THE WEEKLY SHORELINER'S REPORT
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 Summary: The recent spate of minus tides slowed things down a bit this past week.  The stripers, however, are still beginning to move from the sea to the Delta; the sturgeon are stirring (this Friday's wee bit of rain may have helped, slightly); the rockfish, perch, and catfish are all biting nicely; and the days are getting shorter.  Autumn is just around the corner.  A few more weeks of on-and-off hot weather, clouds, and rain. . . should get things worked up splendidly for some decent angling.  It's already pretty good now!
 
 

STRIPED BASS: The striped bass are on the move and it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time.  Things change quickly. Alameda Rock Wall has been one place to target stripers on pile worms or Hair Raisers.  So has Golden Gate Fields on Kastmasters, but the action is sporadic at best.  Same thing with Point Isabel on grass shrimp and Hair Raisers.  Then there is the Carquinez Strait, mostly on the north side from Vallejo just past the I680 Bridge.  Take a bunch of lures and hike the shoreline.  Expect nothing but be prepared for everything.
 

STURGEON:  Try Eckley Pier, the Napa River, and up at Sherman Island.  The weather and season is helping trigger their annual migration, so also target spots like Alameda, Emeryville, and San Pablo Bay from China Camp to the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge.  You might just get lucky.
 

PERCH: Great fishing on the surf these days, especially north of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Pile worms will get you large numbers and fair sizes of striped, walleyed, silver, barred, and calico perch.  Bring light tackle and have a ball.  Still good in the East Bay when the tide is near the top.  Grass shrimp and pile worms will do the trick, with best spots being Berkeley, Point Isabel, and Richmond.
 

MISCELLANEOUS SPECIES: Halibut fishing is in its last hurrah, or ho-hum.  Some catches reported at Berkeley Pier.  Smelt are around.  So are small sharks, with larger leopards still hitting midshipman and various baits in the south bay.  Salmon are running through the sloughs near Suisun City and some are moving past Benicia.  Spinners like the Mepps Flying C and the Blue Fox would be appropriate.
 

FRESHWATER: No changes, except that the waters are beginning to turn as the days shorten.  this is bringing black bass activity to a much better prospect. Channel catfish planted in the following lakes: Contra Loma, Temescal, Shadow Cliffs, Del Valle, and Chabot.  Florida-strain largemouth bass were planted at Del Valle, Shadow Cliffs, and Chabot.  Chicken livers and nightcrawlers for the catfish, plastic worms and spiinerbaits for the bass.  Trout fishing is slow.
 

DELTA RUMORS: Stripers are moving back to the Delta and evidence is already present in the Tracy/Old River region in the south, and between Suisun Bay and Sherman Island in the north.  Shad are all over and the stripers are feeding on them.  Use baits and lures accordingly.  Still far too many baby stripers in the mix--if you run into them, MOVE.  Black bass fishing is steady but not spectacular on spinners and crankbaits.  Panfish activity has picked up on red worms and minnows.  Catfish is still the top choice on fish baits and nightcrawlers.