FISHING THE NORTH COAST
Trinidad, Crescent City Kicking Out Limits of Rockfish By Kenny Priest
T
fishing@northcoastjournal.com
he rockfish bite continues to be red-hot out of Trinidad and Crescent City. Both ports have quick access to the rockfish grounds, making it much easier to be on the water even when the ocean is a little snotty. And the fishing has been phenomenal. Limits have been pretty easy to come by. In Trinidad, there are plenty of good spots between the head and Patrick’s Point. Up in Crescent City, there is an abundance of rocky outcroppings whether you head north or south to the Sisters. The Eureka fleet, having to deal with a dangerous bar crossing as well as a long boat ride south to Cape Mendocino, hasn’t had nearly the amount of time on the water compared with the other coastal ports. For the entire month of May, the fleet has seen less than 10 fishable days. That’s not necessarily good for business or the freezer. It looks like the weather will cooperate for the next few days before the wind pops back up Saturday. If it’s rockfish you’re after, Trinidad or Crescent City are the two best options going.
Weekend marine forecast
The next few days look decent but the wind is predicted to pick up by the weekend. Friday’s forecast calls for winds out of the north 5 to 15 knots and waves northwest 5 feet at six seconds and west 3 feet at 11 seconds. Saturday is not looking good, with north winds 15 to 20 knots and waves northwest 8 feet at eight seconds and northwest 5 feet at 17 seconds. Sunday looks a little worse, with north winds 10 to 20 knots and north waves 10 feet at eight 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
Wind and rough seas kept the Eureka boats tied up over the holiday weekend. The Pacific halibut fishing was good last week, with the best fishing between
Eureka and Trinidad in 250 to 300 feet of water. Several of the charter boats returned to port with limits of halibut averaging 15 to 25 pounds. Ocean conditions look decent starting Wednesday, but the wind is forecast to return by the weekend.
Trinidad
Being within a few miles of the fishing grounds continues to be a huge advantage for boats fishing out of Trinidad. Rockfish, including this nice copper caught by Vern Lyton, Ocean conditions weren’t of Weed, continue to fly over the rails in Trinidad and great late last week, but the Crescent City. Located close to the fishing grounds is a Pacific halibut didn’t seem to big advantage for these two ports. mind. Curt Wilson of Wind Photo courtesy of Steve Huber/Crescent City Fishing Rose Charters was able to put getting limits of razor clams the past few limits on board Friday fishing in sloppy days, taking advantage of the minus tides. conditions with fish up to 30 pounds. The The clams are small to medium in size. The rockfish bite remains solid, with boats redtail perch bite has really picked back finding no shortage of quality black rockup, anglers are reporting easy limits comfish just north of Trinidad Head. Crabbing ing off of Kellogg Beach. The California is still good and the charter captains are halibut fishery has yet to take off, mostly sending their clients home with limits of due to ocean conditions.” fresh Dungeness.
Shelter Cove
Ocean conditions allowed boats to hit Rogers Break last Monday and Thursday, reports Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “The rockfish and lingcod bite was great as it usually is up there,” said Mitchell. “The weather kept us close to home the rest of the week where we managed limits of rockfish in marginal conditions. A few boats tried for Pacific halibut off Gorda Thursday, but couldn’t find any takers. Windy conditions are in the forecast for most of the week.”
Crescent City
When the boats can get out, the rockfish and lingcod action has been excellent, according to Britt Carson of Crescent City’s Englund Marine. “Boats going both directions have been scoring limits of quality rockfish and some nice lings. The Pacific halibut bite is starting to show signs of life as two were caught last week. Most of the effort is on the backside of the south reef roughly six miles from the harbor,” he said. “Skilled diggers have been
Brookings
“The ocean salmon openers are just around the corner out of Brookings,” said Andy Martin. “Anglers can begin salmon fishing and keep hatchery coho on June 12. Kings cannot be kept until June 19, when the season opens for both wild and hatchery kings and hatchery silvers. There are big schools of anchovies near the harbor and salmon are being caught and released by bottom fish anglers. Windy weather has kept the fleet in close but limits of rockfish and some lingcod are being caught. A break in the wind is expected this week.” Read the complete fishing roundup at www.northcoastjournal.com. ● Kenny Priest (he/him) operates Fishing the North Coast, a fishing guide service out of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@ fishingthenorthcoast.com
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northcoastjournal.com • Thursday, June 3, 2021 • NORTH COAST JOURNAL
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