Last week I mentioned that Crescent City would a been the port of choice for albacore anglers. Well, that turned out to not be true. Fort Bragg was the overwhelming top port if you’re looking at the numbers of tuna landed as well as the variety. There were plenty of boats that landed well over 40 albacore and putting 30 aboard put you in the average category. And there was also an abundance of Bigeye tuna hooked, with quite a few hitting the decks. There were also a couple marlin brough back to the dock. Looking ahead, Fort Bragg again looks to be the spot. The warm water is now even closer and ocean conditions are lining up for Saturday – all signs are pointing to another blood bath out of the picturesque Mendocino port. Here locally, the warm water has begun to break up and dissipate. On top of that, the fishing last weekend just wasn’t good when everything lined up. So, if you’re headed south, expect some company, along with plenty of tuna.
Weekend marine forecast
After strong offshore winds mid-week, they will trend weaker beginning Thursday and Friday. As of Thursday, the forecast out 10 to 60 nautical miles for Friday is calling for winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 knots with north waves 7 feet at six seconds. Saturday is calling for winds from the south 5 to 10 knots and northwest waves 5 feet at 10 seconds. Sunday the winds will increase, and come from the south 20 to 30 knots and south waves 7 feet at seven 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. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.
The Oceans:
Eureka
According to Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing, the tuna bite was slow last Saturday. “I think only four boats went, and the scores weren’t very good. The high boat had 10 and the others had a handful. The water is still sitting to our north, but it doesn’t look as good. Saturday’s ocean conditions look good, so I’m sure there will be some more effort. The deep-water rock fishing is still really good when conditions allow us to get out.”
Shelter Cove
According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing, rock fishing has been good with easy limits in the deep water. He said, “The lingcod, however, are becoming even harder to come by in the deep. We spent the last few days offshore tying for tuna around the Vizcaino Canyon. We averaged 24 per trip over the three days. We boated mostly peanuts with some really nice ones mixed in.”
Crescent City
According to Britt Carson of Crescent City’s Englund Marine, it’s been pretty quiet this week as tuna has been the only game in town. “Boats went out last weekend but the fishing was pretty slow,” said Carson. “Most boats went out 20 to 30 miles and scores were pretty low. Six to seven per boat were some of the top scores, and most had less. The water is still sitting offshore, and it looks like the weather will again cooperate this weekend.”
Brookings
Halibut fishing was good over the weekend, but windy weather will keep boaters in close for a few days reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Calmer weather is expected Friday and Saturday,” said Martin. “Anglers are waiting a decision by ODFW on transferring unused quota from the northern Oregon Coast as the South Coast quota is on the verge of being reached. Lingcod and rockfish action is fair to good.”
Chetco bubble season a no-go
Back in June, the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) proposed an ocean king salmon season off the mouth of the Chetco, known as the “bubble season.” At Friday’s Commission meeting, ODFW did not recommend the fishery to the commission.
The commission did adopt regulations for ocean terminal area fall Chinook seasons for both the recreational and commercial troll salmon fisheries in the ocean waters immediately adjacent to the Elk River. These seasons will be open from November 1-30 within the established boundaries of the Elk River Fall Chinook Terminal Area.
Recreational Season Regulations:
- Open November 1-30 within the Elk River Fall Chinook Terminal Area: defined as shoreward of a line drawn from Cape Blanco (42°50‘20″ N Lat.) to Black Rock (42°49‘24″ N Lat. / 124°35‘00″ W. Long.) to Best Rock (42°47‘24″ N Lat. / 124°35‘42″ W. Long.) to 42°40’30”N / 124°29’00” W to Humbug Mt.
- Daily bag limit of 1 Chinook per angler with a minimum length of 24″
- Terminal tackle limited to no more than 2 single point barbless hooks
- Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve is closed to all fishing
For more information, visit https://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/salmon/#Updates
The Rivers:
Lower Klamath
Salmon fishing remains good for both jacks and adults on the lower Klamath. Side-drifting soft beads in the riffles and slots has produced fish from the Glen to Johnson’s. A reminder that there is a zero bag limit for salmon. The daily bag limit for hatchery steelhead is two per day on both the Klamath and Trinity rivers, with a possession limit of four. Anglers must have a Steelhead Fishing Report and Restoration Card in their possession while fishing for steelhead trout in anadromous waters. For more information, visit nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=202686&inline
Chetco/Lower Rogue
According to Martin, salmon fishing remains decent at the mouth of the Chetco. “A dozen or so kings are being caught most days, with anchovies fished behind 360 flashers working best. Seals have been problematic along the jetties. Salmon fishing has been good in the Rogue Bay.”
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 