WHEN THE BOATS CAN GET OUT – Limits quality Farallon rockfish along with limits of jumbo Dungeness crab are the rule. Photo courtesy of Captain Jerad Davis of Salty Lady Sport Fishing.
By Dave Hurley
WON Staff Writer
BERKELEY – The weather god reared its ugly head offshore along the northern California coast prior to Christmas Day, ending the opportunity to head offshore on combination trips until the final days of the season. When the boats were able to head out to water deeper than 300 feet from the North Farallon to Rittenburg Bank, limits of rockfish in a single drift have been the rule along with 10-Dungeness crab limits. Crab-only trips will be the story after New Year’s Day, and ports from Monterey north to Crescent City will offer these ventures.
The commercial Dungeness crab fishery from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the U.S./Mexico border will open on January 5 after a pre-soak beginning on January 2 in Fishing Zones 3,4,5, and 6 – the Sonoma/Mendocino county line south to the U.S./Mexico border. A 50% trap reduction will be in effect to reduce entanglement risk for humpback whales by decreasing the amount of gear and vertical lines in the water. The commercial season in the Northern Management Area (Zones 1 and 2, California Oregon Border to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line) will be further delayed due to the inability to conduct industry-sponsored meat quality testing.
Prior to arrival of offshore weather, Captain Jerad Davis of the Salty Lady working out of Emeryville Sport Fishing with 18 limits of big, quality Farallon Island rockfish to go with 18 limits of jumbo Dungeness crab. Thursday’s weather was good, and Captain James Smith of California Dawn Sport Fishing said, “We made it to the fertile grounds, and we combined for 40 limits of rockfish, 40 limits of crab, and 7 lingcod. Friday was a different story as the weather became a challenge, and we opted for crab-only trips, combining for
54 limits.
Limiting rockfishing to 50 fathoms in December create challenges for the charter boat fleet as more than half the available days were cancelled this year.
