Tom Mattusch

Huli Cat Went out on a Chlipepper and Yellowtail Rockfish Research Trip yesterday. The ocean will never cease to amaze you on how it may hide its coveted resources sometimes and yield them bountifully others. On our previous trip, we fished spots that were generous to us, starting from the North to the South. There were a number of dry holes, so to speak. Other marks wound up not being the intended species, but none that were a threat to what we were after, nor that would affect future fishing interests (species of special concern). When were were just about out of ideas, we hit the Glory Hole. This trip, why repeat that agony and frustration? We started South, where our last success was encountered, only to find spot after spot with a blank meter. Finally, we spotted some tepid marks, but those tepid marks yielded just what the doctor ordered. Or as 'they' say, 'All's Well That Ends Well!" We got the Chilipepper & Yellowtail in the sexes desired and a size range. Researchers left the boat happy.

Amazing display of comomon dolphins, lots of whales both close to shore and out 20 miles.

Fish Species: Chlipepper & Yellowtail Rockfish
Bait Used: squid
Tackle Used: Shrimpflies
Method Used: Drifitng
Water Depth: 500-900ft
Water Temperature: 54.9
Wind Direction: NE
Wind Speed:
Sabrina Beyer & Capt Tom Mattusch
Sabrina Beyer & Capt Tom Mattusch

Sabrina Beyer and Capt Mike Velasquez
Sabrina Beyer and Capt Mike Velasquez


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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