| Fishing Guide / Author |
Fishing Reports for Local Area - Location |
   
Hono Elizalde (El_salto_mexico)
New member Username: El_salto_mexico
Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2006
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 11:22 am: | |
Amazing deals at Lake El Salto Mexico from May through September. Please contact us today. Hono Elizalde www.basselsalto.com |
   
Captain William Smith (Riptide)
New member Username: Riptide
Post Number: 16 Registered: 9-2003
Rating:  Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 06, 2006 - 3:37 am: | |
April 25, 2006 Ahoy there one and all! Monday was a true awakening of the season for us aboard the RIPTIDE!! We had a private family charter on board and they were pretty much locked into going on Monday, which actually was a very nice weather day. But, I was so worried about taking them out and having to stay so close to the beach as everyone knows is not really where the salmon are thought to be (what an assumption!). Off we went in search of one of the true sportfish that can be caught on a rod and reel. After hearing about one boat that had run south the day before (Sunday) I decided to go exploring down that way. Knowing that the fishing had been slow on the inside and everyone thinking the same thing I did not have very high expectations. Around 11 AM I was still praying to just get one fish! For those of you who know me, you know I like to chase whales. I was figuring that if nothing else I can at least show them some magnificent creatures! When we found them, they were feeding on anchovies. We were watching them lung feed through these huge balls of bait. As soon as we hit one of these first haystacks of bait I heard Deckhand Zack screaming out “FISH ON SMITTY!!!” After boating the first one and noticing the current was screaming down to the south I turned and started to tack back up to the whales. We did not quite make it as we had a double go off with two rods screaming off line with a pair of 15 pound salmon! Losing one and getting the other I thought I better stick with these Whales! Man was I right!! We had a steady pick from then on with singles and doubles landing some and losing some. I just feel frustrated when that happens but what the heck, at least they got to play the fish and feel the thrill of the salmon fighting! Still fighting the current and working around all of these great “riptides” on the surface we had an OUTSTANDING DAY!!!!!!!!! The final tally at the end of the day was 19 salmon to 19 lbs for 12 anglers! SO WHO SAYS THERE ARE NO FISH ON THE BEACH AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR!!!!!! Till the next time!! Tight Lines! Capt. Smitty |
   
Captain William Smith (Riptide)
New member Username: Riptide
Post Number: 14 Registered: 9-2003
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 4:13 am: | |
Ahoy there one and all!!! I know I have not been reel (or is it “real”?) attentive to my fishing reports, but I attribute much of that to the fact that this summer’s fishing has really been fantastic and I have been running all over the decks with Deckhand Zack “Gaffing and Bashing Fish” left and right -- from having wide open rock fishing with ling cod chasing everything swimming and latching on piggyback-style to the rock fish to having free-swimmers following other lings that are holding onto other fish. Onward to salmon fishing and catching 30 pounders which have been putting a hurt on customers, to hitting pockets of shakers and having to work through smaller fish and then finding those little pockets of big ones where the rods bend over double with another throbbing rod, knowing that on the end is another fish of a lifetime for someone. Add to that having to dodge the whales because they are also feeding on the abundantly rich schools of bait everywhere and I do mean everywhere!! Seems as if the whole ocean is alive with life!!! Now don’t let me white wash this and make you think that every day is a wide open fishing bite!! Well maybe every other day!!!! This is the time of the year that I dream of with the fog laying down on the water and flat calm seas. Knowing that it should be a great day for one and all with the hopes of not too many falling prey to the old sea sickness! I think today we did not have one person down with the old dreaded “mal de mar.” The ocean was so calm today the boat was spinning in circles and drifting every which way making my job harder and harder to try and figure out which way would be best to drift for rock fish. Ahh Shoot just set up on the tip of the rock and let it drift a different way each time which really does work out well because you hit a different area. What was that I heard?? Some one calling for the gaff again???? Oh no it was just Zack hollering “FISH ON”!!!!! Capt. Smitty www.riptide.net 888-RIPTIDE (888-747-8433) 415-469-8433 |
   
Mike R. (Silverfish)
New member Username: Silverfish
Post Number: 1 Registered: 8-2005
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 3:40 pm: | |
New Book on Big-Game Fishing History Coming Soon! The International Game Fish Association has just announced the pending release of "Big-Game Fishing Headquarters - A History of the IGFA" by Mike Rivkin. The book is a fascinating review of the emergence of big-game fishing and the IGFA's pivotal role in same. Also featured are more than 200 never-before-published photos and documents from the IGFA's extensive archives. Quantities most limited, so order NOW. Contact the IGFA's Crystal Carey (ccarey@igfa.org) or call 954-924-4310 to order. Price: $49.95 |
   
