DELTA
Here we are into the New Year 2016 when most seem to be interested in fishing for sturgeon. Presently, a good bite is taking place in Suisun Bay off the Mothball Fleet, Montezuma Slough and off Chain Island in 35 feet and deeper water depths with lamprey eel the top bait. A legal sturgeon must be within the 40 to 60 inch slot limit and hooked using a barbless hook. Anglers must also possess a Sturgeon Report Card along with a new 2016 California Sport Fishing License. Reports indicate there are good numbers of oversized fish in the 7 to 8 foot bracket being caught and released in the aforementioned locations. For striped bass, the San Joaquin River seems to be holding better numbers of fish, especially east of the Antioch Bridge in 28 feet of water, in the Central Delta around Connection Slough, Middle River, Columbia Cut with cut baits such as threadfin shad, anchovies and live mudsuckers. Also, drifting live minnows and bluegills is a good bet. Most of the stripers- measuring 20 to 24 inches in length, up to an occasional 10 pounder or better. Expect a good number of shakers before hooking into a legal 18 incher or better.

The Mokelumne River reopened on Friday, Jan. 1, east of Highway 99 to Camanche Dam. Presently, there are some steelhead holding next to Van Assen Park off McIntire Rd. in Clements, Ca.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY
Some of the best leopard shark fishing taking place in the South Bay using midshipman for bait. Not much happening on the striped bass scene, and a few halibut showing off the Berkeley Flats and Angel Island taken drifting live bait.

OCEAN
Not much happening outside the Golden Gate due to the rockfish and lingcod fishing season closure taking place on Thursday, December 31. There won’t be much to fish for except mackerel and sand dabs. The bad news is that the Dungeness crab season remains closed due to the toxic algae off the coast.

AMADOR LAKE
The lake is well stocked with rainbow trout averaging 1 1/2 to 5 pounds with most of the action taking place from the shoreline and docks with floating baits in the rainbow and chartreuse colors, 1,000 pounds stocked weekly with some weighing up to 16 pounds.

LOS VAQUEROS RESERVOIR
Concessionaires planting 1,000 pounds per week of rainbow trout into the impoundment. There is easy shoreline fishing access on the south side along with rental boats and electric motors. Striped bass are caught towing lures such as the Rapala.
Take time to go out and enjoy the great outdoors.
Happy New Year.

JAY’S BEST BETS
DELTA - (striped bass, sturgeon);
SAN FRANCISCO BAY - ( leopard shark, halibut);
SAN PABLO BAY - striped bass, sturgeon);
LAKES - ( trout, catfish, bass).

DUNGENESS CRAB SEASON UPDATE
The California Dungeness crab pot pulling season is still on hold due to the high levels of algae loaded with toxins off the coast. Most of the crab entering California is coming from the States of Washington and Oregon at $12.99 to $16.99 a pound.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SAN FRANCISCO BOAT SHOW
January 21- 24, 2016 - At McCovey Cove Pier 48 (adjacent to AT&T Park) in San Francisco- Boats, seminars and exhibitors. For more info, contact: www.sfboatshow.com

SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL SPORTSMEN’S EXPOSITION
January 21- 24, 2016 - This is the big one. Come on out to Cal Expo in Sacramento to learn about what’s new in the world of hunting and fishing. The ISE show boasts hundreds of vendors and offers dozens of hard-hitting seminars. For more info, check them out outline at www.sportsexpos.com.

NTAC TROUT ANGLERS CHALLENGE AT SAN PABLO RESERVOIR
February 16, 2016 The Norcal Trout Anglers Challenge Tournament Tour will kick off the season at San Pablo Reservoir.. If you love to fish you’ll want to participate in this low cost event. Boaters and shoreline anglers are welcome. There will be cash prizes, gear raffles and lots of family fun! For more information or to sign up, call Vince Harris at (916) 768-0938. Entry fee: $15 adults with preregistration and kids are free if they preregister.

SACRAMENTO BOAT SHOW
March 10-13, 2016 - At Sacramento’s CalExpo. Show hours: Thursday and Friday 12 noon to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for more info contact sacramentoboatshow.com, or call (916)372-4239.

SANTA ROSA FISHING TACKLE AND DUCK DECOY SHOW
March 10 - 12, 2016 - The Santa Rosa show is the place to go for antiques, collectables, new and used fishing tackle and much more. The event will take place at 1351 Maple Avenue in Santa Rosa. For more info call (707) 539-3662.

RENO BOAT AND RECREATION SHOW
March 18-20, 2016 - The Reno Boat and Recreation Exposition boasts the latest in outdoor gear and accessories, adventure, travels, boats, RVs, camp trailers and much more. The annual event will take place at the Reno convention Center. For more info, call (775)849-8000.

NTAC TROUT ANGLERS CHALLENGE AT LAKE AMADOR
March 19, 2016 - The Nor Cal Trout Anglers Challenge Tournament offers participants the opportunity to fish for trophy size rainbow trout at Lake Amador. There will be cash prizes, gear raffles and lots of family fun. You could even end up fishing for a boat and motor during the tournament of champions. Entry fee is $15 for adults with preregistration and kids are free if they preregister. boaters and shoreline anglers are welcome. For more free info, call vince harris at (916)768-0938.

CALIFORNIA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH:
Dungeness and Rock Crab Health Advisory Partially Lifted along the California Coast

SACRAMENTO
The health advisory regarding Dungeness and rock crabs caught along the coast between the Santa Barbara/Ventura County Line and Latitude 35° 40' N (near Piedras Blancas Light Station, in San Luis Obispo County) is being lifted along the coasts of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith updated the advisory today because recent tests show that levels of domoic acid have declined to low or undetectable levels in crabs caught in these areas.
The advisory remains in effect for state waters around Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel Islands and areas north of Latitude 35° 40' N due to continued elevated levels of domoic acid in crabs caught in those areas. Consumers should not eat Dungeness or rock crabs from those areas. The advisory will be lifted in those areas once ongoing monitoring by CDPH determines crabs from those areas are safe to consume.

CDPH and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment concur that crabs caught along the coast south of Latitude 35° 40' N are safe to consume. However, as a precaution, consumers are advised not eat the viscera (internal organs, also known as “butter” or “guts”) of crabs. The viscera usually contain much higher levels of domoic acid than crab body meat. When whole crabs are cooked in liquid, domoic acid may leach from the viscera into the cooking liquid. Water or broth used to cook whole crabs should be discarded and not used to prepare dishes such as sauces, broths, soups or stews (for example, cioppino or gumbo), stocks, roux, dressings or dips.

The best ways to reduce risk are:
1) Remove the crab viscera and rinse out the body cavity prior to cooking, or
2) Boil or steam whole crabs, instead of frying or broiling, and discard cooking liquids.

Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood. In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and dizziness. These symptoms disappear within several days. In severe cases, the victim may experience trouble breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short-term memory (a condition known as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning), coma or death. There have been no reported illnesses associated with this year’s domoic acid event.

Domoic acid accumulation in seafood is a natural occurrence that is related to a “bloom” of a particular single-celled plant. The conditions that support the growth of this plant are impossible to predict. While the bloom that occurred earlier this year has dissipated, it takes a period of time for the organisms feeding on the phytoplankton to eliminate the domoic acid from their bodies.
CDPH will continue to coordinate its efforts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the fishing community to collect crab samples from the central and northern California coast until the domoic acid levels have dissipated.

To receive updated information about shellfish poisoning and quarantines, call CDPH’s toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133. For additional information, visit CDPH’s Natural Marine Toxins: PSP and Domoic Acid Web page and CDPH’s Domoic Acid health information Web page.