Tom Mattusch

The winds came down, the weather really cooperated and the rockcod opener out of Half Moon Bay was comfortable and pleasant. The Half Moon Bay fleet scattered many directions looking for rockfish when the season opened above Pigeon Point. The Huli Cat ran out to the Farallon Islands. The trip out treated anglers to humpbacks whales, rizzo's dolphins,lots of murre birs and other seabirds. It was a picture perfect day. Scanning the Terrafin reports for Sea Surface Temperature, the water looked a bit cool for rockfish. The 51 to 52 degree water hinted the rockfish may be a bit lethargic. That indeed was the case. Anglers that worked their gear wound up with eight fish, quality coppers, big yellowtail rockfish, vermillions, some lings. Also to hit the deck were china cod and quillback rockfish. Drifting through large schools of blues saw a few caught, good to see they will be there for another trip. A good number of short lingcod says there are great numbers, they just need another inch or so to come home with anglers under current regulations. A hint of how the cold water contributed to the scratch bite was best uttered by Capt Edward Gallia of the New El Dorado, "The fish are so cold when they some up, they try to make it into the cabin to get warm!"

Fish Species: Rockfish & Lingcod
Bait Used: squid
Tackle Used: Shrimp flies, scampies
Method Used: Drifting
Water Depth: 80 - 180 ft
Water Temperature: 52
Wind Direction: W
Wind Speed: < 5 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.

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