Captain William Smith (Riptide)
New member Username: Riptide
Post Number: 11 Registered: 9-2003
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 19, 2005 - 3:52 am: | |
Ahoy there one and all! June has been a tough month for salmon fishing. We have had lots of wind, big seas, rain, earthquakes, Tsunami warnings and just about everything else thrown in including a new head for the boat (Don't ask -- you don't want to know!). So we have been using the time to get some fresh paint on the old girl. I've never known a lady who does not like some fresh makeup! I've also been spending some time at the Pacific Fisheries Council Meetings in Foster City where the rock fishing season was basically staying the same. We hope this is good news. The season opener is on July 1st. The ling cod go back to the old regulations of 2 fish at 24 inches. Which, after their (the scientists) statistical glitch we are looking at some great fishing opportunities for ling cod. Boy! oh boy, I sure can't wait for that first fresh dinner of some schoolie blues (my favorite!). Now on to today's salmon fishing. We have not been out in almost a week and a half and the last trip out was with Ken and the "boys". Today we traveled down south and found some great fishing off of Pigeon Point in the deep water!!! After having so much time off and no one really looking we decided to head down that way to see what the fish gods might offer up to us. When we stopped and put the gear in the water we almost immediately had on a 14 lb salmon! Hooray!!! But, we had several people who thought they would stop these brutes by tightening down on their drags and the next thing I hear is FISH ON and then snap. I hate that sound!!! I saw at least 6 to 10 fish popped off due to tight drags. It sure is tough to lose nice big fish like that. We finally got our act together and started to box the fish!! There were many Humpback whales throughout the area and if you know me I like to fish around them as I think they bring me luck. Which they pretty much did today! We did fish a bit late today with such beautiful weather it was really grand to enjoy the ocean and spend some much needed time on the briny deep! We ended the day with 14 limits for all of the passengers and the biggest was 19 lbs. Gosh I think I remember what it is like to once again enjoy being on the ocean and enjoying the vast expanse of its rich bounty (and with a head that works)!!!! Till next time! Capt. Smitty www.riptide.net 888-RIPTIDE (888-747-8433) 415-469-8433 |
   
Captain William Smith (Riptide)
New member Username: Riptide
Post Number: 10 Registered: 9-2003
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 22, 2005 - 3:32 pm: | |
Ahoy there one and all, It looks like our spring winds are starting to arrive. Saturday we had the beginning of them with the winds coming out of the northwest and the swell was also picking up. We need this to turn over the water. The temprature of the water has been so warm from all of the southerlies that we have had this year. When we get the rain and - by gum we have had the rain this year - it brings up the southerly winds which push all of the warmer water up into our area. This is really evident by the way the crab pot buoys are going. They indicate the surface currents and it has been running up along the coast. It would appear that this trend is finally going to change with all of the winds and seas we are starting to get. Today, Sunday, we did not go out due to the big northwest winds and seas. We expect them to continue for the next couple of days. We always anticipate them and even some years dread them. But, not this year. They are a welcome occurence. Yes, it is hard to lose the business but in the long run it is better for the ocean to start the upwellings and turn this bathtub water over and cool things down. For example, we have been catching our salmon deep. By that I mean we have been putting 3 1/2 to 4 lbs of lead on the lines to try to sink them down deeper. Letting them out between 100 and 250 feet out. Also dead slow on the troll to try and sink them down. During the week we did well with catching fish and on Friday we had 7 limits to 17 lbs. Friday was a calm day but everyone was commenting on how the swells were building in anticipation of the winds which did arrive on Saturday. On Saturday with a full boat we ran back up to the same area where we had been fishing and it was a blustery day. We ended the day with 9 salmon to 16 lbs. The winds continued all day and today (Sunday) they have come up even stronger. A welcome blow. Not often will you hear me say that! |
   
Captain William Smith (Riptide)
New member Username: Riptide
Post Number: 7 Registered: 9-2003
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 5:08 pm: | |
Ahoy there one and all, Today (Sunday the 15th of May) was a flat, calm, foggy, pea-soup kind of drippy day. Much like the kind we get in the latter part of summer. MY KIND OF WEATHER!!!! After getting everyone checked in this morning and warming up the radar we headed out. Knowing that Terry had brought some more of his fantastic coffee I eagerly found the thermos he left me in the wheel house. Filling my cup I was watching the radar like a hawk and not really paying attention to the coffee. Just as I was turning at buoy #3 I took a sip. Oh my! it was that the hottest coffee I have ever had! Not to mention it was from a thermos!! Looking for something to put on my tongue to cool it down and contemplating the tray of frozen anchovies - I decided that I would suffer rather than stick one of those suckers in my mouth! We ran about an hour out and stopped abut 11 miles from the harbor in an area where I found some deep bait. Seems as if the salmon are lying down deep as the surface waters are still warm from all of the rain and southerly winds we have had this year. I seem to remember one weather prognosticator saying that if we get 1/2 inch more rain we shall set an all time record in annual rainfall going back to the very beginning of their record keeping. Sure do believe that this year as I think I am still not dried out, and then the pea soup fog today on top of it. I think I am growing moss (there is one kind of moss called "old man's beard" and I think that is what I have). Dropping the lines way down deep and working a flasher and bait on crowbar hooks we were able to start to produce some excellent salmon today. Although, it sure wore out my customers fishing so deep!! Sure am glad I drive the boat and let them do all that work!! We were fortunate today to be able to hang onto our fish! We have, and so have the other boats, had problems with the fish coming off the hook. Or, what we call a drive by. Which is a fish that hits your bait knocks off the weight and takes a hike without catching the hook. Some times I think my hooks are made out of rubber!!! But today they held on and we were able to turn almost every solid strike into a fish flopping in the fish box. Our biggest fish today was 21 lbs and an excellent assortment of fish with limits all around for 8! Now where is that coffee cup? Capt. Smitty www.riptide.net 888-RIPTIDE (888-747-8433) 415-469-8433 |
   
