SAN FRANCISCO
The good news out on San Francisco Bay is the fantastic halibut fishing that is taking place. Charter boats are putting their clients into limits and near limits of flatfish along with good numbers of striped bass while on the drift with live anchovies. Take for instance Captain Jim Smith aboard the Pacific Dream took 20 anglers out for the day and returned with 55 halibut averaging 10 to 13 pounds along with 11 striped bass. The New Huck Finn reported that on the last seven trips they boarded an amazing 385 halibut. Last Sunday the Huck Finn returned with 50 halibut and striped bass for 26 anglers.

OCEAN
The rockcod and ling cod fishing remains solid off the coast of California. The vessel Sea Wolf took 30 anglers for 30 ling cod to 22 pounds, and 30 limits of rockfish. As a bonus Dungeness crab pot pulling is still providing quality crab limits.

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER
The striped bass fishing on the San Joaquin River is continuing to provide 2 fish limits, especially those who are drifting live minnows and spooning with P-Line Laser Minnows. On some days they are hooking and landing over 20 fish per outing with about half of them being 18 inches or better. Most are averaging about 4 to 8 pounds, up to an occasional 10 pounder or better. Most of the fish are males with about half completely spawned out. The best action is taking place from the Antioch Bridge upstream into the Old River Flats and the Sounding Board. The fishing will remain pretty solid for the remainder of May into the month of June.

SACRAMENTO RIVER
The sturgeon fishing is still on a hot bite, but very little interest in fishing for them. Most have headed into the bay for the hot bite on halibut. Good numbers of diamondbacks are holding in the Big and Little Suisun Cuts with salmon roe and grass shrimp providing the best action There has been a lack of striped bass in the Rio Vista area. It has been determined that most are further upstream and very shortly they will be returning on their spawning journey as they return to the bay and the action should pick up along the West Bank up into the Collinsville area. Further upstream into the Freeport and up into the Feather River, the American shad fishing is now in full swing. The shad are hitting grubs instead of Shad Darts since they can’t set up with a sinker on the bottom like a surf rig with two grubs up the line, because it has been necessary to put 4 to 5 ounces of lead to stay down right now due to the heavy snow melt off. During this time period a good number of shad are the larger females. The American shad fishing should remain solid throughout the month of June.

NEW MELONES
RESERVOIR
As if someone turned on the light switch the kokanee fishing action took off this past week, attracting some of the top kokanee fishermen in the state to reappear at this impoundment. The kokanee have been good sized up to 16 inches in length and the bite has been very consistent trolling pink UV or Clown hoochies behind a Gold-Plated Crushed Glow Dodger in both 4 inch tear drop or Peak Performer along with another hot dodger called the Peak Performer Moon with pink/purple scale. Garlic corn dyed orange has been very successful as well. The best action is near the dam from 30 to 52 foot depths. The lake is now at 82 percent of capacity.

CAMANCHE LAKE
The final trout plant of the year took place on May 3rd with 1800 pounds released at the North Shore Marina. Trolling for trout at this popular impoundment is taking place in deeper waters near the dam. Trollers have been consistently pulling some quality rainbow trout in the 7 pound bracket while using Speedy Shiners in the triangle from the river channel to Big Hat Island and Little Hat Island near the dam. Camanche is now at 78 percent of capacity.

PARDEE LAKE
A trout plant of 1000 pounds was placed into the impoundment last week as part of their weekly plant. The waters at Lake Pardee continue to be very cold and with these conditions the trout plants will continue for the coming months. Recently, a 17.76 inch kokanee was caught by Robbie Dunham of Koke Machine Guide Service. This is the largest kokanee reported in northern California anywhere this season. The lake is now at 101 percent of capacity and spilling.