Craig Hanson
07-16-2007, 07:34 PM
Looking for a smoker? It's that time of year when large Chinook salmon follow schools of anchovies and sardines toward shore. These fish are staging for a run up river along the Marin and Sonoma coasts.
Bodega Bay is an excellent starting point where private boaters and party boats typically intercept these fish between Point Reyes and Tomales Point. In fact, the action has been solid in this area for weeks.
Another hot spot is the Marin County coast from Muir Beach to Bolinas Point, and north toward Point Reyes. The most talked about area is called Duxbury, named for the reef, and buoy located three miles off Stinson Beach.
The action has been generally slow, but those fish that have been landed are worth bragging rights. My brother was out with two friends over the weekend, and landed one 30-pound salmon. Fish in the 20 and 30-pound class have been common, and will likely continue until the end of the season in November.
As we move into late summer and fall the wind will die down, and the ocean will flatten, making it easier on those susceptible to seasickness.
Techniques vary greatly to entice a big salmon bite. Some prefer big baits; others like to fish deep. Some anglers have favorite lures - right now, watermelon-colored Apexes are getting a lot of play.
My personal favorite is old-school trolling anchovies. i always use very sharp crow-bar, or cable-baiter hooks. Most of the fishing is done in less than 100 feet of water. I generally set my lines between 25 and 50 feet.
Do you have a favorite technique or tip for landing a smoker?
Tight lines and loose drags!
Bodega Bay is an excellent starting point where private boaters and party boats typically intercept these fish between Point Reyes and Tomales Point. In fact, the action has been solid in this area for weeks.
Another hot spot is the Marin County coast from Muir Beach to Bolinas Point, and north toward Point Reyes. The most talked about area is called Duxbury, named for the reef, and buoy located three miles off Stinson Beach.
The action has been generally slow, but those fish that have been landed are worth bragging rights. My brother was out with two friends over the weekend, and landed one 30-pound salmon. Fish in the 20 and 30-pound class have been common, and will likely continue until the end of the season in November.
As we move into late summer and fall the wind will die down, and the ocean will flatten, making it easier on those susceptible to seasickness.
Techniques vary greatly to entice a big salmon bite. Some prefer big baits; others like to fish deep. Some anglers have favorite lures - right now, watermelon-colored Apexes are getting a lot of play.
My personal favorite is old-school trolling anchovies. i always use very sharp crow-bar, or cable-baiter hooks. Most of the fishing is done in less than 100 feet of water. I generally set my lines between 25 and 50 feet.
Do you have a favorite technique or tip for landing a smoker?
Tight lines and loose drags!