Captain William Smith (Riptide)
New member Username: Riptide
Post Number: 6 Registered: 9-2003
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 01, 2005 - 3:47 am: | |
Ahoy there one and all! This is the best day so far of the season!!! The ocean today was oily slick calm. We left the dock with 12 passengers who were enjoying the anticipation of an early start and heading out of the harbor with the dawn's early light just starting to emerge over the costal mountains. A day full of promise and it sure did deliver! We headed southwest from the harbor and one of my regular customers Terry came up to the wheelhouse and said that the new propeller was so smooth was this the same boat???? I had changed the old propeller on Wednsday from a three bladed prop. to a 4 bladed prop with a different configuration and pitch. The change is dramatic to say the least!!! Kind of like driving on snow tires and then switching to a set of regular tires. After getting about 10- miles off shore and south of the fleet I found a spot of krill and birdlife that looked intriguing. So upon stopping and getting the gear in the water for everyone we started to work the bait. BANG, FISH ON!! then two hanging! Holy smoke we were catching some nice 10 to 12 pound salmon! With the fleet staying up above us and my thoughts were to head south to get away from the other boats I continued to work down the line, hooking fish here and there - some doubles and triples. Which is the way of things when you are "krill fishing." This is one of the most exciting times for salmon fishing with multiple hookups and fish acting crazy zipping from one side to the other, jumping, then turning to look at the other rods as all the passengers are watching the fish and hollering HEY YOU GOT ONE ON YOUR ROD TOO!!! Dancing and weaving the lines around each other trying to keep them from tangling. Most of the time we are able to keep them clear but then some fish are just not going to make it to the boat. Fortunately, there are many that do make it to the boat and I can tell you that everyone who was out fishing with us today is either home eating a great salmon dinner or fast asleep from all the excitement! Till next time! Capt. Smitty www.riptide.net 888-RIPTIDE (888-747-8433) 415-469-8433 |
   
macgyver (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest
Rating:  Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 9:11 pm: | |
Mooching for salmon off of Muir Beach, using fresh caught anchovies, hooked a 22 1/2 lb striper! |
   
Captain William Smith (Riptide)
New member Username: Riptide
Post Number: 4 Registered: 9-2003
Rating:  Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 04, 2004 - 6:04 pm: | |
Ahoy there one and all! What a grand fourth of July! We have been salmon fishing and I have run out of things to describe this season so far. Words like wide open bite, time for breakfast, caught a fish a minute! all seem to be overused! The weather has been kicking up for the month of June and up through yesterday. Seems like the bigger the seas and winds the more ferocious the bite! Saturday we had some regulars and a bunch of beginners and everyone was having a grand time. Well, most of them - a few were "under the weather." There is something about a wide open bite that inspires people to rise above it all! This has to be the best salmon fishing I can recall in my thirty years of doing this. And now the fish are starting to move onto the beach! We have heard that there were fish caught today at Martins Beach and also Fran fished at the harbor buoys and caught three limits of salmon there! One of the city boats fished at Muscle Rock and caught 12 limits earlier in the week. It is grand having options as to where to go to catch fish. Should I run off shore and hammer them or try to fish the beach?? Decisions, decisions!!!! Join us on a trip aboard the Riptide soon! P.S. Rock Cod opens August 1st - we still have some weekend dates available - Sunday the 8th is an open load - make your reservations now! Capt. Smitty www.riptide.net 888-747-8433 415-469-8433 |
   
Captain William Smith (Riptide)
New member Username: Riptide
Post Number: 2 Registered: 9-2003
Rating:  Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 3:00 pm: | |
Ahoy there one and all! Here is hoping that everyone has had a healthy and happy holiday season! We are looking forward to the 2004 year with great expectations! Both theWhale Watching and Fishingshould bring great opportunities for you to enjoy the beautiful Pacific ocean The rock fishing season has opened with the added benefit of fishing in deeper waters! We can fish part of the year out to 30 fathoms (180 feet). This came from a lot of hard work and at the PFMC meetings. As many of you know I attend many of these meetings to try and represent your interests in keeping the ocean open to fishing. There were many heated discussions and wide ranging perspectives at these meetings. It is difficult to try to work within the science that is available for use to the PFMC Committees. There is a mandate that they have to use the “best available Data” even when acknowledging that the best available data does not represent what is going on in the real world. I think of it as the world of paper fish. Data collection methods are undergoing a change this year and hopefully it will be more representative of the real world of the ocean. As a result of the Council’s decision to push everyone in on the beach this past year they are afraid of having a larger impact on these nearshore species. But there is no available data showing what this will be. So without good data available, they guess as to which species were caught and then try to build upon it. This is one of the reasons they wanted to let us fish in deeper water to allow more opportunity for the fisherman. But there is still the constraint of the protected species (canary, yellow eye, etc) as well as the “Near Near shore” species. So there will hopefully be more opportunities in 04. But, that depends on the stock assessments which we have not seen yet. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and Hope for the best. Well, on to real fishing! We had a private charter on Sunday to the Farallone Islands for rock fishing. Since the season is opened out to 30 fathoms (180 feet) I wanted to try fishing in areas that have been closed. I found a little spot that I had all but forgotten. It started at 170 feet and the peak came up to 155 and then dropped off to 180 before the bottom turned soft. Seeing these fish in my new meter was a delight for me! My new meter is so much more sensitive than my old one I was really impressed! And apparently it did not lie - as the customers let their lines down they were all stopped by some whopper yellows! Everyone was pumping on their rods and reels working these fish back up. I tried throwing a bar and was successful in getting through the schoolies. Shoot, I thought I hung the bottom till the rod started the hard slow pumps. Ahhh, a toothy one! Working it up to the surface and gaffing a nice 14 pound ling cod! So I put down the rod and continued to help the passengers take off the fish so they could get back down. Let me tell you, I was sweating and I was just helping. After a few more drifts we started counting and keeping track of the different species. When we finished we started towards home while the deck hand got out his knife and started filleting. When all was said and done we had 15 limits of rock fish and keeper lings. Since the weather was so calm the ride home was great and half the people were sleeping after wearing themselves out catching those nice fish! So you will excuse me now so I can go and help my self to a plate of FRESH Brownies! Bon appetite! Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching www.riptide.net 888-747-8433 415-469-8433
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Capt.Smitty of the RIPT
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 9:51 pm: | |
Subject: Salmon Fishing west of HMB
Ahoy there one and all!
Spring is in the air (and howling a gale)!! We were blown off the ocean on Saturday. The waves were just right to make for a miserable ride so we turned back after giving it a try! On sunday we fared much better going 20 miles west of the harbor. We had a good size swell but not too much wind close to shore. As we got further off shore it did increaset but conditions were very fishable.
We were lucky and did not have much trouble with the sea lions (darn dragons)! or many problems with alot of shakers. Most everything we hooked ended up in the fish box and tagged by either Zack or Jeff! Around 11:30 the wind started to freshen and things got a bit dicier. We continued to catch fish and by 1 PM we had thirteen limits!!! No really big fish - our biggest was around 16 lbs. The ride home had me working hard at the wheel to hold our course as things were not improving in the weather department!
I just hope that it will lay down by Tuesday for our regulars who are coming out for there monthly Tuesday trip.
Thanks for fishing with the Riptide. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching www.riptide.net 888-747-8433 |
   
