Mid-September of last year produced some pretty wild tuna action on the North Coast. Species that typically aren’t targeted here, including Bluefin, Yelloweye, and Bigeye tuna were popping up from Fort Bragg to Crescent City. And now, history is repeating itself – sort of. Large schools of tuna, made up of mostly bluefin, are thick from San Francisco north to Shelter Cove. Anglers targeting the big tuna last year were outmatched as most didn’t have the gear or experience to put one on the deck. That’s not the case this year as anglers are hitting the water prepared for battle. Boats from San Francisco to Shelter Cove are now locked and loaded, and they’re bringing big tuna over the rails daily. Shelter Cove, which seems to be the end of line for the tuna, has been producing big bluefin just about daily. According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing based in Shelter Cove, schools of bluefin showed up Saturday. “Boats that know what they’re doing are getting zero to three bites per day,” said Mitchell. “The bite was much better on Wednesday for us and we boated four bluefin. The action has been just about straight out 10 miles. Most of the fish landed have been in the 110 to 130-pound range with the occasional ones up to 170 pounds. Boats have been using mostly high-speed trolling lures like Madmacs, Rapalas and DTX. Depending on how close they stay, we should have fishable weather the rest of the week. If you’re looking to tangle with a big bluefin, charter boats from the Bay Area to Bodega Bay are advertising available seats.

Dungeness crab testing ongoing
Domoic acid testing in Dungeness crabs is ongoing along the California coast. To date, samples from Crescent City, Bodega Bay, and Monterey have all been tested at least once. None of the tested ports had crabs that exceed the action level of 30 parts per million. For more information, visit www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DFDCS/Pages/FDBPrograms/FoodSafetyProgram/DomoicAcid.aspx

Shore-based rockfish is open year-round
The 2023 rockfish season in the Northern Management Area, which runs from 40°10′ N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino) to the Oregon-California border closed for boat-based anglers after Sunday, Oct. 15. Rockfish, however, is open year-round for divers and shore-based anglers.

Divers and shore-based anglers are exempt from season and depth restrictions affecting the RCG complex and other federally managed groundfish. Shore-based anglers are fishermen that fish from beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other manmade structures connected to the shore. Divers are spear fishermen entering the water either from the shore or from a boat or other floating object. The possession and transit provisions described for shore-based anglers, and divers are as follows:

• When angling from shore (includes beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other man−made structures connected to the shore), all species may be taken and/or possessed year−round (See subsection 27.50(b)(1) for exceptions in the Cowcod Conservation Areas). No vessel or watercraft (motorized or non−motorized) may be used to assist in the take, transport and/or possession of these species under this provision.

• When diving or spearfishing, as authorized in Section 28.90, all species may be taken and/or possessed year−round (See subsection 27.50(b)(2) for exceptions in the Cowcod Conservation Areas). When boat−based groundfish fishing is closed, all types of fishing gear, except spearfishing gear, are prohibited to be aboard the vessel or watercraft (motorized or non−motorized) when taking and/or possessing these species under this provision.
These rockfish may not be taken or possessed in California: Bronzespotted, Cowcod, Quillback, and Yelloweye rockfish.

Brookings
Big swells have kept ocean anglers at the docks, although Wednesday’s forecast looks good reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Swells to 14 feet are expected later this week,” said Martin. “Halibut season runs through Oct. 31.”

Low flow fishing closures
All North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, including the Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith and Van Duzen were closed as of Thursday. The Department of Fish and Game will make the information available to the public by a telephone recorded message updated, as necessary, no later than 1 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as to whether any stream will be closed to fishing. The rivers can be opened up at any time. The low flow closure hotline for North Coast rivers is 707-822-3164. NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2024.

Areas subject to low flow closures:

Mad River: The main stem Mad River from the Hammond Trail Railroad Trestle to Cowan Creek. Minimum flow: 200 cfs at the gauging station at the Highway 299 bridge. The Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream is closed until Jan. 1, 2024. For river level forecasts, visit www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=ARCC1

The main stem Eel River: The main stem Eel River from the mouth to Fulmor Road, at its paved junction with the south bank of Eel River, closed to angling. Except: 1. Legal fishing methods other than angling are permitted. 2. From the mouth to Cock Robin Island Bridge, angling from shore for non-salmonids is permitted. (B) The main stem Eel River from the paved junction of Fulmor Road with the Eel River to the South Fork Eel River. Minimum Flow: 350 cubic feet per second at the gauging station near Scotia. For river level forecasts, visit www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=SCOC1

The South Fork of the Eel River: The South Fork of the Eel River downstream from Rattlesnake Creek and the Middle Fork Eel River downstream from the Bar Creek. Minimum flow: 340 cfs at the gauging station at Miranda. For river level forecasts, visit www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=MRNC1

Van Duzen River: The main stem Van Duzen River from its junction with the Eel River to the end of Golden Gate Drive near Bridgeville (approximately 4,000 feet upstream of Little Golden Gate Bridge. Minimum flow: 150 cfs at the gauging station near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park. For river level forecasts, visit www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=BRGC1

Mattole River: The main stem of the Mattole River from the mouth to Honeydew Creek. Minimum flow: 320 cfs at the gauging station at Petrolia. For river level forecasts www.water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=eka&gage=mtoc1&hydro_type=0

Redwood Creek: The main stem of Redwood Creek from the mouth to its confluence with Bond Creek. Minimum flow: 300 cfs at the gauging station near the Highway 101 bridge. For river level forecasts, visit www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=ORIC1

Smith River: The main stem Smith River from the mouth of Rowdy Creek to its confluence with Patrick Creek; the South Fork Smith River from the mouth upstream approximately 1000 ft to the County Road (George Tyron) bridge and Craigs Creek to its confluence with Jones Creek; and the North Fork Smith River from the mouth to its confluence with Stony Creek. Minimum flow: 600 cfs at the Jedediah Smith State Park gauging station. For river level forecasts, visit www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=CREC1

The Rivers:
Lower Klamath
The salmon action has slowed on the lower Klamath, but there are still some fish around. The few boats still fishing are finding most of their success above Blue Creek. Fishing pressure has been light as there are mostly fly fishermen on the water this time of the year.

Chetco
Salmon fishing has slowed in the Chetco estuary, but improved upriver in the tidewater, where gear restrictions limit anglers to bobber fishing according to Martin. “A mix of jacks and wild and hatchery adults are being caught. Flows came up Monday night enough to drift the lower river, although boats will likely be dragging bottom within a day or two. Roe and sand shrimp are working best.” 

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 www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com.