THE WEEKLY SHORELINER'S REPORT

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 Summary:  The good news is that the fishing is good to excellent when the wind isn't howling like a horror movie.  the bad news is that, just like last year, we're going to skip spring and head straight into summer gales.  Get out early and you have the brightest hope.  Or hit the beaches, where the wind is usually less savage.  But the fish are active all over and now is the best time to fish so far this year.
 
 
 

STRIPED BASS: There are plenty of stripers from the Delta to the Pacific Ocean.  The trick is in finding them when the wind is down and the water is decent.  Still getting them at Ashby/Frontage Road, Point Isabel, and Butler's Beach, mostly on pile worms.  San Pablo Bay is productive very early in the morning on the Marin side and okay on this side of the bay.  Pluggers are doing okay at Golden Gate Fields.
 

STURGEON:  Best hope is on the Marin side, using shrimp baits at China Camp or at the mouth of Sonoma Creek.  The wind is so bad elsewhere that it's hard to see that delicate rod tip.
 

PERCH: When the wind is down (whenever that is) pile perch are hitting pile worms and ghost shrimp in the Oakland Estuary, and black perch are around the  Berkeley Marina and Butler's Beach.  Both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge have been productive on pile worms and mussels.  The wind is best by the beaches and it's especially good from Slide Ranch to Point Reyes for striped, calico, redtail and silver perch.
 

MISCELLANEOUS SPECIES: Kingfish and jacksmelt are roaming the bay system.  Flounder are  infrequent and in smaller sizes.  Shiners are in and that usually means halibut are soon to follow.  Shark action comes and goes.  Some bat ray activity near the Golden Gate.
 

FRESHWATER: Trout plants in the following lakes:  San Pablo, Lafayette, Chabot, Temescal,  Shadow Cliffs, Bon Tempe, and Lagunitas.  Great fishing reported all around.   Trout are taking marshmallows, nightcrawlers, orange and chartreuse Power Bait.  Bass are hitting spinners, minnow-like lures, and plastic worms.  Catfish like just about anything.  Clear weather has made the lakes green up nicely.  Now is a good time to hit Marin.
 

DELTA RUMORS: Striped bass are on the move.  Best spots are Bacon Island, Whiskey Slough, and Discovery Bay in South Delta and--even better--the Mokelumne River, Rio Vista, Sherman Island, and 3-Mile Slough in North Delta.  Sardines, minnows, blood worms are good baits and Rebels and Rat-L-Traps are good lures.  Black Bass are in "pre-spawn" and are closer to shore now.  It's a good time to try lures on them; just about anything will work, whether plastic worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits or jigs.  Sturgeon are best from Rio Vista down to Sherman Island on shrimp baits.  Catfish are hitting clams and mackerels and anglers are filling up stringers along Highway 4 and 8 Mile Road.  Crappie and bluegills are good by structure and tules, especially by the bridges on Tracy Blvd.