Fishing the North Coast

Eureka Boats Finally Get O shore

By Kenny Priest

fishing@northcoastjournal.com

After sitting on the sidelines watching the wind blow for nearly two weeks, boats fi shing out of Eureka were fi nally able to make their way to the halibut grounds Monday. The fi shing 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 fl at ocean allowed more boats on the water and the fi shing was reportedly pretty good. The smaller ports to the north and south continue to benefi t from short rides to the fi shing grounds and have enjoyed some of the best rockfi sh 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 o ce on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

The Oceans:

Eureka

“The wind fi nally eased up and we were able to get back on the water Monday,” said Skipper Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “The Pacifi c halibut fi shing started o slow but after the tide change, the bite picked up. We only landed a couple and I heard the bite may have been anglers to get back o shore, reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Lingcod and rockfi sh action has been good,” said Martin. “Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fi sh checkers confi rmed three Pacifi c halibut on Monday. The best shot at a halibut is in 180 to 220 feet of water o of Bird Island. Ocean salmon season opens June 12 for coho and June 19 for kings and silvers. Lots of anchovies inside the harbor and the arrival of pelicans have anglers optimistic about the salmon openers.”

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 a ect the halibut bite. Looks like we’ll only get a couple days on the water before the wind picks back up,” said Klassen.

Trinidad

Capt. Curt Wilson of Wind Rose Charters The rockfish bite along the North Coast continues to be redhot. Black rockfish, like these caught Sunday out of Crescent reports the rockfi sh bite City, are making up the majority of the catch. continues to be wide- Photo courtesy of Steve Huber/Crescent City Fishing open. “Tuesday’s conditions were perfect, and we didn’t have to go far to catch limits of both rockfi sh and lingcod,” said Wilson. “The sport crabbing is excellent as well. “We had 40 keeper crab in one pot Tuesday.”

Shelter Cove

Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing has been on the water just about every day and reports an excellent rockfi sh bite. “We were able to get limits everyday but Friday, which was exceptionally rough,” said Mitchell. “The lingcod bite hasn’t been as good; we really had to work for The Rivers: them. The Old Man and the Hat have both produced excellent fi shing, but we’ve Lower Rogue had our best days at the Ranch House. I According to Martin, salmon fi shing haven’t heard of any Pacifi c halibut caught has shown no sign of improvement on as of yet.” the lower Rogue, where spring kings are 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 Pacifi c halibut up because of low fl ows,” Martin said. was caught last week but there hasn’t been “The Rogue Bay fi shery won’t heat up until much e ort. “The rockfi sh and lingcod late June or July. The Chetco opens to bite is still wide-open when the boats can trout fi shing May 22.” get out,” said Carson. “I haven’t heard of Read the complete fi shing 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 fi shing 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.fi shingthenorthcoast.

Rough weather kept Brookings boats com. For up-to-date fi shing reports and at the docks last week, but fair conditions North Coast river information, email Sunday and calm seas Monday allowed kenny@fi shingthenorthcoast.com

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