Sunday Scoop & Fishing the Rough

I love fishing but I used to HATE fishing in rough conditions. I used to think it was impossible to catch fish in big storms and swells. Not only is every part of fishing, from knot tying to feeling a bite, wayyy harder - it can be downright dangerous. So as the winter storms come in and the swells grow larger, let’s check out some best practices for catching fish in rough conditions!

(That being said we have a good window this week condition-wise)

First, our weekly fishing & stocking reports…

We’re seeing consistent limits of rockfish and Dungeness crab week after week, this is the season to get after it on the coast.

*Counts Via Fish Emeryville, Lovely Martha Sport Fishing

No new updates here - looks like they are taking a pause on stocking.

Fishing past November into Spring can be rough in Northern California. Massive swells, bigger storms, colder water and fewer baitfish around. But if you know what to look for and have your techniques dialed, you can actually use these conditions to your advantage. On days most anglers would stay home, you can keep the bite alive by knowing what to target and how.

This is easier said than done, but you want to identify the beaches with minimal swell and the longest intervals between waves. The wave power itself can be a good indicator too, we outline all of these stats in our weekly fishing forecasts.

There will be times when the conditions get too crazy, so always prioritize safety. If the Pacific side is sketchy, head into the Bay itself to fish. That’s not to say the Bay doesn’t get churned up too, but generally an unfishable day for the Pacific can be saved by a solid outing to your favorite Bay shoreline or pier.

For those who have been reading for a while you also know I love fishing jetties, but on very rough days I’m not going anywhere near that (except during low tide if I’m feeling crazy but I do not recommend).

Winter is where you get to really learn a spot too. Fish will look for cover during big swells, and it’s up to you to find their spots. If you’re on a pier, try to find deeper water that offers more protection for fish. If you’re surf fishing look for deep troughs and inside pockets. Bonus points if you can find a more protected beach or cove.

There is one fish in particular that offers exceptional winter fishing, no matter the condition. That would be Northern California’s very own Barred Surf Perch and Redtail Surf Perch. While not exactly a prized sport fishing catch, days where I go out looking for perch are always incredibly fun. Sometimes it’s almost hard to get skunked, no matter what the conditions are. When rough water and storms churn up sand crabs and other bait, the perch go into a frenzy.

The best part? Targeting perch uses almost all the same techniques as targeting stripers. While it’s not super common to catch striper in early winter it most definitely does happen. Sand crabs or sand worms on Carolina or hi-lo rigs are a great bet. Just remember to retrieve slower than usual - remember the fish aren’t moving as fast right now.

California halibut can surprisingly be caught in winter with the right techniques. I’ve seen reports of them moving to shallower water before and after storms to feed on baitfish, so this is certainly worth a shot if you’re in an area where you can access them. Still, focus on the deeper water and slow presentations.

Rockfish season is in full swing until the end of December. While these fish are hardy, they do go into hiding during big swells. If you have a spot you know like the back of your hand you can still entice a bite though - they like to protect their cover so bouncing some bait or a jig on their rock of choice is a good way to get bit.

Shark and ray fishing is good year-round. Vertical presentations with strong smelling bait and a heavy weight are the way to go.

Finally I want to get into this more when the season opens up but sturgeon fishing is fast approaching. This is not for the impatient angler, but I don’t think their is a winter fish that rivals these old dinosaurs.

Not checking the water quality - during big storms San Francisco’s sewers get flushed out into the Pacific. You do not want to be anywhere near that right after a storm.

Not fishing structure - storms can also restructure beaches, so it’s important to read the surf and adopt a “finding the fish” mentality rather than sitting in the same spot.

Using summer rigs - a 1oz Carolina rig or 3 oz pyramid weight somewhere like Ocean Beach is just not going to cut it. Get some heavier gear!

Fishing like it’s summer - for example high tide may not be the go-to time slot anymore if things are looking rough. Learn your spots and see what works, but don’t keep repeating your same patterns from summer expecting to catch fish.

Staying on blown-out beaches - if you go-to beach is blown-out, you need to move. Don’t forget we have access to the Bay here, and all the protected waters that come with it.

*Always check conditions before going out there, this data may no longer be up to date so please be safe

Good luck out there 😎