Rockfish regulation changes adopted for the season opener – Dolphin halibut derby

Dock Totals 3/24 – 3/30: 729 anglers aboard 39 half-day to 3-day trips out of San Diego landings over the past week caught 94 bluefin tuna (up to 180-pounds), 40 bocaccio, 16 calico bass, 9 halibut, 6 lingcod, 3 perch, 376 rockfish, 308 sand bass, 77 sanddab, 593 sculpin, 58 sheephead, and 680 whitefish.


Saltwater: This past week featured more bluefin caught within 100 miles of Point Loma, a still-solid sand bass bite off the local flats, some really good bay halibut fishing, and another bit of weather keeping most of the fleet off the water for a day. Seems it has been one of those wet and rough winter/spring seasons, though the fishing between the fronts has been excellent, with bluefin turning on early while northern Baja yellowtail seem to never have stopped biting since last fall. 

Spring surf fishing has also been consistently better by the week, weather permitting. Sandcrabs have been showing well on the beaches inspiring a solid barred surfperch bite on incoming tides, while grunion runs have drawn halibut and shovelnose sand sharks into the surf zone on the nights during the runs. If you find grunion, there is always a good chance at hooking a very nice fish by casting a grunion-mimicking lure or Carolina-rigged smelt or sardine out into the surf zone. Grunion are closed for take from April until the end of June, though fishing during the closed runs is allowed as long as one is not taking any of the spawning fish. Expected grunion run dates and times are listed on the CDFW website. 

The change in rockfish regulations was adopted this past week, so be sure and check the current regulations before heading out so as not to earn a ticket. Especially the reduction from four fish to two fish per angler per day for vermillion rockfish, as well as the required descending device if targeting rockfish. No one needs to begin the rockfish opener with a ticket, so be sure to check depth regulations, as they change through the year. 

An angler recently posed a question on a social media fishing page: “Why was the Dolphin fishing in the bay on Wednesday when there’s a whole ocean outside to fish?” I reckon this is a good place to answer that, in case anyone else was wondering. In recent years, the half-day boat has been fishing its winter/spring halibut derby. During these trips, the crew focuses their efforts inside San Diego Bay along the channels and flats where the prized flatfish usually congregate in pre-spawn mode. This year, the derby will run on Wednesdays to April 24th. The cost is $10 toward the jackpot plus the ticket price of $85. (The derby began on February 7.)

During each outing, the largest halibuts caught are recorded, and at the end of the derby, they will award the top three places. The angler who weighs in the largest fish during the derby will win the cash jackpot, second place wins a rod and reel combo, and third place wins ten free half-day passes. As it is usually slow given the rockfish shutdown and cool water during the few months leading up to our “official opener” which is the week of the Day at the Docks, this is an opportunity to try something different, have a shot at a decent halibut, and win some cash or a prize. The leading fish in the derby so far this year is a very solid 20.09-pounder.

Speaking about the Day at the Docks, this year’s event is this Sunday, April 7, 9am-5pm. It will feature all the favorite family-oriented activities the event is known for, and then some. Having expanded over the last couple of years, the event now takes advantage of the bayside walkway around America’s Cup Harbor to include the many fishing-related businesses, restaurants, and pubs along the path. Envisioned and begun by H&M’s Catherine Miller back in the late 1970s, the Day at the Docks has kept to its aim of providing a family-oriented event that will bring the general public together with the sportfishing fleet, and thus inspire new generations of anglers to enjoy what is the nation’s largest live-bait sportfishing fleet.

Okuma Fishing Tackle and Everingham Bros Bait Company will be hosting the Kid’s Fishing Adventure at each of the three landings, where kids ages 4 to 12 can have a chance to catch a fish and learn the basics of angling. There will be many seminars hosted by pro anglers and catch, prep, and cook gurus throughout the day. The general public can tour the various sportfishing boats in the fleet that are hosting open houses, enter casting contests and a knot tying competition, watch demos from fishing tackle vendors, and enjoy marine art, including the works of the Peter J Gallery, Larry Beard Ocean Fine Art, and Marea Baja Designs.

Stage shows will begin at 9 am, including three raffles benefitting The Burn Institute at noon, 3 pm, and 4:45 pm, with prizes including free fishing trips, tackle, and tickets to area attractions. Live music throughout the day between the demos and seminars will include The Rhythm Ranchers, Bayou Brothers, and the Irish folk and country rock band the Whiskey Fellas. As always, the event is free to the entire family, though if you want to take one of the bay tours, there is a $4 charge per person for that. The season is upon us, so go get ‘em!