Fall has brought forth a few new fishing opportunities. Fishing the upper Trinity River has produced steelhead for fly fishermen. The Delta is hosting top-water action for striped bass. Salmon continue to enter the coastal rivers, and Dungeness crab season is open.
“We caught six nice steelhead and a large sea-run brown trout while fly-fishing the Lewiston stretch of the Trinity River,” reported Joe Donatini from Aptos.
Joe had success using copper john and black gnat flies while fishing the Trinity.
“I was amazed to see the amount of fish in the river — there were salmon, steelhead and tons of sea-run brown trout,” Donatini added.
Brown trout are not native to California. This strain was introduced to the Trinity River, and the past few years have seen increased numbers of browns from 5 to 8 pounds.
“Top water action has been hot for stripers,” guide J.D. Ritchey reported. “We have 50-fish days, and fish up to 20 pounds can explode on surface poppers…”
Ritchey guides anglers in the San Joaquin side of the Delta for steady action on stripers. Swim baits also produce fish, but there is nothing like a striper blowing up a surface lure. This fishery will remain hot through the cold days of winter.
“The bite should improve with the smaller moon and cloudy skies,” he added.
Dungeness crabs are drawing the usual crowds to Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay. Crabbing in Half Moon Bay has been good, and most private boaters take limits. Santa Cruz is also producing crabs for private boats from Natural Bridges up to New Year’s Island in 240 feet of water.
Commercial crab season started Saturday, Nov. 14. If you don’t want to brave the elements, you can buy crabs off the docks or at the local market.
• 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. E-mail him at ca************@ya***.com.
