SAN FRANCISCO–As is typically the case early in the season, the salmon bite out of the Golden Gate has been “hot and cold,” and somewhat at the mercy of late-spring weather. If you’re able to sneak away this week, though, the “hot” is back.
Mike Augney at USAFishing.com reports the following from its fleet of charter reporters for the week of May 12:
The salmon bite heated up early this week out of the Golden Gate. (Photo courtesy USAFishing.com)
“The bite broke wide open on Monday 5-13. Roger Thomas on the Salty Lady was up at a state water board meeting in Sacramento today – Roger spends a majority of his time working on salmon recovery issues and has a great hired operator on the helm when he is away; not only does he attend these meetings in state and back at DC does this on his own dime. If there is anyone who deserves recognize for not just years but decades of giving back to our salmon fishery it’s Roger – but captain Jared reported 12 limits of salmon to 22 pounds.
The majority of the salmon fleet also found fast early limits fishing just outside W buoy in 35 fathoms at .35 and .53.
Out of Emeryville, the Salmon Queen and Sun Dance reported a combined 24 limits of salmon to 22 pounds. All boats are trolling with fish averaging 10 to 15 pounds with the occasional fish over 20. Roger said the weather was a tad sloppy with 15 knots of wind ” but the fish didn’t seem to mind”. All of our sponsors have lots of room this week.
Santa Cruz/Monterey: Slightly futher south, the Monterey/Santa Cruz fleet has seen similar on-again/off-again action, but when it’s on, it’s on, as typified by the monumental hauls of the local commercial fleet at the Monterey Bell Buoy and subsequent hot bite aboard charters running out of Chris’s Landing. That bite has shown a tendency to dissipate within 24 hours, so pay attention to the old adage: “If you’ve heard of a hot bite, by the time you get there, it’s over. Make your own hot bite.”
