Santa Cruz Anglers Nail Big Lingcod, Rockfish Off Franklin Point   By: Dan Bacher October 19, 2007 More Articles by Dan

The 120 anglers fishing aboard four charter boats – the Sur Randy, Velocity, Princess and Kahuna - experienced decent lingcod fishing and solid rockfish action in the “Who’s Your Daddy” Lingcod Tournament out of the Santa Cruz Harbor on September 23.

The Ano Nuevo Island area, for decades a favorite for bottomfish anglers, was off limits to anglers for the first time ever because of the controversial no fishing zones impose by the state of California starting on September 21. However, the skippers had no problem finding big lingcod, cabezon and rockfish in the Franklin Point area off the southern San Mateo County Coast.

John Humphrey won first place in the third annual event, winning $300 while fishing aboard the Velocity, by catching an 11 lb. 2 oz. lingcod, while using shrimp flies. Bijam Pourmand caught the largest non-lingcod, an 8.5 lb. cabezon, while fishing aboard the Velocity also. He won $100 and a trophy.

Since his anglers swept both the lingcod and non-rockfish divisions, Captain Kenny Stagnaro received the “Battle of the Bay Top Boat” trophy.

The 37 anglers aboard the boat had a fabulous day, landing 9 lingcod, near-limits of rockfish, including 20 reds, and 5 cabezon.

“The anglers caught an overall good quality of black, gopher, red and other rockfish averaging 2 to 3 pounds,” said Stagnaro. “We fished the area between Franklin Point and Ano Nuevo Island. The fishing started off a little slow, with most of the cabezon and lingcod being caught during the mid morning. Then towards the end of the trip, the rockfish action really picked up.”

Greg Oswald, the first place winner last year, took second place in the lingcod division by nailing a 10 lb. 9 oz. fish aboard the Sur Randy, skippered by Brian Cutting. Oswald took home $200, a trophy and a Boater’s World $50 gift card.

Eric Dyer of Saratoga demonstrated his angling prowess by bagging a 9 lb. 15 oz. cabezon aboard the Sur Randy. However, his fish wasn’t included because he was volunteer staff for the event.

The Sur Randy, after coming from Randy’s Fishing Trips at Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey to the Santa Cruz Harbor, also fished the water between Ano Nuevo and Franklin Point in 80 to 100 feet of water. The anglers aboard the boat caught 9 lingcod, half limits of rockfish and 2 cabezon, according to Cutting.

The Kahuna, out of Tom’s Sportfishing in Moss Landing, endued up with 8 legal-sized lingcod and limits of rockfish for 22 anglers, according to Captain Scott Munro. Steve Genaros of San Jose nailed the largest lingcod aboard the boat, a 9 lb. 11 oz. beauty, while Bill Horn bagged the largest rockfish, a 8 lb. 2 oz. vermilion.

The Princess, run by Captain Danny Frank out of Stagnaro’s Fishing Trips in Santa Cruz, returned to the harbor with 4 lingcod and ¾ limits of rockfish for 36 people. Gilbert Pinon demonstrated his fishing skill by capturing the boat’s largest vermilion, while Gabriel Pinon ended up with an 8 lb. 14 oz. lingcod.

“Five years ago we started with 18 people on one boat, the Sea Stag III,” said Walter Nash, derby coordinator. “This year we expanded to 120 people on four boats this year.”

Last year the raffle proceeds of $1600 were donated to United Anglers, while this year Nash will donate the proceeds of the raffle to the Rockfish Symposium in February 2008 at the Cocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz.

“The biannual meeting of scientists throughout the state is designed to develop more give accurate stock assessments and field surveys,” said Nash. “We are donating the raffle funds to this event so that we have more accurate science on rockcod and lingcod populations as we fight to keep our rockfish season open.”

Although the new marine protected areas went into effect on September 21, fishing for rockfish and lingcod will remain open along the coast in the Monterey South-Central Management Area from Pigeon Point to Lopez Point through November 30, pending any further action by the PFMC. Boats departing from Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Capitola, Moss Landing and Monterey fish this area.

Fishing will also remain open through November 30 in the Morro Bay South-Central Management Area, fished by charter and private boats out of Morro Bay and Avila Beach.

Boater’s World, Coyote Bait and Tackle, Reed’s Sporting Goods, Live Oak Café and others were co-sponsors of the event. For more information about next year’s derby, call Walter Nash at (831) 239-6417.

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