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Page 3
Other East Bay hot spots include the bait fishing off the point just east of the Toll Plaza of the Oakland Bay Bridge. A few freckless waders thread their way out onto the sand flats between the mud and cast flies for stripers. It's usual to have a buddy or too along in case you get stuck in the mud. A small boat works here. Limited shore access in Oakland's Harbor, and lots of lights, makes this a dandy night fishing area with some security problems. Try estuary spots, fishing access by the bridges, and explore the flats behind Oakland Airport on a nice summer day. The entire estuary offers dandy skiff fishing. A crazed friend ffloat tubes this by "floating out with the tide, fishing the harbor on the slack, and floating back in." The Coast Guard isn't thrilled.
Marin anglers can try Yellow Bluffs or cast lures from the Sausalito seawall after dark, fling flies in Richardson's Bay or drown bait and contemplate sins present and potential as they shore fish the flats south of the buff walls of San Quentin Prison. Spring hot spots for stripers include China Camp, Hamilton Flats and most of the channals along the East and North sides of San Pablo Bay. There's decent access from public piers and parks, where bait under bobbers works well, and considerable plugging along the rocky shore around Elephant Rock and Shark Point in Tiburon. Add shore casting on high tides in Richardson's Bay, where a number of fly rod striper records were set in the 1960's and 1970's. By summer the best spots move down towards the Golden Gate. Night fly fishing near the Benny Buffano statue in Sausalito produces. The popular, if sedentary, striper rig suspends a dorsal fin hooked shiner under a big bobber. The shore side of the small harbor under the Golden Gate Bridgeoffer chances too, but you need a pier gaff -- grapple on a rope -- or a crab net to land fish for the tall pier. Read the regs about sex and red rock and Dungeness crabs, bait a ring or folding net and collect some crabs. Smelt and perch school here. Tote some ultralight gear and can catch instant bouillabaisse. CONTRA COSTA CONTACTS Over the Berkeley Hills, commuters can cool off in the brisk breezes of the Carquinez Strait and many valley anglers drive down I-80 to enjoy a cool evening trolling trip off a party boat out of Dorwrellios Harbor under the bridge in Crockett.. Their pier produces stripers now and then, and all of California's spawning stripers pass this point.. |
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