Capt.Smitty
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 8:40 pm: | |
Subject: Salmon Fishing west of HMB
Ahoy there one and all!
It sure seems to me that this holiday weekend came early this year. Kind of like the fishing this morning! An early bite! I got a call on the radio about a bite just a few miles to my south. So after fishing for about 20 minutes and only catching one small silver (yes, they are back) we picked up the lines and ran south for a couple of miles. Since the ocean was flat calm and pea soup fog it was a easy hop down.
When we started to put the lines back in the water we had almost instantaneous action! Both deck hands Jeff & Zack were instantly busy with netting and uncrossing fish that were running all over the place in the back of the boat. Yes there were silvers mixed in and we did have to shake a bunch of them and some big ones too! We were doing well with the fish and keeping up with the tangles and pinning the fish as it was steady action when the "DRAGONS" showed up! The darned sea lions took us for several fish before my glaring and yelling at them scared them away (have you ever seen me when I'm mad?)!!!
As the day wore on the fishing did slow down but we were in great shape and ended up leaving the fishing grounds around noon with all the fish we needed!Gosh it is so much fun when the weather is flat calm and the fish want to jump into the boat!
Till next time!
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching www.riptide.net 888-747-8433 415-469-8433 |
   
Capt.Smitty
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 12:52 pm: | |
Subject: fishing report
Ahoy there one and all! Well, I am late in sending out my Wednesday fishing report. We had 18 limits of salmon and the biggest was 22lbs. We were fishing 12 miles a little west by southwest from the harbor. When I stopped in the morning i did not see much krill but there were three Humpback Whales feeding. So i figured they were better judges of the bait situation than i was and decided to join them. We were getting the gear in the water and i was helping the people on the bow get there lines in when there was this really bad smell!!! Everyone looked at each other and said "hay it's not me". When i looked directly up wind and saw all three of the whales blowing and realized it was the whales bad breath ( they don't brush or floss between there baleen plates and it is one of the worst smells)!! Everyone on the boat was holding there nose and laughing at the whales bad breath when the rods started to light up! First one then three more! We were hooking a lot of fish loosing some and releasing some shakers as well. Zack & Jeff ( my two deck hands) as well as myself were very busy making bait, netting fish, pinning them and trying to get the gear back in the water. then the fur bags showed up! God how I hate them! We lost another dozen or so fish to the sea lions before they decided to go and bother someone else! Thank GOD!! When i looked up there were the other boats around us and they too were doing very well! When we did our final fish count and started to head back to the dock it was 10:30 and the ocean was still nice and calm! When the deck hands came up to talk for a minuets before getting started on cleaning the fish they were both covered in fish scales and slime. But, there was no hiding the ear splitting grins on there faces (as well as everyone else on board)! Just a perfect day in PARADISE! Till next time! |
   
