DELTA
The calm weather conditions provide excellent opportunities to fish for either striped bass, sturgeon or salmon. Presently, there are good numbers of striped bass averaging 21 to 23 inches in length along with many undersized fish throughout the system. Most of the action is taking place at anchor tossing shad, mud suckers, cut anchovy and sardines. In the south Delta drifting live bluegills is the ticket for some larger fish exceeding 20 pounds in weight. Salmon are still moving through the Delta but due to the water clarity the bite is few and far between for trollers dragging spinners. In the Benicia area off the shoreline anglers tossing Vee-Zee or Mepp’s Flying C spinners have been producing 4 or 5 salmon per day. Also, the Freeport area in the North Delta has been the best location for salmon near the Freeport Bridge.Dunking roe and eel for sturgeon has been pretty good for anglers in the big cut area upstream off Sherman Island, Ryer Island ferry into Cache slough. Another good bet for Sturgeon is off Chain Island and the deepest water outside the Pittsburg Marina.

OCEAN
Dungeness crab and rockfish combination trips is the way to go with anglers claiming limits of both on many outings. Seas have been calm lately providing ideal conditions. Bodega Bay seems to be the epicenter of the crab world with charters and private craft loading up. Salmon season is closed with rockfish continuing through December 31.

Note:
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is proposing changes to the recreational ground fish regulations for next year, the 2017-2018 fishing season. The regulations are becoming more liberal in terms of legal fishing depths, but more restricted in terms of take. For the central management area from Pigeon Point to Point Conception the changes include rockfish, cabezon and greenling fishing out to 300 feet of water. Current regulations allow fishing only out to 240 feet. The bag limit on black rockfish drops from 5 fish to 3 fish per day and lingcod drops from 3 fish to only 2 per day. Boccaccio is currently limited to 3 per day, will be opened wide. You will be able to keep up to 10 per day as opposed to the current limit of 3 per day. Perhaps the most significant change is lifting the eight year ban on canery rockfish whereby you can keep one canary per day. “since the resource has been now declared rebuilt,” according to the DFW. These are proposed changes only, but the DFW typically adheres to their projections.

AMADOR LAKE
Lake Amador trout plants continue in addition to 3600 pounds released during the first plant, another 1200 pounds was planted nov. 10 including 10 percent of the fish from the Mt. Lassen fish factory bing trophy size, some exceeding 10 pounds in weight and larger. The plants will continue every other week until May 2017 or when the water reaches over 70º in surface temperature.

TAKE TIME TO ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS. UNTIL NEXT TIDE STAY SAFE TO FISH ANOTHER DAY. CHECK WEATHER CONDITIONS BEFORE HEADING OUT INTO THE BIG WATERS.

DELTA WATER QUALITY PLAN HEARINGS SCHEDULED
Earlier this year thousands of Restore The Delta supporters signed a petition urging the State Water Resources Control Board to update outdated water quality standards for the Bay-Delta region. Now we need your action in person. Presently this outdated, 20 year old Water Quality Control Plan allows more than half the water needed for the Delta’s ecological health to be diverted away for unsustainable Big Agriculture in the west and south San Joaquin Valley.

The State Resources Control Board is currently in phase 1 of updating the plan and the need to make sure that the State Water Board gets it right and is not influenced by special interests. New water quality standards that truly protect communities and species is a proactive step that helps ensure reliable water supplies for all water users of the Bay-Delta.

We need you to make your comments! The public comment process ends January 17, 2017, and all hearings conclude January 3, 2017. Please limit your oral comments to 3 minutes in length.

HEARING LOCATIONS, DATES AND TIMES:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016
Cal EPA Building Stockton Civic Auditorium
1001 I Street, 2nd Floor 525 N. Center Street
Sacramento, Ca Stockton, Ca
Time: 9:00 a.m. Time: 9:00 a.m.

