Tom Mattusch

The day started out with hopes of a rockfish crab combo, as crab only has 9 days left. Anglers were after 'quality' rockfish, so bag limits were not filled in sufficient time to do both today. Fishing was good, lots of reds, 6 keeper lingcod, brownies, coppers - a nice assortment of hardheads with few school fish. The rockfish desender send lots of canaries back and a few others.Temperatures inland were 100 F plus. On the coast, I fished in a T shirt, some wore shorts. On the water did get above 70F.

Which was the bigger bonus? The weather which was about as perfect, lovely in every way or . . . ?? The Pinhead? Had a newbie with a desire to Deck. This one was a cut above, knew lots of knots, was personable, paid attention to all, had a cursory knowledge of filleting. Aaron Jenssen did a terrific job, especially on his first time attempting to fill the boots of a deckhand. A couple more trips, a little more knowledge and look for him on the deck more often.

Still have to bring in those crab pots! Stay tuned if you are interested in end of the seaon crab.

Fish Species: Rockfish & Lingcod
Bait Used: Squid, anchovy, starry
Tackle Used: Shrimpflies, bars, Lucanus
Method Used: Drifting
Water Depth: 16 to 168 ft
Water Temperature: 56
Wind Direction: NW - SW - E (variable)
Wind Speed: < 6 knots
Cindy Tripp & Aaron Jensen
Cindy Tripp & Aaron Jensen

Anna Stockel & Aaron Jensen
Anna Stockel & Aaron Jensen


Do you want to leave a comment? Login or register now to leave a comment.


No comments so far

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