Capt.Smitty
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 2:08 pm: | |
Subject: Salmon Fishing west of HMB
Ahoy there one and all!
The SALMON season is in full swing now! This past weekend we were fishing west of the harbor from 12 to 18 miles. On Saturday the weather was great! There was no wind at all and some big long lazy rolling waves which made for a great day! We were fishing in the krill and typical of that kind of bite we would go along with nothing for 5-10-20 minutes and then hit a pocket of fish! First one rod would go off and then maybe one more or five more!!! At several points we had between 5 to 7 fish on at once with no other lines in the water!!! I was telling people to go up to the front of the boat and put your line back in while there was total pandemonium on the back deck with people chasing there fish over and under each other!! I sure do love that kind of action!
At the end o fthe day, we were on our way home with 16 limits of some of the nicest salmon seen in a while with the biggest being 21 pounds!
Sunday things started to change. There was the start of the southerly winds wotj steadily increasing winds all day. The fishing was not quite so red hot. The action was pretty steady with some multiple hookups but the kind of action we saw on Saturday. Nonetheless, we had a good day with 21 fish for 18 anglers. Everyone managed to take at least one fish home on Sunday. This looks to be a great season shaping up. I think these late storms are helping to keep thing mixed up.
Just remember to"Troll till your Balls fall off!" Till next time!
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching www.riptide.net
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Capt. Smitty
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 2:11 am: | |
Subject: Salmon report
Ahoy there one and all! Just a quick fish score for everyone! We had 23 salmon for 17 anglers up to 28 lbs!! Weather was flat calm, warm and sunny! Heather (the deck hand) got a good sun burn from sweating off all of her sun screen! The morning started reel slow for us but afternoon the bight picked up with multiples and at one point we had five fish hanging at once! Sunday looks like it will be another fantastic weather day and i frankly am looking foward to getting back out there! Gosh it is great to be back on the water fishing! Till next time!
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching www.riptide.net 888-747-8433 415-469-8433
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Capt.Smitty
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 21, 2002 - 6:52 pm: | |
Subject: Rock fishing off of Half Moon Bay
10/21/02 Ahoy there one and all! Sunday was a day of rock fishing aboard the riptide! There was a swell which was indicative of he changing of the seasons. The swell was generated up north as there was a weak disturbance ( storm) and this "ground swell is what is kind of the precursor or first warnings of things to come for the winter. We started fishing of the "Ritz" and were scratching a few fish. So I decided to run down to fish off of Martins beach. We continued to scratch one here and one there all morning. This was the case for all of the boats as I think the swell had affected all of the fish as they too can start to feel the change in the season as well ( I talked to my friendly mermaid and she said that was the case and I believe her)!! We ended the day with 13 limits of rock fish and only a few keeper size ling cod. But it was still a great day for everyone! There are only a few days left to the season. So either get your last licks in now or you are going to have to wait till JULY to catch another rock fish (salmon should open in march I think). Tight lines!
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching www.riptide.net 888-747-8433 415-469-8433
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Capt. Smitty
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 24, 2002 - 10:23 pm: | |
Subject: Salmon Fishing off of pacifica
Ahoy there one and all! This was another Summer Saturday of Salmon Slamen!! We have had some slow fishing this week off of Pacifica so I started to head up to Marin headlands as there were some good scores up there this week. After fishing for the past 6 weeks off of Muscle rock and Pacifica i though i would go up and join the "Parking lot" along the Marin coast. Well i got a call from one of the private boats out of our harbor (Manual on the Gravy) telling me he had already caught two fish when i was abeam of muscle rock. Well it took me all of about 5 seconds to change my plans and go back to where I have been fishing for so long!!! After putting the lines i the water we were rewarded with a hook up almost immediately! We then preceded to feed a fur bag two more. But, after having a stare down contest with the captain the sea lion decided I was meaner ( and probably more ugly than him) and left us alone. We then had a slow spell for an hour or so. Around 11 am things started to pick up again with a single fish here and then a double there. By noon we were having some great action with the fish hooking and loosing a few. Then around 12:30 they really turned on! We caught 23 fish by quarter to one and i thought we had limits so i had everyone pull there line while Heather ( the deckhand ) counted the fish! Well it turned out that we needed one more for the customers to have full limit's so i told everyone to put the lines back in. I was working a rod on the bow for a guy who was a "little under the weather". I got the rod down about 15 feet when it was darn near yanked out of my hands by a salmon! Walking the fish to the back of the boat hollering to the fellow to come and get his fish when he said Captain please for the love of god land it and take me home!!! Everyone roared with laughter and even the captain got to play a fish on this great day!!! What a great way to end a great summer time bight! Heading back to the dock was a great trip as I was swapping some stories with the head of the charter Who is sure to be back for another day of great fishing aboard the RIPTIDE!!! Thanks !
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching www.riptide.net 888-747-8433 415-469-8433 |
   
Capt. Smitty
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 01, 2002 - 3:08 pm: | |
Subject: Salmon fishing
Ahoy there one and all! Today was a quick day of fishing as the fish were almost jumping into the boat! We had 6 limits in about 20 minutes!! The biggest was 31 lbs caught by a regular customer who's name is Peat! He caught himself a "momma-jamma" fish as he calls them!! We had three fish over 20 lbs on at once and landed all of them! Boy these big fish are bending my hooks into pretzels!! Went and bought some heavier wire hooks to help stop this mutilation of my hooks! At a buck a hook I don't want to be having to replace these hooks. Had another friend Robert out with me last week and he lost a fish to a hook that was almost straightened out!! Not because he was playing the fish with a tight drag but because these "Mooses" have some awesome power and can bend these hooks as they role around. So watch your hook points and make sure you have good hooks to play these monsters! Tight lines! Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching www.riptide.net 888-747-8433 415-469-8433 |
   
