Fishing the North Coast

Sport Crab Trap Restrictions to End Monday

By Kenny Priest

fishing@northcoastjournal.com

In a press release issued Monday, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will lift the recreational crab trap restriction in fishing zones 1 and 2, which run from the California/Oregon border south to Point Arena, on Nov. 28 at 9 a.m. In the meantime, recreational crabbers that take Dungeness crab by other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, are still allowed during the temporary trap restriction. The balance of the state, from Point Arena south to the USA/Mexico border (zones 3-6), is continuing the temporary recreational crab trap restriction due to the presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement from trap gear.

On the commercial side, the Northern California commercial Dungeness crab season has been delayed due to poor crab meat quality test results for Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties (zones 1 and 2). The commercial Dungeness crab fishery in this area is delayed until 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, pending another round of meat quality testing. If results indicate good quality, the fishery will open and be preceded by a 64-hour gear setting period that will begin at 8:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

The commercial Dungeness crab fishery in fishing zones 3-6 will also remain delayed due to presence of high numbers of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement with lines and traps in this fishery. CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place on or before Dec. 7, at which time CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham will re-evaluate the temporary recreational crab trap restriction and commercial fishery delay.

The Oceans

Eureka

Hoop nets filled with Dungeness crabs are pulled aboard the Reel Steel last week out of Eureka. Beginning Monday Nov. 28 at 9 a.m., sport crab anglers will again be able to fish with crab traps. Photo courtesy of Mackgraphics Humboldt

all week, but that looks to change by Friday when seas are forecast to reach 11 feet. Crabbing has been really good up and down the coast, and Eureka was no exception. “It’s been great all week, but Monday was exceptional with at least 10 keepers per hoop net,” said Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “We’re soaking the nets a little longer now with hanging bait, and that seems to be working. Boats are fishing both sides of the entrance and having success from 40 to 100 feet of water.” The rockfish season will run through December with no depth restrictions.

Shelter Cove

According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing, ocean conditions were perfect last week. “Some of the best conditions we’ve had all year,” said Mitchell. “We’ve had limits of rockfish, lings and crabs each day. Most of the time has been spent at Rogers Break and Gorda. There are still a few Bluefin around, but they’ve moved a little south. One was landed out of Fort Bragg on Saturday.”

Brookings

“Calm ocean conditions allowed boats to get out over the weekend, with good action on lingcod and rockfish,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Lingcod are in shallow water, staging to spawn. Big swells return this week. Sport crab season opens Dec. 1 on the Oregon side of the border. Surfperch continue to bite at Lone Ranch and Crissy Field.

The Rivers:

As of Sunday, all North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, including the main stem Eel, South Fork Eel, Mad, Smith, Redwood Creek and Van Duzen, are closed. The Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream, the main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam and the Mattole River are all closed until Jan. 1, 2023. The Department of Fish and Wildlife will make the information available to the public no later than 1 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as to whether any river will be closed to fishing. The rivers can be opened at any time. The low flow closure hotline for North Coast rivers is (707) 822-3164. For more information, visit fishingthenorthcoast.com/2021/09/22/2021-2022-lowflow-information-for-north-coast-rivers/.

Chetco/Elk/Sixes

The Chetco is low and clear, but full of salmon on the lower river reports Martin. “Bobber fishing remains the best bet with low flows, although the gear restriction has been lifted,” said Martin. “Above Loeb Park, the spawn is in full swing, with salmon spawning in nearly every tail out. Rain is expected this weekend, which should give anglers another chance at drifting the Chetco, Elk and Sixes.”

Read the complete fishing report at northcoastjournal.com. l Kenny Priest operates Fishing the

North Coast, a fishing guide service out of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram,

YouTube and fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North

Coast river information, email kenny@ fishingthenorthcoast.com.

341 West Harris St., Eureka 707 445-3138 poletskis.com

• Servicing Humboldt County for over 40 years • Largest in stock new & used inventory • Competitive price guarantee • Delivery and Service after the sale