Even though our fishing platform was a beamy 28 foot Black Fin the westerly breeze of about 18 knots had us sitting sideways in the trough, and as a consequence we were getting an aerobic workout as we tried to maintain our balance on the unsteady deck.
The wind and chop was testing our patience big time, but this seasoned crew knew better. We had about two hours left before we hit the bottom of the low, and not too far off our port, a mud line was slowly meandering out to our position.
Before that would happen, an assortment of sharks, bat rays, and pesky biting kingfish kept us honest, and busy re-baiting. If we could hang around just a bit longer till that mud line hit us, we knew something good would happen. Well, just as predicted once the mud reached us positive things began to happen. The striped bass began to trickle in making for some quick sharp bites and that meant setting the hook right now. Using sliding sinker rigs and leaders baited with combo’s of live mud and ghost shrimp and five ounces to hold bottom Four bass in the five to six pound class gobbled our baits and soon after hit the deck. Of unique interest, once that muddy line passed us and began to envelope our surrounding stretch of water the sharks cleared out.
Next the white sturgeon came in and oddly enough each one began to get progressively bigger as the tide played itself out. First my nephew Taylor hooked and released a couple of 42 to 43 inch fish. Next my brother Angelo landed one close to 45 inches, and of course this one went back in. This was definitely a family event as a half hour later our other brother Julius had a great time testing his mettle against a very tough fish that was right on 50 inches. We got some great video including an awesome jump shot at boat side and when the filming was all wrapped up this fish was promptly put back into the drink.
Unfortunately this hot streak was broken only briefly. Our good buddy Rich Shears and owner of the boat struck solidly on a heavy fish, but just as his rod loaded up with heavy resistance, the line popped just above his reel. We don’t know how that one happened.
Now it was my turn. Set up with a 7 foot spinning rod and a Penn 750 SS loaded with 30 lb. test Berkeley Spider Wire, this outfit has proven to be a steady producer. I like its one handed heft and quick response on setting the hook, and besides that I’ve always had a passion for spinning gear because their versatile and just plain fun to use, especially in shallow water.
Casting out with my rig spiced with double mud shrimp I decided to hold the rod because of the heavy chop we were still dealing with. Well believe it or not about 12 minutes had elapsed right at about the time I was thinking of putting the stick down, when I found myself connected to a very irate fish.
As I put the pressure on I could feel slow methodical headshakes as the line angled toward the surface, a good indicator of a fish with respectable shoulders. Expecting a jump at any second, surprisingly it didn’t happen as the line slowly angled toward the boat. As I recovered the line keeping the tension on, the fish was surprisingly calm, but once it got close to the boat it suddenly swapped ends and took off on a long blistering run.
It had stripped off more than 100 yards, and when we began to contemplate whether to drop the anchor or not, I was able to slowly turn it as I continued to apply rod pressure. Sensing the change in the fish’s demeanor I kept the heat on and did not let up.
It soon became a battle of inches as the sturgeon refused to surface at times hugging dangerously close to the boats perimeter. Into the latter rounds of the battle I had to dip the rod half way into the water to prevent the line from angling up and getting cut on the prop.
The fish began to wear down rapidly and even though it was only about a foot under the surface we could not see it because of the muddy water. I wanted to see how big it was so I gave the rod a good push, and eventually I rolled the fish to the top. Not a giant sturgeon but a very tough individual that would tape out to 65 inches. After some quick photos we put her back.
Spinning For Sturgeon
Using spinning gear on skinny water sturgeon can often provide an action packed event full of unexpected highlights, and if anything can be said with any certainty, you have to stay on your toes if you want to finish out on top.
Using a spinning outfit against any big dinosaur will certainly test your mettle in shallow water, but besides that, they’re fun to use, their versatile, their quick reacting, and if you still have not gotten the knack for casting a conventional, you’ll find spinning outfits are easy to master within a very short time. If you want to get youngsters involved in the game, a few short sessions, and they’ll have a spinning outfit figured out.
Spring Time San Pablo Bay
As spring comes into the picture, and I know other things like salmon and halibut will change one’s focus, nonetheless its still a productive time for hooking sturgeon especially if you want to contest the outcome with spinning gear. Should we get a few more spurts of rain to muck things up while such conditions can prove to be messy the odds are vastly improved for hooking a sturgeon.
Spinning Tackle
If you want to go the spinning route a Fenwick SSG 705 seven foot one piece stick with quality guides and rated for 10 to 20 lb line would be ideal. The rod itself should have a sensitive tip and a stiff backbone for lifting stubborn unruly fish.
The last three seasons I’ve had great result using Penn’s 750 SS Spinning Reel. Its tough, it has good line capacity, an excellent drag, and it quickly recovers on a fast moving fish, especially ones that rush the doormat. Regarding lines, because of their thin diameter and non-stretch properties, braid line is excellent for sturgeon fishing, and I would highly recommend Berkeley Spider Wire in 30 lb test. I’ve used this line extensively during some tough battles, and it has held up very well.
Leaders
If you want to get bit consistently and whether one is using monofilament or wire leaders, gear down. That means using smaller hooks and lighter leaders. If you like to use wire, which I have used with great success, Sevenstrand 60 lb test plastic coated wire is excellent. It’s strong enough to handle big fish, and yet at the same time it’s supple feel does not trigger off any warning signals when a sturgeon picks up the bait.
To rig the leader forming a loop and then crimping down an A-5 leader secures the barrel swivel and hooks at their respective ends. On the business end I like to use a double hook system with opposing hooks. To keep the hooks separated a plastic bead is added between the two. Regarding hooks, the Owner Hooks in 7/0 octopus style gets the job done reliably.
Baits
For the San Pablo you can’t go wrong with fresh grass, ghost and mud shrimp. If there is some doubt on what to use, using combo’s work very well. For example, you can use ghost and grass or mud and ghost together. That’s one of the reasons why I like to use a double hook system.
Tides
To be successful on the San Pablo besides using quality bait, focus on the most productive tides. For the San Pablo and without a doubt, the outgo tides, particularly the powerful ebb or minus tides produce the best action year after year.
The bite can take place during the first push of the tide, but generally prime time really evolves about an hour or two before low water. This is that special period when the currents begin to slow down and water loads up with mud and current eddies. The muddier it is, the sturgeon go grubbing about like pigs in a trough. Regarding additional advice, I know things can get boring when nothing is happening, or when the sharks are sitting off your doorstep, but if you’re patient and wait out those last couple hours of the tide, you’ll be amazed how those sturgeon magically show up.
Where To Make The Connection
You got a pretty good bet hooking any springtime sturgeon off China Camp, the Shell Banks, outside and the Hamilton Flats, and east to the Pump House, and its surrounding flats. When the tides slow down, there’s also good to excellent potential in the deeper water from the entrance of the Petaluma Channel south to Channel Marker 5. Again I emphasize on working the outgo tides, and if you’re time is flexible, try to concentrate on those later afternoon or early evening tides.
Good luck and tight lines!
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