Capt. Smitty of the RIP
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 9:40 pm: | |
Subject: Salmon and Rock fishing
Ahoy there one and all! Well summer has arrived! This has been one heck of a year for salmon fishing as well as some great rock fishing!! Friday we were Rock fishing and had to contend with a big swell and some wind. We ended the day with 12 limits of rock fish ( a lot of brownies) and 10 ling cod! We have seen an invasion of Oregon Coho salmon off shore mixed in with the Chinook Salmon. Plus the summer shift of fishing from off shore to on shore has also started. We fished along the Pacifica beaches on Saturday and had 13 nice salmon with the biggest one running 33 pounds! We also had a striped bass as well and it was 25 pounds. Sunday we ran back off shore and had a great day out there with the mix of kings and silvers! Plenty of action all day long! along with loosing many fish which happens sometimes We ended the day 2 fish short of limits for everyone and had plenty of opportunity for them. The weather was flat calm and a bit foggy. Great conditions as there was no breeze which has been blowing so hard this year. The wind is a double edged sword for us. It makes for bad weather days and bumpy days. It has kept the ocean waters cool allowing for great upwellings of cold nutrient rich waters from the deep to come up and feed all of the krill , squid and other life ( whales) which the ocean is so rich with. This Upwelling and cold water is good for the rock fish as well. One of the things i have learned in the past couple of years about some of the species of rock fish ( specifically the boccaccio) is that they are a "sporadic spawner". They really only have successful spawnings during the cold water years. We have had cold water since 1999 and have seen some great spawning by these fish. In southern California they are everywhere as stated at the PFMC meetings by the southern CA Sportfishing charter boats. This should bode well for both the salmon and the rock fish. We are seeing an abundant amount of feed for the fish and it is also partly why the salmon have been so big for the past two years. Kind of like me, the more food the bigger I get ( just keep your hooks away from me)!!! Hopefully the fishing will remain as great for the rest of the year!!! Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching riptide.net 888-747-8433 415-469-8433 |
   
Capt. Smitty
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 18, 2002 - 10:04 pm: | |
Subject: Salmon Fishing Report
Ahoy there one and all! Well the wind finally, FINALLY FINALLY gave us a break!! And what a break it was!!! We ran outside of the Half Moon Bay Weather buoy (you can get the weather report from this buoy at this web site: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.phtml?station=46012 ). I look at this report every day as it can give a good indication of how our day will be, especially when we fish within a couple of miles of it like we did today. I have been cringing at the reports from this buoy all week hoping it was going to tell me that the weather was going to lay down and allow us out.
When we put in the lines and started to troll there was not really much bait around but I did see some good looking "RIPTIDES" forming which is what stopped me there (wonder why!!). We were not in the water long when I heard from the deck FISH ON!!! When I got back to the stern steering station (the RIPTIDE has three steering stations) we had three fish hanging and from then on it was pandemonium! At several points we had no lines left in the water. We were hooking fish and losing fish as well. What spectacular action! Both Heather (my deckhand) and I were working up a sweat trying to keep up with making bait, scooping fish and dealing with the tangled lines.
Boy were these some scrappy fish!! We did not hook and monsters but overall the fish were about 12 to 14 lbs with some smaller ones mixed in - overall the quality was excellent! When I judged that the deckhand had been sufficiently covered in slime we counted the fish and when the counting was done we needed one more for the crew! Well these fish travel in groups and we had another multiple hook up. Looking over the side and trying to judge which we were going to keep and hollering at the others to get their lines out of the water!
We got all of the gear on board and were heading back in!! I looked at the clock and it was 9:50 AM!! FINALLY the deckhand and I were able to catch our breath and share in a well deserved high five! Gosh I hope these fish and the wind gods will allow this spectacular fishing for weeks to come!!! Tight lines!
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching (888)747-8433 www.riptide.net |
   
Capt. Smitty
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 04, 2002 - 11:10 pm: | |
Subject: Salmon fishing
The best way to describe today is : YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE"!! One of those grand days to be on the ocean and savor the wondrous experiences of nature! From watching the Humpback whales frolic in the krill down to the hot action to the krill fed fish it was EXCITING! From the first five minuets of trolling we had a steady action with a few double and triple headers thrown in. We lost a lot of fish but also boated a great quality of fish. We then settled down to a steady pick of fish for the rest of the day and ended the day with 33 fish for 16 anglers ( yes the captain got to take one home too)!! The weatherman was wrong again about today as i was on deck in my tee shirt ( this old boy was working up a sweat)! Small role to the sea and no wind to speak of. Gosh, I whish i could bottle this stuff!! I would be rich!!! Tomorrow looks like another banner day as well! Tight Lines!
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching (888)747-8433 www.riptide.net
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching (888)747-8433 www.riptide.net
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Captain Smitty
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 9:39 pm: | |
Subject: first salmon fishing report
Ahoy there one and all!
The Salmon season opened today for those of us who can fish below Pigeon Point! What a glorious morning it was for everyone! The anticipation was running high on the docks early in the morning with everyone expecting great weather. The talk was of last year's opener and how there was such great fishing and such crummy weather. There was much talk about the "wind sailor" Jelly fish (Velella velella) that float on the surface of the water. All of the old salts remember the great years ('97 and '95) when they were around and how they always foretell of a good season ahead.Even though I have been working professionally for 27 years in the sportfishing business I still get caught up in the thrill and anticipation of that first day! Setting out the line and checking out the area to see what kind of life is around.Everyone knew we had scored today at least as far as the weather was concerned. All we had to do was find some hungry fish!
And we were sure not disappointed!!!
We ran to the line and started to look at all of the bait and birds along the line but there was some jelly fish in the water there so we ran a mile further south to get out of the jellyfish. When we got all of the lines settled into the water it was not long before we had that first bite and there was a cheer that rang out across the decks "FISH ON"!!!! Steve had the throbbing rod in his hands and was deftly caressing the fish towards the boat. But this scrappy fish had mind of his own and fought hard before coming to the net where Jeff the deckhand scooped him! A resounding "IN THE BOX" was shouted out in pure joy! No sooner had that one been pinned and put in the fish box when another reel started ripping line off! Jeff was yelling "ONE HANGING' , then DOUBLE HEADER!!! But, as happens, one of them came off the hook! Well it is called "fishing" and not "catching"!! The morning continued and everyone was getting action from hit and runs to rods doubling over and throbbing! We put the word out to the other boats and they soon were joining us in the pandemonium! When 10:30 rolled around I had to tell everyone we had our 16 Limits (32 salmon) and we had to wind up the gear! One of my smart alec customers (yes, Jim you) said " well Smitty it took us a half hour longer this year than last year," to which I replied "that may be true but I'll have you home in half the time it took us last year to beat our way back up the coast!" Everyone laughed as most of them were with me last year for that wet long ride back. This year after running for about a half hour across very calm waters, they were all pretty much snoozing! I guess the fish kicked their butts after all! What a grand way to start off the new salmon season!! Interested in a trip? Call 888-747-8433 for reservations aboard the Riptide!
Till the next installment of the fishing report!
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching (888)747-8433 www.riptide.net |
   
