THE WEEKLY SHORELINER'S REPORT

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 Summary:  It's been fabulous weather for kites and windsurfing lately, but not so nice for shoreliners.  But we do have the advantage over the boaters because we can still fish when the wind is slamming down.  The halibut, sharks, and rays don't seem to mind at all.

STRIPED BASS: Fishing is sporadic, with reports coming from all over the Bay system.  The most consistent spots are still in Marin at various Highway 101 bridges, and some luck off the shore from China Camp to San Quentin Point.   Berkeley Pier is seeing keepers caught on the baits anglers are using for halibut, but there is little activity otherwise on this side of the Bay.  Might be a good strategy to go out and plug off the rocks from Richmond to Emeryville early mornings or dusk--or just look for a crowd of casting anglers.  More stripers are moving our way from the Suisun Bay.  Beaches are pretty slow right now.

STURGEON:  Minus tides have stirred up the water enough to give diehards some optimism this late in the season.  San Pablo Bay is a fair possibility, the Napa River better, and the Carquinez Strait best of all.  Or head up to north of Rio Vista, where they are still pulling them in around Steamboat and Cache sloughs (be forewarned about closed shorelines up there, however).  Grass shrimp reigns supreme.

PERCH: No change. Slow most places, but Tiburon, Sausalito, Fort Baker, and Fort Point have been productive.  In the East Bay, patience will be rewarded if you travel along the rocks from Emeryville to Richmond.  Pick a decent tide and use pile worms.  The beaches have been strangely uninspiring of late.

MISCELLANEOUS SPECIES:  Halibut are definitely worth pursuing at Berkeley Pier right now.  Still a bunch of little guys on the lines, but there are some nice flatfish in the 5-10# range being landed these days.  Live shiners, live anchovies, whole frozen anchovies, and cut anchovies--in that order.  Shiners are not plentiful but they can be found on the pier.  Lots of smelt all around the pier as well.  Leopard sharks and bat rays, more of the latter than the former, are also giving anglers a ride on the pier--and all over the Bay, for that matter.  If you're using cut baits or worms, be prepared and set your drag!  Some real monsters are swimming out there.

FRESHWATER: Trout plants in the following lakes: San Pablo , Lafayette, Chabot, Shadow Cliffs,  and Del Valle. Marin is finished with plants for the summer. Trout are moving into deeper water, 15-25 feet deep, but shoreliners are still getting them on marshmallows, nightcrawlers, all PowerBaits, and small Kastmasters.  But the real story is catfish now that the summer has settled in, and San Pablo Reservoir is among the hot spots, right near the dock.  Take all manner of baits early morning for some whisker fish in the 10# range.

DELTA RUMORS:  Summer has all but killed striped bass fishing.  It just isn't happening anymore.  Some luck in the main channels of the Sacramento River system on sardines, anchovies, and pile worms, but the run is over.  Most of the schools are moving through the Suisun right now, and that's tough on shoreliners.  However, there is still a lot of great fishing going on in the Delta and black bass is at the top of the list.  Dawn and dusk are terrific times for throwing plugs and plastic worms.   Panfish are getting pulled in all along the back sloughs of the San Joaquin system. Red worms, minnows, and jigs are all working.  And catfish are everywhere.  This past week has seen a lot of success at the Antioch piers for black bass, catfish, and panfish.