Gale-force north winds in May and June are historically common along the North Coast. But this year seems to be bordering on excessive. The Eureka fleet is having to pay the heaviest toll following another week of rough seas, managing to only get offshore once since last week. Shelter Cove, Trinidad, and Crescent City, with much shorter runs to the fishing grounds and no bar to tackle, are having a better go at it. On most days they’re able to get out in the mornings and put in quick limits of rockfish.
But Eureka does have a pretty good plan B. And that would be California halibut within Humboldt Bay. The bite is heating up, with a few more caught daily. There aren’t a lot of anchovies in the bay yet, but there seem to be plenty of shiner perch for those wanting live bait. Anglers fishing dead bait and even jigs and swimbaits are having success as well. The fishing seems to really improve when we have the smaller tide swings, which are happening now. The minimum size is 22 inches and the daily bag and possession limit is two.
Weekend marine forecast
Hazardous seas and gusty winds will relent starting Friday, but conditions still look pretty rough through the weekend. On Friday, north winds are predicted at 10 to 15 knots and waves from the north 7 feet at seven seconds and west 4 feet at 11 seconds. Saturday’s forecast is calling for north winds 10 to 15 knots and north waves 4 feet at five seconds and west 3 feet at 10 seconds. The winds will increase slightly Sunday, blowing 15 to 20 knots out of the north. Waves will be from the north 6 feet at six seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit weather.gov/eureka or windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at (707) 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at (707) 443-6484.
The Oceans:
Eureka
There was a brief break in the wind last Saturday, and a few boats made it to the halibut grounds where a few halibut were caught. By Sunday we were back to terrible offshore conditions, and the Eureka fleet has been tied up since. It looks like we’ll have more of the same through at least Monday.
Trinidad
“The rockfish bite has been a little hit or miss,” said Curt Wilson of Wind Rose Charters. “If you land on em’, you can do really well. But some days it’s been a little more of a struggle to get limits. The lingcod bite hasn’t been very good the last few days out, but that can change quickly. Especially if the ocean conditions improve. The crabbing is still good, with easy limits each day.”
Shelter Cove
According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing, it’s been pretty much the same story this week. “On the days we can get out, we’ve been greeted by dirty water,” said Mitchell. “This has made the fishing challenging, but we’re still grinding out limits. We’ve only caught three Pacific halibut this season, and all have come while targeting rockfish. We’re spending most of our time around the whistle and the Old Man.”
Crescent City
According to Benjamin Ferguson of Crescent City’s Englund Marine, limits of rockfish are still being caught despite the wind. He said, “When the boats can get out, the rockfish limits are coming pretty easily. If they’re able to stay out long enough, boats have been able to get their lings as well. Most of the action has been in the vicinity of the North Reef and Pt. St. George Lighthouse area. There’re still a few California halibut being caught off the rock wall, depending on the water temperatures. The redtails are biting too, with Kellogg and South beach being the best spots. There were a few stripers caught last week toward the end of South Beach.”
Brookings
A few salmon were caught in the ocean out of Brookings over the weekend and again on Monday reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Kings from 10 to 20 pounds were biting from Salmon Rock to the red buoy, said Martin. “Windy weather prevented boats from getting offshore, although nicer conditions are expected this weekend. Big schools of bait are balled up near the mouth of the Chetco. The salmon caught in recent days have been on anchovies fished with spreaders and lead, or divers, within 25 feet of the surface. Lingcod and rockfish action has been good, while a few halibut showed up in the catch over the weekend.”
Lower Rogue
According to Martin, the Rogue River has slowed for spring salmon, but a few fish are still trickling in. “Action is slow on the bay, but anglers are now trolling, encouraged by hot weather inland, which has warmed river temperature. Wild kings may now be kept.”
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
Fishing the North Coast with Kenny Priest 