San Francisco Fishing Tour

Need a crash course in San Francisco Fishing?  Kirk Lombard, author of the Monkeyface (Eel) News is your man.  Today he held a wild food workshop through Forage SF on the San Francisco waterfront that went way beyond regular rod and reel fishing.  Attendees learned to poke pole for monkeyface eels, toss a Hawaiian casting net, forage for mussels and other shellfish, find bait, identify seaweeds and crab using small traps from a fishing pole.  Even seasoned fishing folks attended and learned something new from Kirk's workshop.

Crab Fishing

Crab fishing was first on the agenda and we immediately retrieved a double header of Dungeness Crabs.  Dungeness aren't legal within the Golden Gate and they were small (less than 5 and 3/4 inches) so they were quickly tossed back.  People fishing for crabs in this location are going for another type known as the rock crab which are difficult to crack but just as delicious as Dungeness.  For more on this type of crabbing, see crabbing at the Pacifica Pier.

A Double Header!

Explaining Bait

Sustainability was also a huge focus of Kirk's workshop.  The Italian side of me was pleased when Kirk suggested eating fish at the bottom of the food chain, such as herring and anchovies.  In an earlier blog, I wrote about a Belize fishing vacation where the bait (feshly netted sardines) was the best fish we ate all week.  Local edible bait fish include Herring, Anchovies and smelt.

Native American Style Smelt Net

The workshop was fast paced and more about passing on information then actual fishing.  Nonetheless, participants were encouraged to fish along side Kirk as long as they had a valid California fishing license.

Hawaiian Casting Net

Finding bait like worms and crabs under rocks

The best part of the workshop was the demonstration on poke poling for monkeyface eels.  I have seen fisherman do this type of fishing in Pacifica during the minus tide and have always wanted to try it.  Eels are plentiful and Kirk explained that without a commercial fishery for them, they are considered a sustainable fish.  Although he didn't catch an eel today, he did catch a small Cabezon and Rock fish.

Poke Poling for Eels

All in all, the workshop was fantastic.  It was very informative and mixed with both men and women.  If you go, bring a pair of shoes you can get wet, warm clothing, and a pad of paper to record Kirks wealth of information.  Now, I'm off to go fishing.

Dungeness Crab Fishing - Pacifica Pier

Kim holding a Rock Crab

Recreational Dungeness Crab fishing opened on November 6th.  It's easy to catch them from the Pacifica Pier in Pacifica, CA just south of San Francisco.  Best yet, you don't need a license to fish from Public Piers in California.  There are at least two different types of crabs you can fish for from the pier, Dungeness and Rock crabs are abundant.  Check the CA fish and game website  for size and take limits and information on crab species in CA.

A Triple Header!

Fishing from the pier can be done with a drop net and bait like fish heads or chicken but the take is usually rock crabs with that method.  Rock crabs are huge and delicious but their shells are hard so they are harder to crack after cooking.  They also have less meat but are worth it to try.  Sea lions also love to attack crabs feeding on drop nets.

I prefer crab fishing with a large ocean rod and snare baited with a mix of sardines and squid.  Crab snares, bait, tackle, measuring tools and advice can be obtained at the Rusty Hook fishing shop near the pier.  I have found that the best traps are sometimes sold on the pier for around $5.  It helps to put a small 2-3 ounce sinker in the basket before adding bait so as to get a better cast and to keep the trap put on the ocean floor.  Walk to the end of the pier if you can find a spot there.  Toss your snare as far as possible.  Let settle to the bottom and then reel in the slack until the line is taught.   Wait about ten minutes.  Then, reel in very slowly to get rid of any additional slack.  As soon as you feel the weight of the snare, pull the rod tip up hard and fast.  If there is a crab on, it will feel extremely heavy and hard to reel in.  Sometimes if you wait too long, the crabs will pull the traps into the sand.  If that happens just keep trying to free the trap and crabs by pulling up on the rod tip.  Be very careful when releasing crabs from the snare.  Rock crabs bit hard.

My friend Mel and I went fishing on a beautiful Saturday and caught this pile of "Dungies" and Rock crabs.

Rock Crabs and Dungies we caught

The Snare with an unwelcomed guest

Mel with Rock Crab and Snare

Fishing is also popular on the pier.  Kingfish, Jack Smelt, Perch, Striped Bass and even Salmon can be caught from the pier.  Baitfish like Anchovies can also be caught using Sabiki Rigs purchased from the Rusty Hook store.

Jack Smelt

Most important, the pier is beautiful and family friendly.  The view is stunning on sunny days.  Sea lions, and many bird species are common sightings.  One time I even saw a whale swimming in the distance from the end of the pier.  There is a coffee / snack shop called the Chit Chat Cafe with bathrooms conveniently located at the end of the pier.  

Finally, be sure to check the weather before you go.  It can be cold and the sea can be rough on windy days.  Get out there and have fun catching crabs.  The season runs through 6/30/11.

What a View!

A closer look at the huge claws of the Rock Crab