Tom Mattusch

Pulled the Dungeness pots first for 32 crab, not knowing what the weather would do. The weather stayed good despite the forecast, we saw birds and bait at 2 3/4 miles and started trolling. Lost the first fish to a furbag. Not an auspicious start to the day. Landed a nice 14 pounder, then shortly after another the same size. Lots of birds and bait, humpback whales galore. Areas of bait were top to bottom in 170 to 190 feet of water. Hooked a real nice 25 poound salmon, while fighting that one, another gets hooked that went 26 pounds. The 26 pound fish acted as if it didn't know it was hooked. It came right to the boat and was on the deck before the other fish was even close. Captured one more. Had lots of 'hit & runs' as well as many scratched baits that happened without notice. We went through many trays of bait. Finished the crab limits, and got some Coonstripe Shrimp as well. We never got 7 miles from the Green #3 buoy.

Fish Species: Salmon, Crab, Shrimp
Bait Used: Anchovy
Tackle Used: Red Cracadile, Watermelon Apex, Crowbars
Method Used: Trolling
Water Depth: 160-199 feet
Water Temperature: 51
Wind Direction: NW
Wind Speed: 4 to 7 knots
5 Salmon, 26#, 25#, 2 @ 14 and one legal
5 Salmon, 26#, 25#, 2 @ 14 and one legal

The 25 & 26 pound King Salmon
The 25 & 26 pound King Salmon


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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.

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Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain Tom Mattusch