ESPN Freshwater

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Last year was a banner season for ocean salmon fishing in Northern California, and this year, you can expect another positive fishing experience: Experts are predicting another phenomenal salmon run.

From Point Arena to Pigeon Point, the salmon opener is April 2 this year. The season lasts through Nov. 14.

"Last year was silly. It was exceptional. Stevie Wonder could have made a living as a fishing guide here last year."

"This year is extra exciting because last year we got a lot of 'small fish,' during the season. Small fish are what we call 24 to 26-inch fish. The neat thing about that is that those are two-year-old fish," said Capt.

Clients of guide Greg Squires show off four nice kings.

"Being that there were so many of those two-year-old fish last year, I'm anticipating that there should be a lot of three-year-old fish out there this year."

"Those fish are a year older and had another year to grow. I think that in 2002 there was a huge escapement of fish."

"If my theory proves out, we should see more consistent larger fish this year and just as many. It's exciting for us."

With boats already doing well in northern waters, anglers preparing to fish outside the Bay are eager to get their line wet.

Couple that with last year's star season that was the best in 10 to 15 years and the hype is warranted.

"I think we are going to have an ocean season comparable to last season. I just think the fish are going to be bigger," said Squires.

This season anglers can expect salmon to run anywhere from 10 to 15 pounds early on.

"I'll think we'll see considerably more fish in the 15 to 20-pound range this year," Squires said.

"Last year we got a 43-pounder in June and it's possible again this year. I hate to predict size."

"The big fish will be there. It's just a matter of finding them and getting to them. We know they will be there this year."

In 2005, a legal salmon must be 20 inches in total length. Daily limit is two fish per person.

Early in the season, all action will be concentrated out of the Golden Gate.

Where to go south

"If you took your compass and ripped the E (for east) off it, the other places would be the places to go," Squires said.

Early in the season, the water to the south of The Gate will be best.

"The majority of the fish are going to be taken south on the opener. A lot of our bait is still down south. It's moving up with the seasonal temperature changes in water."

"Sardines, anchovies and herring are down south. We also have krill down south. Typically, early in the season, south is where you'll find the better fishing, but that's not to say you can't do well north because you can," Squires said.

To the south, prime destinations are Half Moon Bay, The S Buoy and Monterey Bay. Trolling bait: "Early season tends to be a good krill bite; therefore mooching rods will collect dust, and trolling will be the preferred method of take," Squires said.

"When trolling in krill, a key thing to remember is the boat speed you are going when you hook fish. It's not how fast you are going in general, but how fast you were going when you hooked your fish."

"The exact speed you were going is what you want to take note of. When you do hook fish, circle and stay in the fish."

Matching the krill is a sure way to increase your catch rates, said Squires.

"With the krill bait, remember there's only one product on the market that is made out of krill and that's Pautzke Gel and Liquid Krill."

"Use the Gel Krill on your lures and don't be afraid to soak your baits in the Liquid Krill. Last year, it increased our catches 4 to 1 over what we were doing."

Trolling will be the mainstay, squires trolls with Shark cannonballs, but if you don't have a downrigger, you can get away with using a 2½-pound lead ball on a sinker release.

You'll be running straight bait, either anchovies or sardines, which is the go-to bait this time of year.

Trolling hardware

Don't rule out lures, however. Apex Lures in watermelon pattern smeared with Gel Krill on the backside is an alternative to bait.

"The lures will impart action whereas the bait has action, but the lure will impart a different action. If you are into a lot of bait, the lure adds enough variance to what's in the water to activate the fish's sense of curiosity," Squires said.

"If the lure is run properly, and you use your combination right, the lure can be more effective than bait."

"The upside to a lure is that you reduce your bait cost. There's no need to buy bait if you are good with a lure."

In addition, when trolling, you can use a hoochie with a 1/0 dodger. There's no need to run a dodger with an Apex because an Apex already has extensive action.

Depth check

Finding the ideal depth is important.

"I like to go 30, 40 or 50 feet deep early in the season. If you have to go really deep, you won't be in the concentrations of fish," said Squires.

"As the season progresses, you'll catch more fish above 30 feet, but right now I scatter my downriggers between 30 and 50 feet."

Where to go north

While the south will yield the best action, as the season progresses fishing will improve to the north.

This occurs as the salmon stage to spawn and the amount of bait increases in the area. Water conditions are always a prevailing factor.

"Wind is usually the angler's worst enemy," said Squires. "It tends to scatter the bait and makes it difficult to locate fish.

The best methods to locating fish are to look for current, which are usually detectable by water changes that are ever so slight and water clarity changes.

Most important, look for Mother Nature's fish-finding mechanism, diving birds." Focus on Duxbury Reef, Stinson Beach and Point Reyes.

These areas are consistent fish producers.

Where to go west

West is the last direction you want to head.

The west can hold fish now, but not as many as later in the season when they stage here before heading into The Bay.

This usually occurs later in the season, somewhere around June. When fish begin to congregate in this area, you'll want to fish near Buoy 1, 3 and 5.

Material from Fishing & Hunting News
published 24 times a year.
Visit them at www.fishingandhuntingnews.com.