Monterey Bay Salmon Trout Project hosted its annual fin-clip event early this month, and all the volunteers had a great time. In the meantime, as anglers wait for rains to bring steelhead, local fishing is centered on rockfish and crab.
On Dec. 3, great weather greeted volunteers who met at the hatchery on Big Creek to help clip steelhead fins. The event was a fun way to support the project and get familiar with the operations and fish at the hatchery. Huddled at the fireside, volunteers kept warm between clipping the lightly sedated juvenile steelhead. The work was followed by a nice barbecue with all the fixings, including some old-fashioned chili.
Another attraction at the hatchery was watching the coho salmon as they were fed their new krill food. The fish attacked the food. It was nice to see such a great turnout at the event, and the fish were handled with care.
Fishing around our area has been focused in the ocean, with crabs and rockfish at the head of the menu. Crab fishing for Dungeness crabs remains good for sport anglers, with three to 10 crabs per trap. Commercial crab season has started, too, and consumers are happy to be getting fresh crabs off the dock and in local markets. Crabs continue to be caught throughout the bay along the 200-foot mark. Rockfish season will remain open for sport fishing through the end of December.
The San Lorenzo River opened to steelhead fishing Dec. 1. I drove the river and saw a few of the usual trucks parked along the gorge, but with low flows early in the season, most anglers are waiting for more water and more fish.
There should be a few small steelhead around the lower river, along with an early-season adult. I have received several reports of coho salmon this year, which makes me hopeful they can safely spawn.
Anglers should remember to check the regulations for steelhead before heading out this season.
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 [email protected].
