wideopen. “Tuesday’s conditions were perfect, and we didn’t have to anglers to get back offshore, reports Andy go far to catch limits of both rockfish and Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Linglingcod,” said Wilson. “The sport crabbing cod and rockfish action has been good,” is excellent as well. “We had 40 keeper said Martin. “Oregon Department of Fish crab in one pot Tuesday.” and Wildlife fish checkers confirmed three Pacific halibut on Monday. The best shot at Shelter Cove a halibut is in 180 to 220 feet of water off Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing of Bird Island. Ocean salmon season opens has been on the water just about every June 12 for coho and June 19 for kings and day and reports an excellent rockfish bite. silvers. Lots of anchovies inside the harbor “We were able to get limits everyday but and the arrival of pelicans have anglers Friday, which was exceptionally rough,” optimistic about the salmon openers.” said Mitchell. “The lingcod bite hasn’t been as good; we really had to work for them. The Old Man and the Hat have Lower Rogue both produced excellent fishing, but we’ve According to Martin, salmon fishing had our best days at the Ranch House. I has shown no sign of improvement on haven’t heard of any Pacific halibut caught the lower Rogue, where spring kings are as of yet.” few and far between. “The best shot at a Crescent City salmon is near Rainey Falls downstream of According to Britt Carson of Crescent Galice, where a few springers are holding City’s Englund Marine, one Pacific halibut up because of low flows,” Martin said. was caught last week but there hasn’t been “The Rogue Bay fishery won’t heat up until much effort. “The rockfish and lingcod late June or July. The Chetco opens to bite is still wide-open when the boats can trout fishing May 22.” get out,” said Carson. “I haven’t heard of Read the complete fishing roundup at any California halibut being caught yet but www.northcoastjournal.com. they’re here. I’ve heard a few have been ● caught out of Brookings. The perch bite at Kenny Priest (he/him) operates Fishing Kellogg Beach has been hit and miss, but it the North Coast, a fishing guide service out is picking back up,” Carson added. of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, Brookings YouTube and www.fishingthenorthcoast. Rough weather kept Brookings boats com. For up-to-date fishing reports and at the docks last week, but fair conditions North Coast river information, email Sunday and calm seas Monday allowed kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com
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northcoastjournal.com • Thursday, May 20, 2021 • NORTH COAST JOURNAL
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