The State Water Resources Board will accept both written and oral comments the proposed plan amendment and the SED. They must be received no later than 12:00 noon on January 17, 2017 and addressed and submitted to:

Jeanine Townsend, Clerk to the Board
State Water Resources Control Board
1001 I Street, 24th Floor
Sacramento, Ca 95814-0100
Information: Jeanine Townsend at (916)341-5600

NOTES
The waterfowl hunting season runs through January 29. Bag limit: 7 ducks, 30 geese. Pheasant and wild turkey hunting seasons run through December 11. Bag limit: 1 turkey per day, three per season; 3 pheasants.

RESTORATION EFFORTS NEEDED TO RESTORE THE DELTA
In a follow-up report published by experts at the San Francisco Estuary Institute say there is still hope of bringing backk at least a portion of the largest estuary on the west coast of the Americas.
Their broad plan calls for fundamental changes to the mostly agricultural landscape that exists today. They propose thick bands of forests along Delta waterways, sprawling wetlands much larger than the isolated patches found today, and rebirth of tiny streams that once ran through the Delta which provided refuge for native. The scientists also called for greater freshwater flows through out the Delta system along with controlled floodwaters to help fish spawn.

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 30, 2016 Last day of recreational red abalone season.
GENERAL PHEASANT HUNTING SEASON CLOSES
December 25, 2016 - The general pheasant hunting season closes throughout much of he state. For more information checkout the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website at dfg.ca.gov

SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL SPORTSMAN'S EXPOSITION
January 19 - 22, 2016 - This is the big one. Come on out and view what's new in the world of hunting and fishing. The Sacramento ISE show boasts hundreds of vendors and offers dozens of hard hitting hunting and fishing seminars. The event takes place at Sacramento's CalExpo. For more information visit sports expos.com

GENERAL WATERFOWL HUNTING SEASON CLOSES
January 29, 2017 - The general waterfowl hunting season closes throughout much of the state. For more information go to the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife website at dfg.ca.gov

QUAIL HUNTING SEASON CLOSES
January 29, 2017 - The general quail hunting season closes throughout much of the state for mountain and valley quail. For more information go to the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife website at dfg.ca.gov

FUTURE PRO NEW MELONES BASS TOURNAMENT
February 18, 2017 - Future Pro holds their bass tournament at New Melones Reservoir. Be part of the west coast’s hottest bass fishing circuit by signing up for this event. For more information call Vince Harris at (916) 768-0938

SACRAMENTO BOAT SHOW
March 9 - 12, 2017, 2017 - At Sacramento’s Cal Expo. Doors open at 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.on Sunday. For more information go to sacramentoboatshow.com or call (916)371-4239.

SANTA ROSA FISHING TACKLE AND DUCK DECOY SHOW
March 10-11, 2017 - This is the place to go for antiques. Collectibles, new and used fishing tackle and much more. This annual event takes place at 1351 Maple Ave. in Santa Rosa, ca. For more information call (707) 539-3662

RENO BOAT SHOW AND RECREATION EXPO
March 17, 18,19, 2017 - Every outdoor sports and recreation enthusiast will appreciate the Reno Boat and Recreation Expo. This show boasts the latest outdoor gear and accessories, adventure and travel, boats, RVs, camp trailers and much more. The expo will be held at the Reno Convention Center. For more information call: (775) 885-2222

UPCOMING FUTURE PRO BASS TOURNAMENTS
March 25, 2017 - Lake Berryessa. Information: Call Vince Harris at (916)768-0938
April 8, 2017 - Don Pedro Reservoir. Call Vince Harris at (916)768-0938
April 22, 2017 - Folsom Lake. Call Vince Harris at (916)768-0938
May 6, 2017 - Camanche Lake. Call Vince Harris at (916)768-0938
May 13, 2017 - Clearlake. Call Vince Harris at (916)768-0938

JAY’S BEST BETS
Delta - striped bass and sturgeon
Lake Camanche - trout
Amador Lake - trout
Bodega Bay - rockfish / Dungeness crab