Tom Mattusch

Had a few last minutes cancellations and no-shows, but an enthusiatic group, so Huli Cat went out for squid today. I talked to Sea Draggin, another recreational boat, about where I had in mind and we rendevoused about 22 miles from Pillar Point Harbor in 800 feet of water. I had great crew with Pacific Hooker Capt. Mike Velasquez) to back me up. A lady had been trying to get on a trip for a while, today was her day. Actually, it was everyone's day. By 1PM, we had 201 squid. Almost no drift, just a little southerly breeze. Several times the suqid were 20 feet under the boat. If we lost them, we dropped back to the bottom and hooked up again. We did manage to get one of the blue sharks that was munching the squid we were bringing in. Steve, deckhand off one of the crab boats, assured evryone it was great table fare, immediately bleeding it, gutting it, deheading it.

Another trip Sunday!

Fish Species: Humboldt Squid & Dungeness Crab
Bait Used: None
Tackle Used: Ahi SJ-1000 squid jigs
Method Used: Put them down, bring them up!
Water Depth: 800 - 850 ft.
Water Temperature: 53 F
Wind Direction: Southerly
Wind Speed: < 5 kts
Anna, Steve, Kevin & Chris caught squid
Anna, Steve, Kevin & Chris caught squid

Kevin Molle got in on the Humboldt action
Kevin Molle got in on the Humboldt action


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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