By Dave Hurley
SAN FRANCISCO – After a week’s break at the end of the summer ocean salmon season in the San Francisco Management Zone on August 23, any questions about how the fall opener on September 1 were answered in a spectacular fashion. Limits to near limits of big, hard-fighting salmon were the story for private and party boats. After three years of closure, wild-caught salmon is back on the menu thanks to the efforts of many supporting their restoration.
The fall season salmon season in the San Francisco Zone is from the 38”02 line just north of Point Reyes to the Pigeon Point subarea, and it runs from September 1 through October 31 with a harvest quota of 20,000 salmon or until the quota is reached. The 20,000 fish quota is shared with the zone from Pigeon Point to the U.S./Mexico Border, but this zone is only open through September 30 or until the quota is reached. The fleet headed to the area around Duxbury where Captain Trent Slate was banging them at the end of the summer season and the Middle Grounds.
Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing ran south to above Point Reyes for 24 salmon to 33 pounds for 13 passengers, saying, “We should have had easy limits, but we left a lot of salmon swimming around with sore jaws as these big fish are reluctant to come to the net. It was an excellent trip in flat calm, glassy slick conditions. After taking a few days off last week, it was a welcome change.”
Out of Berkeley, Captain James Smith of the California Dawn 2 had a banner opener with an ‘unbelievable’ overall grade with 25 limits to 29 pounds. He said, “It was an epic opener, perfect weather, and wide-open king salmon action.” Captain Jerad Davis of the Salty Lady out of Sausalito had similar exclamations, “Salmon fishing doesn’t get much better, and you should strike while the iron is hot.”
Captain John Marfia of Tanker City Sport Fishing out of Half Moon Bay put aside the bluefin tuna for a few days, and he put his clients onto limits of ‘a grande grade’ of salmon on the opener. It was more of the same out of Emeryville with Captain Charlie Barberini of Golden State Guide Service posting 6 limits on a half-day trip. Out of San Francisco, Captain Ron Koyasako also put in 6 limits within a few hours on an early day.
If you want to get in on the biggest ocean salmon of the year, like Davis said, “Now is the time!” As good as fishing is now, the future of California’s salmon run is threatened by the lack of cold water releases out of Lake Shasta in the coming months.