Fish Report for 5-30-2024

Dave Dadua of Lodoga, CA landed a nice cabezon on a recent trip out of Shelter Cove.
Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Jake Mitchell, Sea Hawk Sport Fishing.

Wind Continues to Hamper Offshore Anglers

5-30-2024
Kenny Priest

It’s been another quiet week for offshore anglers along the North Coast. The north winds have been howling for nearly the entire month of May, but it looks as though we’re about to get a reprieve. The wind is forecast to come down starting Saturday and it looks like we’ll get a few consecutive days on the water, something that hasn’t happened much this month. To date, both the Pacific halibut and rockfish fisheries haven’t offered much in the way of excitement. Hopefully that will change starting this weekend.

Weekend marine forecast
Ocean conditions will be much improved beginning Saturday. Looking towards the weekend, winds will be from the northwest 5 to 10 knots Saturday with waves northwest 5 feet at six seconds. Sunday is looking really good, with northwest winds 5 to 10 knots and waves north 2 feet at five seconds and northwest 4 feet at 11 seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit weather.gov/eureka or windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at (707) 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at (707) 443-6484.

Oregon salmon must be brought onto Oregon shores
In a CDFW press release issued May 24, they are reminding California anglers of important rules relating to transport of ocean and river salmon taken from Oregon.

The press release states:

“In ocean waters, any salmon taken in Oregon fisheries may not be brought to shore in California. However, it is legal for Californians to trailer their vessels to launch and fish from Oregon ports under applicable Oregon fishing licenses, regulations and reporting requirements. Salmon harvested in Oregon may be brought into California over land if also accompanied by a California Declaration for Entry Form. The declaration must be completed at or prior to the time of entry. After the time of entry, a copy of the completed declaration shall be submitted to CDFW within 24 hours.

On May 16, 2024, the National Marine Fisheries Service on advice from the Pacific Fishery Management Council and West Coast fisheries agencies, including CDFW, took in season action to implement a landing boundary at the Oregon/California state line for recreational ocean salmon fisheries in Oregon waters just north of California. The new requirement states that any salmon taken under Oregon sportfishing regulations in the area between Humbug Mountain and the Oregon/California state line, also known as the Oregon Klamath Management Zone, must be landed north of the Oregon/California state line for the 2024 fishing season.”

USCG Captains Course offered in Eureka
The USCG Master 100ton/OUPV course will be held here in Humboldt Bay from June 17-28. Hosted by the City of Eureka, tuition for 15 students will be fully funded by Vineyard and RWE. Information on requirements and a link to the course registration are can be found here. You will need to reserve your seat with a deposit.

Ruth Lake Bass tournament coming this Saturday
Southern Trinity Area Rescue will be holding the annual “Paul Jadro Memorial Bass Tournament” on Saturday, June 1. Blast off will be at 5:45 a.m. or at first safe light, by draw. The one-day tournament event offers a first prize award of up to $1,000 with payout to 1 in 3 in addition to door prizes and sponsor products. The entry fee is $140 per team with a big fish buy in option of $10. The tournament is catch and release and all competitors must fish from boats that are required to have operational live wells on board. Life jackets are required. Check in at the Marina on Friday May 31 at 4:30-6 p.m. or Saturday 4:30 – 5:15 a.m. For more information, contact Lon Winburn at 707-499-2490.

California halibut bite heating up
The California halibut bite is starting to pick up as quite a few were caught late last week and into Saturday. According the Justin Kelly of RMI Outdoors, the best bite was in the second channel in the north bay. “Swimbaits seem to be the ticket right now, with chartreuse and white being the most productive,” said Kelly. “The bite has slowed this week mostly due to the wind. You can do ok in the mornings if the tides are right.”

As a reminder, the California halibut bag and total possession limit was reduced from three to two in California waters north of Point Sur, Monterey County last June. The minimum size limit is 22 inches total length. The reduced California halibut limit is designed to protect the resource amid increased recreational fishing pressure due to limited fishing opportunities and changes in other ocean fisheries including salmon.

Fish for free this weekend in Oregon
Oregon will be having a Free Fishing Weekend June 1 and 2. On those two days, no license, tag or endorsement is required to fish, crab or clam anywhere in Oregon. This applies only to waters already open to fishing, crabbing or clamming. All other regulations, such as bag limits, still apply. Visit www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2024/05_May/052324.asp for more information.

The Oceans:
Eureka
Excessive winds are keeping the Eureka fleet from putting quality time on the water. According to Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing, Friday and Tuesday were the only fishable days in the past week. “The halibut fishing remains slow, but we haven’t had much time to look around yet,” said Klassen. “And when we’ve gone out, conditions have been tough. We’ve had some big tides and the water has been dirty. There’s been a little bite right at the tide change, but that was about it. The rockfish bite at the Cape has been good, but we’ve only been down there a couple days. The lingcod bite has been slow, but there’s plenty of blacks, vermilions, and canaries. The wind looks like it let up this weekend, right now Sunday and Monday are looking fishable.”

Trinidad
“The rockfish bite has been a little on the slow side so far,” said Curt Wilson of Wind Rose Charters. “We’ve been able to get limits, but you have to keep at and really know the spots well. We’re working spots from Trinidad Head to Patrick’s Point. The Pacific halibut bite hasn’t taken off yet, I’ve only heard of one caught so far. The crabbing has been excellent. There’s lots of them, but they aren’t in the greatest shape right now.”

Shelter Cove
“Rock fishing has been good and the lingcod bite really picked up over the weekend,” said Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “Dirty water moved back in Tuesday and the bite slowed. Most of our effort has been at the Old Man.”

Crescent City
The wind continues to blow, keeping most of the boats off the water reports Britt Carson, of Crescent City’s Englund Marine. He said, “There were a couple days with decent conditions, but the rockfish and lingcod bite slowed just a little. There have been a few more California halibut caught off the rocks this week. There’s also been a few stripers caught at the very end of Enderts Beach. The Pacific halibut bite is still slow, mostly due to lack of effort. I’ve heard of just the one caught since the opener.”

Brookings
​“Salmon fishing continues to be slow out of Brookings, mainly because of cold water temperatures of 45 to 46 degrees,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Even with calm conditions over the weekend, very few salmon were brought in. Halibut fishing has improved, while lingcod and rockfish action is good. Windy weather returns Tuesday afternoon.”

Lower Rogue
According to Martin, a few springers are still entering the Rogue, but most anglers are waiting for fish to begin holding up in the bay. “Wild fish may be kept beginning June 1.”

Send in your fish photos
Land a big lingcod or halibut lately? Or maybe your friend or relative has reeled in their first perch. Email your fishing photo to kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com and I’ll run them with the “Fishing the North Coast” weekly blog. Just include the name of the angler in the photo, where and when it was taken and any other details you’d like to share.



Kenny Priest operates Fishing the North Coast, a fishing guide service out of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com.


< Previous Report Next Report >





More Reports


5-24-2024
For anglers across the North Coast, Memorial Day weekend provides an excellent opportunity to try your luck at a variety...... Read More


5-16-2024
Ocean conditions, lack of effort, or lack of fish, whatever the reason may be, it’s contributing to a much slower...... Read More