FISHING THE NORTH COAST
Break in the Wind Puts Boats Back on the Water By Kenny Priest
fishing@northcoastjournal.com
T
he wind and seas finally relented Tuesday, allowing the Eureka-based fleet of boats to get back on the water. A few of the boats went south, reacquainting themselves with Cape Mendocino. The majority had halibut on their minds and headed north to 250 feet of water. Reports coming from the charter boats were good, with limits or close to for most. That’s good news as the bite had really slowed prior to the last blow. The ocean looks plenty fishable for the next few days, although the dreaded south wind will rear its ugly head beginning Thursday and stick around through the weekend.
Weekend marine forecast After a few nice days, the winds will shift to the south starting Thursday. Friday’s forecast is calling for 5 to 15 knot winds out of the south and waves southwest 6 feet at 10 seconds. Saturday looks a little better, with south winds up to 5 knots and waves west 6 feet at 11 seconds. Sunday looks similar, with southwest winds up to 5 knots and west waves 5 feet at 11 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: Trinidad
Tony Sepulveda of Shellback Sport Fishing reports last week was strong for fishing out of Trinidad. “We lost this Monday due to weather but that was the first one in almost two weeks,” he said. “Our remote waters bottom fish trips have been kicking limits of jumbo rockfish with lots of color. Canaries, coppers, reds, yellowtail, quillback and tigers have been in the daily mix with limits of lingcod up to 30 pounds being the norm. Closer to Trinidad Head, the Pacific halibut bite has been on fire. Limits are the norm, which is always special on these elusive fish. Most have been in the
15-pound range but we had quite a few over 30 this week, topped by a 58 pounder.”
Shelter Cove
Choppy ocean conditions caused by stiff winds out of Shelter Cove kept boats from launching over the weekend, acPaul Malay, of Lovelock, Nevada, landed this nice cording Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk lingcod Friday while fishing out of Trinidad aboard Sport Fishing. “We only made it out twice last week,” said Mitchthe Shellback. Photo courtesy of Tony Sepulveda/Shellback Sport Fishing ell. “Conditions were decent last Wednesday and we made it down “Only hatchery silvers can be kept June to Bear Harbor and put in rockfish limits 12 through 18, and then wild and hatchby 9:30 a.m. The lingcod bite was tough ery kings and hatchery coho can be kept and we ended the day with only five. We June 12 through mid-August,” said Martin. made it back out on Friday in tough con“Commercial trollers are catching a few ditions and boated quick limits of rockfish kings in deeper water out of Brookings. before we were chased off the water at With lots of anchovies in close, expect 9:30 a.m. The weekend saw big white caps some salmon to be caught near the buoys all the way to the beach. We finally made during this weekend’s opener, although it back out on Tuesday and headed to the best fishing in early June is typically 3 Gorda for halibut. We spent a good part miles offshore in 200 feet of water. The of the day with nothing to show for it. We coho will likely be in the top 40 feet of threw in the towel and went rock fishing water. Rockfish action has been good, and had limits, including lings, in about an despite windy weather. Lingcod fishing has hour.” slowed the past week out of Brookings.”
Crescent City
The rockfish and lingcod bite continues to be excellent out of Crescent City, reports Britt Carson of Crescent City’s Englund Marine. “Quite a few boats are fishing both the north and south reefs as well as near the Point St. George Lighthouse,” said Carson. “The Pacific halibut bite was slow this week, with only one reportedly caught. During the last round of minus tides, the razor clam diggers did very well. There doesn’t appear to be a shortage, though they are on the small side. Minus tides returned on Tuesday and will run through next Wednesday. The redtail perch has been really good at Kellogg Beach. The beach is loaded with sand crabs. The California halibut is still non-existent but effort remains very low.”
Brookings
Ocean salmon season begins Saturday out of Brookings, according to Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters.
Lower Rogue
Salmon have made a sudden, and early, showing in the Rogue Bay, reports Martin. “Water temperatures near Agness hit 70 degrees late last week, forcing the tail end of the spring salmon run to hold up in the bay,” said Martin. “Nearly a dozen kings were caught on Saturday by the handful of boat trolling in front of Jot’s Resort. Expect kings to trickle into the bay throughout the month, before the fall run builds in August.” Read the complete fishing roundup at www.northcoastjournal.com. l 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 10, 2021 • NORTH COAST JOURNAL
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