For the past five years we’ve camped in Half Moon Bay. 

I’ve never been able to get in any fishing since most of my efforts were spent getting everything packed and making sure that we had an available campsite. If you’ve ever tried camping on the beach, open spots are very difficult to find. This time around was different though. 

I planned on boarding a charter boat with my son, who’s nearly 15 years old now, and going out rock cod fishing. Apparently, the fishing was great. I’ve been out on charter boats at least a dozen times in my life and have never got as sea sick as I did on Wednesday. 

The weather turned for the worst, and from the time the first line went in until the last line was pulled up it was definitely a test of wills for me to stay at that rail and continue to fish. 

My son, on the other had was fine. I would rather it be me sick than him, so we fished the entire time and ended up catching our limit. 

After the trip was over, I asked my son “Would you want to do it again?” He responded,” Not for a while, at least until next year.” 

The fish dinner we had last night was all worth it. I’d definitely be interested in doing it again but would probably look into what’s available nowadays to prevent seas sickness. 

I definitely don’t look forward to experiencing that again. 

Delta Report

Fishing on the Delta is good around the Stockton area for bass. There are a lot of nice mats growing in the area, making good overhead cover for the bass. Anglers doing well are throwing top-water lures or fishing shallow running crank baits. 

The bluegills have been spawning all over the Delta. Anglers searching for biting fish are fishing around the boat docks with small worms and crappie jigs.  

New Melones Lake

Kokanee fishing continues to be good early in the day while trolling apex lures 30 to 45 feet deep in green, red or pink. 

Bass fishing remains good for numbers of smaller fish with the bigger ones being few and far between. Anglers are doing well while dragging Carolina Rigs along the bottom. There is a good top-water bite early and late in the day. 

Catfishing has been really good for those fishing at night with traditional Catfish baits. Bluegill and crappie continue to bite for those fishing with either a minnow or worm under a bobber in the backs of coves. 

Don Pedro

Kokanee fishing has been slow lately. This past week limits of kokanee were hard to come by for a lot of anglers. Those that had any success struggled to catch their three fish while trolling sling blades between 30 and 90 feet deep. 

Bass fishing is good during the morning hours. Once the sun gets up the fishing gets a little tougher. Anglers that are having success during the day are fishing soft plastics around main lake points.

Lake Amador

Fishing during the day has been really for those going for bluegill in the shallows. The bass fishing has really slowed during the day. Fishing during the night is great with lots of quality fish being caught. 

Berkeley Power Worms in any of the darker colors are working well. As the sun comes up look for the schools of bass to also come up for the first couple hours of the day. 

Lake Camanche

The bite is really good for those fishing for bluegill and bass. Bass are being caught just about anywhere on the lake, with rocky points being the best spots. Lures that are being used are spinner baits and crank baits, while the bigger fish are being caught by those dragging plastics along the bottom. 

Bluegills are being caught shallow by those fishing with red worms in the backs of bays.

Boaters Needed

On July 16, the 20th annual Conroy Oakley Pro-Teen tournament will be held out of 

Russo’s Marina on Bethel Island. The purpose of the event is to introduce teens 13 to 19 

years old to fishing through a professional style tournament where they will be paired up 

with a boater for six hours. Additional boaters needed, and boaters fish for free.

Formore information call 925.684.9775. 

To contact Jarod Ballardo email jgbbas@yahoo.com.