Tom Mattusch

Got a good group of anglers out for about 80 Dungeness crab on a real nice ocean. OK, maybe it was a little more sea than one would have expected from the forecast. First off, nice fresh breeze out of the ENE, (Willi Mahs) then it finally settled down to straight usual NW. The morning crab trip encountered killer whales, 5 miles out of the harbor. After dropping off the crabbers, Huli Cat went out for a whale watch. We again encountered the Killer whales, and a grey. It appears that the Killer whales were very possibly intent on having whale steaks, as both group were heading quickly in the same direction.

Humboldt squid have left the area, crab, crab and dab are up now. Soon, we will try for rockfish in 1,000 feet of water! (Pending NMFS letter)

Fish Species: Dungeness Crab
Bait Used: Humboldt Squid, albacore, mackerel
Tackle Used: Crab pots
Method Used:
Water Depth: 180 ft
Water Temperature: 51.9
Wind Direction: ENE, switching to NW
Wind Speed: 5 to 12 kts

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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