Tom Mattusch

There is no way to sugar coat this one. I called last night to tell the group it was going to be rough. They called back and said they wanted to go. They said they told the rank beginners to stay home and that they could handle it. We met at the boat, I told them it would be a bit rough and unpleasant. There was unbridled enthusiasm, not dimnmed by the voice of experience.

Caught a few short lings and keepers (new size limit is 22 inches), vermillions, brownies, blues, yellowtail. No where even close to limits before their stomach muscles couldn't handle another wretch. Actually, I was asked to take the real sickies back, and bring the marginal sickies back out! I was afraid it might really blow, so we just went in. We all went to Princeton Seafood for the Calamari Sandwich with the cup of chowder and fresh bread upgrade.

What a way to try to make a living!

Fish Species: Rockfish & Lingcod
Bait Used: Squid
Tackle Used: Shripflies & bars
Method Used: Drifting
Water Depth: 114
Water Temperature: 53
Wind Direction: W
Wind Speed: 8 to 15 kts
Fresh rockfish for the opener - Half moon Bay
Fresh rockfish for the opener - Half moon Bay


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Tom Mattusch

About The Author: Captain Tom Mattusch

Company: Huli Cat Sportfishing

Area Reporting: Central California, San Francisco Bay area

Bio: Tom Mattusch is currently the owner/operator of the Huli Cat, a 53 foot charter boat operating out of Pillar Point Harbor and has fished the West Coast since 1967. Tom holds positions on the Salmon Stamp Committee for California, the California Department of Fish and Game License Agent Advisory Committee and NOAA's California Sportfishing Action Team. He's an IGFA Certified Captain. In an effort to contribute to research, Tom works with NOAA's PFEL tagging chinook salmon. He also worked with NOAA's Santa Cruz field office gathering stomachs and beaks of Humboldt squid. He recently completed a study with the Point Reyes Bird Observatory collecting lingcod, salmon and halibut stomachs and is currently involved in a study with Scripps to gather albacore stomachs. Tom holds Board of Director positions with the Golden Gate Fishermens Association, Coastside Fishing Club and Fishery Enhancement and Research Foundation. He can be heard on four radio stations giving fish reports or discussing fishing politics. He has worked closely with the Recreational Fishing Alliance, PCFFA, the Half Moon Bay Fishermans Marketing Association, United Anglers of Southern California and United Anglers. Tom ran the first trip out of Half Moon Bay to take anglers to catch Humboldt squid and the first white shark viewing trip to the Farallon Islands. He is the first charter boat Captain out of Half Moon Bay to get certified to marry people and has married people on the Huli Cat. Tom ran the first albacore trip out of Half Moon Bay to demonstrate the albacore were again reachable by boat off the Central California coast in the mid 1990's. Tom held a seat on the California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative as a Central Coast Regional Stakeholder group Member.

650-726-2926
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain Tom Mattusch