Fishing the North Coast

By Kenny Priest

fishing@northcoastjournal.com

The 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.

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.

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.”

Choppy ocean conditions caused by stiff winds out of Shelter Cove kept boats from launching over the weekend, according Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Paul Malay, of Lovelock, Nevada, landed this nice Sport Fishing. “We only made it lingcod Friday while fishing out of Trinidad aboard out twice last week,” said Mitch- the Shellback. ell. “Conditions were decent last Photo courtesy of Tony Sepulveda/Shellback Sport Fishing Wednesday and we made it down to Bear Harbor and put in rockfish limits “Only hatchery silvers can be kept June by 9:30 a.m. The lingcod bite was tough 12 through 18, and then wild and hatchand we ended the day with only five. We ery kings and hatchery coho can be kept made it back out on Friday in tough con- June 12 through mid-August,” said Martin. ditions and boated quick limits of rockfish “Commercial trollers are catching a few before we were chased off the water at kings in deeper water out of Brookings. 9:30 a.m. The weekend saw big white caps With lots of anchovies in close, expect all the way to the beach. We finally made some salmon to be caught near the buoys it back out on Tuesday and headed to during this weekend’s opener, although Gorda for halibut. We spent a good part the best fishing in early June is typically 3 of the day with nothing to show for it. We miles offshore in 200 feet of water. The threw in the towel and went rock fishing coho will likely be in the top 40 feet of and had limits, including lings, in about an water. Rockfish action has been good, hour.” despite windy weather. Lingcod fishing has slowed the past week out of Brookings.”

The rockfish and lingcod bite contin- Lower Rogue ues to be excellent out of Crescent City, Salmon have made a sudden, and early, reports Britt Carson of Crescent City’s showing in the Rogue Bay, reports Martin. Englund Marine. “Quite a few boats are “Water temperatures near Agness hit 70 fishing both the north and south reefs as degrees late last week, forcing the tail end well as near the Point St. George Light- of the spring salmon run to hold up in the house,” said Carson. “The Pacific halibut bay,” said Martin. “Nearly a dozen kings bite was slow this week, with only one were caught on Saturday by the handful of reportedly caught. During the last round boat trolling in front of Jot’s Resort. Expect of minus tides, the razor clam diggers did kings to trickle into the bay throughout the very well. There doesn’t appear to be a month, before the fall run builds in August.” shortage, though they are on the small Read the complete fishing roundup at side. Minus tides returned on Tuesday www.northcoastjournal.com. and will run through next Wednesday. l The redtail perch has been really good at Kenny Priest (he/him) operates Kellogg Beach. The beach is loaded with Fishing the North Coast, a fishing guide sand crabs. The California halibut is still service out of Humboldt specializing non-existent but effort remains very low.” in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Brookings www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For

Ocean salmon season begins Satur- up-to-date fishing reports and North day out of Brookings, according to Andy Coast river information, email kenny@ Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. fishingthenorthcoast.com

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