Striped bass may be a non-native species in California, but they have a stronghold and their numbers this year appear robust. Striped bass are being caught from Monterey Bay to the rivers of the Central Valley.
In 1879, the first trainload of striped bass made its way from the East Coast to the San Francisco Bay for a trial introduction. The finger-sized fish thrived, and a few years later, the second batch of non-native stripers was brought to the Bay Area. These fish have a political past, as some believe they should be eradicated, while most believe they are not invasive but more like a prized game fish. One thing is for sure: They are here to stay, and their numbers are strong.
Along the beaches of the Monterey Bay, there seems to be a local population that is breeding in the lower watersheds of the Pajaro and Salinas rivers. Striped bass broadcast spawn, so it is possible these fish may be reproducing in the Elkhorn Slough, as well. Others think the striped bass along the Monterey beaches may be migratory fish that travel here from the San Francisco Bay — the debate is ongoing.
Stripers are being caught along the beaches from Monterey to Capitola. Most anglers have been busy chasing salmon, rockfish and halibut in the ocean, but anglers who like exercise and prefer to not use a boat can find stripers and solitude along these beaches.
The real mother lode for striped bass right now is in the San Francisco Bay and up the California Delta into the lower Sacramento watershed. The bay has had bass all throughout San Pablo Bay — even shore anglers are catching fish. The Sacramento, lower Feather and American rivers all have huge runs of striped bass right now.
The greatest thing about stripers is the fact that they will take most lures and baits from surface poppers, cast masters and swim baits. Popular baits have been minnows, bullheads and sand crabs along the beaches, all of which work well.
Guide J.D. Richey reported from the Sacramento River, “We are catching from 30 to 60 bass a day on any given day. Most fish are 3 to 7 pounds, but we have also had 40-pound fish in the mix.”
Richey has had his clients jigging with spoons and light tackle to catch striped bass. The bonus fish that is showing up with the stripers is the American shad, fish that will continue to be in the rivers into mid-summer.
I hope you can get out for striped bass — they are hard fighting and nice on the dinner plate.
Mike Baxter has fished in the Monterey Bay Area since he was a boy and has been a licensed charter boat captain for more than 15 years. Contact him at
ca************@ya***.com
. He also hosts a fishing show on radio station KSCO (1080) from 7:06 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through September.