Chris
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2002 - 10:24 pm: | |
Subject: Bank Fishing
Can someone tell me a good place for bank fishing here in the Bay Area? My recent trip was to the Alameda Rock Wall. I caught(and released)2 bat rays (or sting rays) and they wieghed approx 20 pounds each. I used anchovies. Among other fish were small shaker sharks. My e-mail is cpansoy@directvinternet.com |
   
Capt. Smitty of the RIP
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 23, 2001 - 11:50 pm: | |
Subject: Fishing out of Half Moon Bay
Ahoy there one and all! Well we were fishing for rock fish this week and the fishing was really great both in the shallows and out in the deep! We are seeing the lings starting to bite and there are some nice big toothy critters out there!! Salmon fishing has been on the slow side but there have been some big hogs coming in! There have been reports of several fish in the 40 lb class and two reports of 50 lbers! On the tuna front, there is a good bite off of Bodega and off of Monterey. But, nothing really locally. We should see some changes in front of our harbor this week and hopefully get some tuna to show up. The weather this past week has been as smooth as a sheet of glass! Hopefully it will stay this way! Tight lines
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching (888)747-8433 www.riptide.net
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Capt. Smitty of the RIP
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 05, 2001 - 1:41 pm: | |
Subject: holliday week fishing
Ahoy there one and all! Well the holiday week is finally winding down for us on the RIPTIDE! We have been busy fishing for Salmon, Rock fish & Tuna! I also am inclosing a picture of a Salmon that was caught by one of the finest gentlemen i have ever met! Mr. Peat V. Has been fishing out of the bay area for over 50 years! This is just his most resent catch! Not bad for a gentleman who is 90 years old! Generally the salmon fishing has been good with some big fish mixing things up and making everyone wonder what will bight there hook next! Our last tuna trip was down in the Monterey canyon. The fish have since started to move back up towards the "601" spot. There has been some mixed scores on the tuna and everyone has been coming home with some fish that are of a good grade! One fish that i heard of was over 40 lbs! The rock fishing has been Steady with a lot of nice Cabazone's & Lings mixed in with some great rock fish! The costal reefs are some of my favorite places to fish! This is actually the nicest time of the year to be on the ocean as it is generally our best weather! This is the time of the year i really enjoy being out there! Hope to see you soon with a rod!
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching (888)747-8433 www.riptide.net
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Capt. Smitty of the RIP
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 03, 2001 - 11:47 pm: | |
Subject: salmon fishing of of Pacifica
Ahoy there one and all!
We were salmon fishing today aboard the RIPTIDE and it was a GRAND DAY! We trolled along Pacifica with great results - the salmon bit one at a time all day with an occasional double! The group we had on the boat were very cooperative - working together. Because of the cooperation we had a great success rate for the day with 24 salmon (customer limits plus 2 fish for the crew) for the day with an average size of 11 lbs - the biggest was 19 lbs. We even had another salmon following next to one that was on the hook! It was bigger than the one we had on the hook! But, it did not get close enough for me to try to net.
The weather was good with a slight breeze (5 to 7 knots) and there was not much of a swell so there were no upset tummies! It is great to see the salmon coming into the beach!!
This past week saw some really great tuna scores with one boat reporting 52 tuna. Today the reports were up to 20 fish per boat for the high score.
Coastal rock fishing has been consistent with scratch fishing all day leading up to limits of nice rock fish and a few ling cod mixed in.
The Riptide has an open tuna trip scheduled for this Thursday and several open load salmon trips this week also.
Till next time!
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching (888)747-8433 www.riptide.net
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Capt. Smitty of the RIP
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2001 - 11:32 pm: | |
Subject: - Rock Fishing (shallow water light tackle)
Ahoy there one and all! We were rock fishing today and there was wind off shore. I spoke with one tuna boat that was out at the "601" and he had 7 tuna with winds 25 gusting to 30 or more with a 10 foot sea every 8 seconds. I guess that is why John is referred to as "Hurricane Hasha"! I also heard that the salmon are starting to show up off of the Marin coast! One boat out of our harbor today had three salmon (all big ones) along Rocky Point. The Riptide spent the day drifting along Pescadero for rock fish. We had a great start and then it was a slow pick the rest of the day. We did manage to scratch out 15 limits of rock fish with 2 Cabazone! I look forward to tomorrow as the season opens for Ling cod as well as the red fish (canaries and vermillions and Bocaccio). We can also fish back in the deep water tomorrow! So it is summer and time to wet a line and think about the Drifters singing there song, "Under the Boardwalk." Tight lines! Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching (888)747-8433 www.riptide.net |
   
