Updated March 14, 2023

North Coast Saltwater

CRESCENT CITY — Sport crabbing is open, and when conditions are good, sport boats are pulling limits. Effort will likely dwindle due to the commercial season being open. Anglers are waiting patiently for the herring to show up in the harbor.

TRINIDAD — Ocean conditions don’t look good early this week for sport crabbers. There hasn’t been much effort since the commercial season started. If the conditions are good, there are crab to be had.

EUREKA — There hasn’t been any effort for offshore sport crabbing since the commercial season opened a few weeks ago. Crabbing is an option inside Humboldt Bay, but there hasn’t been much effort. The herring showed last week and boats have been catching all they need.

SHELTER COVE — Crab/rockfish combo trips will be an option out of this port in 2023 as rockfish season will open to all depths July 16 and run through the end of the year.

FORT BRAGG — Crabbing from a vessel or surf perch action from the shorelines remain the best game in town as Captain Tim Gillespie of All Aboard Adventures continues to run crab-only trips using crab pots for easy limits of Dungeness for $120/person.

BODEGA BAY — Crab-only trips are the story along with surf perch fishing during the winter months until the anticipated salmon opener. The 50^th annual Bodega Bay Fishermen’s Festival is scheduled for April 23, including the Blessing of the Fleet. Information – https://www.bbfishfest.org/.

GOLDEN GATE — A few boats are running crab-only or crab/sand dab combination, but interest remains limited.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY — Herring spawns have been occurring on and off around the San Francisco waterfront, and the dedicated herring anglers are constantly in contact with one another to stay on top of the action. Sturgeon fishing has improved considerably in the south bay around the sloughs near Alviso while San Pablo Bay is also picking up steam on the diamondback front for the first time in a few years. The central bay remains restricted for sturgeon through March 15.

HALF MOON BAY — Surf perch and land-based rockfishing are the only game in town until the anticipated salmon opener in April. The Pacifica Pier remains the best location to score up to 10-crab limits of legal-size using snares from the shorelines. Surf perch action is heating up in anticipation of the big Sand Crab Classic on March 11.  Crab-only or crab/sand dab/Petrale sole trips are offered by the New Captain Pete. The commercial boat, New Day, is selling live Dungeness crab \ E dock, slip 9 in Half Moon Bay for $6 a pound, or $4.50 a pound if you buy 10 or more. To reserve your crab, Captain Al Richardson at (360) 460-7048.

SANTA CRUZ — Rockfish still biting when weather permits boating. Minus tides provided some great poke-poleing at area reefs for monkey faced eels and cabezon.

MOSS LANDING — Dungeness crab are close by the harbor for hoopnetters when weather permits 

MONTEREY — Actual fishing days are rare, but rockfish quality and quantity remains high south of Point Pinos. Dungeness crab are crawling in 180-200 feet of water near the Monterey marine canyons