Monterey Bay Salmon Opener Yields Limits For Some, Tough Fishing For Others   By: Dan Bacher April 20, 2006 More Articles by Dan

The opening weekend of recreational salmon fishing in Monterey Bay produced surprisingly mixed results with some anglers catching limits and others going home empty-handed. Anglers caught their fish while both mooching and trolling off Moss Landing, Mulligan Hill and other usual opening day spots.

However, many anglers were just happy to get out on April 1 and 2, regardless of whether they nailed the salmon or not. This opener almost didn’t happen because of the Bush administration’s unprecedented move to outlaw recreational and commercial salmon fishing on the California and Oregon coast, but the DFG ruled that the season would begin in state waters on April 1.

Thomas Nakazawa, president of the Central Coast Salmon Anglers fishing club, experienced a great day of fishing on the club’s charter aboard the Sur Randy on April 1. He caught the day’s first fish, a 12.3 # chinook. while using a Maxima fluorocarbon 15# 8-1/2 foot leader with a Gamakatsu 3/0 hook.

“The weather looked very bad on Friday, but the bay calmed down in the bay by Saturday morning and we enjoyed excellent weather,” said Nakazawa. “By 1 p.m. I had already taken my limit of salmon.”

Ruben Zurita of Gonzales took big fish honors aboard the Sur Randy with a 15 lb. chinook. He also caught another salmon to fill out his limit.

The Sur Randy, skippered by Bill Williamson, finished the day with 16 fish for 20 people, a lot of misses and one king lost to a sea lion.

“We mooched anchovies at the edge of the Monterey Marine Canyon in 230 feet of water,” said Nakazawa. “The fish were really on the move and you had to work your bait. The fish averaged 12 to 14 pounds.”

Other anglers who nailed big, bold chinooks aboard the Sur Randy include Mel Imai of Fresno and Ron Martin of Capitola. The Chubasco, skippered by Brett Williamson, came back with 12 chinooks for 32 people on Saturday. Happy anglers who nailed king salmon include Juan Ferrusco of San Jose, Ramon Rodriguez of Modesto and Jim Hurtado of Jamestown.

The Chubasco had 11 salmon for 32 anglers on Sunday, while the Sur Randy came back with 16 salmon for 22 people, according to Pete Bruno of Randy’s Fishing Trips.

Anglers fishing aboard boats out of Chris’ Fishing Trips also experienced mixed action on opening weekend. Harry “Tinker” Neese, captain of the Checkmate, returned with 8 salmon for 18 anglers on opening day. On Sunday, the boat came back with 26 chinooks for 18 passengers.

The Star of Monterey, run by Captain Nick Lemon, had 16 salmon for 35 anglers on Sunday and 29 chinooks for 35 passengers the following day.

The Caroline, skippered by Dave Lemon, came back with 23 fish for anglers on Saturday. The captain and 18 passengers had a fabulous trip on Sunday when they caught full limits of salmon.

A southerly wind made the fishing tough on Monday, when sloppy conditions slowed down the action to 5 to 7 fish per boat, according to Todd Arcoleo. However, the fishing is expected to rebound as soon as favorable weather returns.

Trollers experienced mixed results on opening weekend out of Moss Landing and Monterey. Captain Norm Chapin of Hook'em Up Sport Fishing reported limits of chinooks while trolling both days.

“We fished out of Moss Landing on the south side of the Canyon near Mulligan Hill,” Chapin explained. “The best depth to fish was 300 feet plus while trolling a variety of lures at depths of 150-200 feet.”

His best rigs for the weekend were Purple Haze Hoochies behind an eleven inch dodger, Rotary Salmon Killers and Abalone colored Apex lures. “The fish are in excellent shape and are full of fight,” he emphasized. “Our big fish for the weekend was a 20 pound chinook caught on April 2 by Ed Mercer of Union City.”’

Richard Alves, Fish Sniffer Webmaster, joined the annual Bayside Fishing Club camping trip/salmon fishing jubilee at the Moss Landing launch ramp on Saturday and Sunday.

Fishing was slow the first day, but Alves and two other anglers landed 3 chinooks in the 12 to 15 pound range while trolling with Captain Mike Velasquez on April 2. “We trolled hoochies on downriggers at the Soquel Hole at 150 to 200 feet deep.

Charter boats and private skiffs departing from Santa Cruz also experienced mixed results on opening weekend. For example, the Velocity had 9 salmon for 38 passengers, while The Princess returned with 2 chinooks for 32 anglers on April 1 after fishing between Santa Cruz and Mulligan Hill.

On April 2, the Velocity came back with 3 salmon for 30 passengers and The Princess had 9 salmon for 30 passengers. The chinooks ranged in size from 8 to 17 pounds. The anglers caught the majority of fish between 120 and 180 feet deep off Mulligan Hill, according to Kenny Stagnaro of Stagnaro’s Fishing Trips.

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