Capt. Smitty of the RIP
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 17, 2001 - 3:41 pm: | |
Subject: Rock Fishing (shallow water light tackle)
Ahoy there one and all! It is hard to believe the year is half over! We are hopefully moving into our "Summer mode". This is the time of the year when the rock fishing picks up. We have been fishing in the shallows for almost two months. Saturday was no exception. We were fishing off the area now dubbed "FISHING AT THE RITZ'!! This is an area that used to be called "Three Rocks" (for the obvious reasons) which is just a few miles below the harbor. The fishing has been a slow scratch in the morning and would usually pick up in the afternoon. The previous day was the same when we ran down to Pescadero and had a very slow start. Both days we did catch limits of rock fish for just about everyone including the ones who were (how do I put this delicately?) "under the weather" even though the weather was great! Nice sunny days and not much of a breeze along the beach. There was a swell due to the wind in the north and off shore. There were also a lot of "Ling cod"! We still cannot keep them until July first! We must have shook at least a dozen or more of them! We had one that was holding on to a rock fish and would not let it go! He had to be 15 lbs! And as stubborn as the "Captain"!!! Everyone is eagerly awaiting the opening of the season on July first! But, until the First, all we can do is admire their ugliness from the deck and not on our plates! Tight lines!
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching (888)747-8433 www.riptide.net
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Capt. Smitty of the RIP
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2001 - 10:50 pm: | |
Subject: Rock Fishing (shallow water light tackle)
Ahoy there one and all! We were Shallow water rock fishing on Saturday! we were fishing within 120 feet of water ( the regulation for this time of year). There was a small ground swell but no breeze. Fishing was good for the bar casters and the people working the swim tail baits and lead head jigs. The cabezon's were hungry and we had a great day catching them and releasing the small ones. There were a lot of ling cod following up the fish and we hooked a lot of them as they were defiantly hungry! everyone got to see the ling cod following up the rock fish eyeing them for there meal ( breakfast). But since the season is closed for them we had to release them. Overall the day was very good with the catch being limits to three quarters on the rock fish and 20 cabbies for the day and one very nice 20 lb halibut to top off the day! Hopefully the weather and the fishing will stay good for everyone! Tight lines Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching (888)747-8433 www.riptide.net |
   
Capt. Smitty of the RIP
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2001 - 10:59 pm: | |
Subject: Salmon fishing Deep Reef
Ahoy there everyone! I have run out of superlatives!! This had to be some of the best fishing we have ever had!! We had a 20 lb average on our fishing today!! The biggest was 32 lbs!!! There were at least another 9 fish in the 20lb class! The best way to describe these krill fed fish is that they are acting like they are on "crack"!!!!!!! Totally wild, charging the boat and jumping like there was a high jump bar to pass over! Now to the weather. It was flat glassy calm today with a fog for the most part of the day. By the afternoon the fog had burnt back and revealed a beautiful sky and at that point we were heading home with 11 limits of some of the best fish i have seen all season! Gosh how can this get any better? Maybe having them serve a martini with the anchovies?? NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching (888)747-8433 www.riptide.net |
   
Capt. Smitty of the RIP
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 08, 2001 - 11:40 am: | |
Subject: Salmon Fishing off of Pigeon Point
Ahoy there everyone!!
How does that song go?? "Summertime, and the living is easy. FISH are jumping..." Oh well the computer can't sing and neither can I!! It was a grand day on Monday! The sun was shining and the wind was down to nothing. The seas were calm and the fish were on the munch!! We had 10 limits of Salmon by 9:30 am!! These fish were full of krill and were still hungry. Sunday was also a great day of fishing as well with boats having up to 35 fish! We were just a few fish short of limits on Sunday. With the prospects of the better weather this week we are looking forward to some great fishing! Get your rod and grab a sandwich and get on a boat!
See you soon on the water!
Capt. Smitty Riptide Sportfishing & Whale Watching (888)747-8433 www.riptide.net |
   
Capt. Smitty of the RIP
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2001 - 12:29 am: | |
Subject: Salmon fishing Deep Reef
Ahoy there one and all!!!
It is the start of a new Salmon season! The salmon season opened below Pigeon Point on March 31 and we got out that day with great fishing - 16 limits by 10 am. But the winds came back up and did not allow the boat to get back out again till this weekend! Saturday was the official opening day from our harbor and we have been fishing around Deep Reef and the weather bouy area. The winds have been blowing all month and making the water temperature cold (48 degrees). When the winds finally started to die on Saturday night and Sunday was calm making us all hopeful that the fishing would improve. The bite finally started to turn on around 1 pm on Sunday. There were party boats with only one fish at 1 pm and by 3 pm they had up to 26 fish!!!
The Riptide got out today again and headed back to the same area. The bite started off for us with a couple of flurries of keepers with shakers mixed in. I always enjoy the shrimp fishing as it can be totally dead and in a matter of seconds become wild and wooley with multiple hook-ups! We had |