PURSUING CALIFORNIA KING SALMON

Along the Northern California coast in the Pacific Ocean lies some of the richest sea life found anywhere in the world. Due to this area's natural upwelling, cold water meets the warm surface air and creates giant plankton blooms. These plankton blooms feed huge schools of baitfish. Masses of anchovies, herring, squid and krill congregate all along the coast. Game fish, such as king salmon or "Chinook," striped bass, halibut and pelagic tuna have an unlimited food supply.

Salmon follow concentrations of baitfish, which for them are usually anchovies, herring, or sardines. Anchovies school off the California coast and migrate into shallow waters off the Pacific beaches during the summer months to spawn. Herring also school off the California coast, but spawn in the bays during the winter months. Sardines have made a comeback in recent years from the overfishing of the 1950s, which nearly led to their extinction.

This great food chain results in wonderful fishing all summer long. Anglers can venture out the Golden Gate for a short run up the Marin County coastline. On the SEA TURTLE, our twin-diesel-powered, 27-foot Boston Whaler, we travel to these familiar fishing grounds and troll using heavy fly fishing equipment with great success.

WHERE TO FISH

The state of California has three main ocean salmon fishing regions. The first area is Newport Beach to Point Conception and is the most Southern. Salmon have historically followed the cold water current into Southern California during the winter storms and fed on the abundant schools of sardines and squid. Early spring arrives and the fish head north to Point Conception and Pigeon Point in the Monterey area to follow the bait, which starts to migrate north. This makes the Central California coast the best fishing spot during the months of February, March and April.

Starting in May and June, the salmon appear in the Northern California water s. Areas from Pigeon Point to Point Arena are the summer hot spots. Salmon school up to feed as the summer weather pattern takes form along the rich waters. This part of the coast is famous for the Golden Gate fog from May to September as well as a northwest predominant wind. It's these winds that cause the upwelled current, keeping the bait at the salmon's mercy.

<<< Page 1 >>>