04-26-2003, 08:45 PM
[cool]I've fished the whole coast, from Southern Cal to Washington. October and November can be iffy...weatherwise. That's when the big Pacific storms start moving in...usually by the middle of October in a "normal" year.
All the larger salmon are up in the rivers by that time, but are dark colored and not good eating. There are stripers coming back into the San Francisco bay, after a summer in the open ocean, and of course sturgeon and sharks...also known locally as "mud marlin".
From San Francisco northward, you can still get some nice halibut...if the weather lets you get out of the harbors. Some will still be in water less than 100 feet deep, although the best shallow water fishing is during the early summer. After spawning, the big halibut usually head for deeper water. These flatties are California halibut, not the giant northern halibut that grow to be several hundred pounds. You don't start getting into those until you reach northern Oregon, and not in quantity much below British Columbia.
By October, the albacore have turned west and are headed for Japan. They are not likely to be within reach of most boats.
This is the time of year that "rock fish" fill the dance cards on most short trips along the coast. Depending on where you go out of, you can plan on fishing anywhere from sixty feet deep to six hundred feet deep. Your catch will be a whole range of species collectively called "rock cod". some reach weights of thirty pounds or more, and all are great eating. The boat trips are reasonable and you can rent any gear you do not have for only a few bucks a day.
If you want to fish the moving waters, for steelhead and salmon, this is the time...before the big storms fill them with mud and debris. If you have never caught a big steelie, that needs to go on your "do before you die" list.
Further south, you can still count on catching a few yellowtail, along with the bonitos and barracudas, around Catalina Island and the Coronados. If you want a Mexican adventure, without paying the prices for a multiday boat trip, head south of San Diego to Ensenada...a free port a couple of hours south. I have taken good yellowtails down there until after Thanksgiving some years.
By the way, the yellowtail of California is not a snapper. it is closely related to the jacks. "mossbacks" or "homeguard" yellows are the ones that grow over 40 or 50 pounds and tend to hang out in one area a lot. In New Zealand, this species of fish is known as the "kingfish" and they reach weights in excess of 90 pounds over there.
If you search out some of the smaller landings, outside the big cities, you can often find better rates and better service...as well as fishing grounds that are not as badly abused.
Pick an area and surf the net. For example, if you enter "San Francisco Bay fishing" in a search engine, there are hundreds of good informational sites to help you keep up on what is going on. Many sites have message boards and chatrooms, to allow local anglers to post info and swap tips.
As it gets closer to the time of your departure, post your intended destination and the species you will be targeting and you should be able to get some more specific input.
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All the larger salmon are up in the rivers by that time, but are dark colored and not good eating. There are stripers coming back into the San Francisco bay, after a summer in the open ocean, and of course sturgeon and sharks...also known locally as "mud marlin".
From San Francisco northward, you can still get some nice halibut...if the weather lets you get out of the harbors. Some will still be in water less than 100 feet deep, although the best shallow water fishing is during the early summer. After spawning, the big halibut usually head for deeper water. These flatties are California halibut, not the giant northern halibut that grow to be several hundred pounds. You don't start getting into those until you reach northern Oregon, and not in quantity much below British Columbia.
By October, the albacore have turned west and are headed for Japan. They are not likely to be within reach of most boats.
This is the time of year that "rock fish" fill the dance cards on most short trips along the coast. Depending on where you go out of, you can plan on fishing anywhere from sixty feet deep to six hundred feet deep. Your catch will be a whole range of species collectively called "rock cod". some reach weights of thirty pounds or more, and all are great eating. The boat trips are reasonable and you can rent any gear you do not have for only a few bucks a day.
If you want to fish the moving waters, for steelhead and salmon, this is the time...before the big storms fill them with mud and debris. If you have never caught a big steelie, that needs to go on your "do before you die" list.
Further south, you can still count on catching a few yellowtail, along with the bonitos and barracudas, around Catalina Island and the Coronados. If you want a Mexican adventure, without paying the prices for a multiday boat trip, head south of San Diego to Ensenada...a free port a couple of hours south. I have taken good yellowtails down there until after Thanksgiving some years.
By the way, the yellowtail of California is not a snapper. it is closely related to the jacks. "mossbacks" or "homeguard" yellows are the ones that grow over 40 or 50 pounds and tend to hang out in one area a lot. In New Zealand, this species of fish is known as the "kingfish" and they reach weights in excess of 90 pounds over there.
If you search out some of the smaller landings, outside the big cities, you can often find better rates and better service...as well as fishing grounds that are not as badly abused.
Pick an area and surf the net. For example, if you enter "San Francisco Bay fishing" in a search engine, there are hundreds of good informational sites to help you keep up on what is going on. Many sites have message boards and chatrooms, to allow local anglers to post info and swap tips.
As it gets closer to the time of your departure, post your intended destination and the species you will be targeting and you should be able to get some more specific input.
[signature]