Art of Pier Fishing - Part IV

Part IV of CaliforniaAngler.com's week-long series on pier fishing ...

Central Coast destinations
A quick look at some favorite Central Coast piers in the San Luis Obispo area:

Pismo Beach Pier
Directions: Take Highway 101 to Pismo and take the Five Cities Drive exit to the middle of town. Head west down Pomeroy to the pier parking lot.
Notes: The top catch at Pismo, along with most San Luis Obispo County piers, is barred surfperch and jacksmelt caught on Sabikis. By the time you reach Pismo, most southern species like the croaker and corbina usually taper off. Check the pilings for black, ruberlip, walleye and barred surfperch. While trophy catches are rare, a peak at the photo board near the bait shop proves thresher, shovelnose guitarfish and even leopard sharks have been caught in the rough waters below. Pismo Beach is known as the "Clam Capital of the World," but don't use any Pismo clams for bait. It is illegal to harvest the clams at Pismo Beach, considered a clam preserve. The pier is open 24 hours.

Avila and Hartford piers
Directions: Take Highway 101 north of Pismo Beach and take the Avila Beach Drive exit. Head west on Avila Beach Drive until you reach the pier parking lot.
Notes: Clean water and an abundance of bait fish makes Avila the perfect locale for halibut this month. For flatties, fish the bottom using a halibut leader rigged with a whole anchovy or a freshly caught perch or smelt. At night, bay rays, swell sharks (also known as the puffer), smoothhounds, guitarfish and skates add to the fun. The piers are open 24 hours.

Morro Bay T-piers
Directions: Take Highway 1 north of San Luis Obispo and exit at Main Street. Stay right and continue to Beach Street and the embarcadero.
Notes: The north and south T-piers aren't as popular as the bookend piers to their north and south, but a chance to catch a rare red snapper, bocaccios, jacksmelt, perch and random rockfish make it a worthwhile trip.

Cayucos Pier
Directions: Take Highway 1 to the Cayucos Drive exit, which takes you straight to the pier parking lot.
Notes: Like the San Simeon Pier, jacksmelt are the hot bite this time of year, although there is said to be one or two weeks during the summer when halibut spawn in the shallow waters near the pier. If you're lucky, a fat flattie might just take you for a ride. But don't expect to land one unless you have a crab net on hand. The pier is open 24 hours, but like the Pismo Pier attracts lots of tourists in the summertime.

San Simeon Pier
Directions: Take Highway 1 north of Cayucos and exit left in San Simeon at the entrance to the park.
Notes: Sam Simeon is a great getaway along one of the most beautiful stretches of highway the state has to offer. Hearst Castle gets most of the attention around these parts, but don't count out the surfperch and jacksmelt fishing. If you're reel's packed with plenty of line, you can also reach the larger fish that cruise the kelp beds sprinkled along the coastline. The pier is open 24 hours.

Coming tomorrow, a look at the piers in the Monterey Bay area.

Steelhead report cards due

The Department of Fish and Game reminds steelhead anglers to return their 2006 Steelhead Fishing Report Card by Jan. 31.
Failing to turn in the card is considered a misdemeanor violation as the cards provide DFG with sufficient data to monitor and manage California’s steelhead populations.
“Unfortunately some anglers see this program and the reporting of their steelhead fishing efforts as a hassle, but their information is critical to maintaining and improving healthy and fishable steelhead populations,” said Terry Jackson, coordinator of the Steelhead Report Card Program. “Our goal is to improve California steelhead habitat and populations and to increase steelhead fishing opportunities and success. This requires accurate and complete data from anglers. Steelhead anglers should read their cards carefully, and complete the information as accurately as possible.”
The green Steelhead Card is a fishing report, not just a catch report - steelhead anglers must record where and when they fished, even if no fish were caught on a given trip.  Those who did not fish for steelhead in 2006 are asked to write “Did Not Fish” on the card.  All cards must be returned, regardless of the number of trips taken.  
All wild steelhead must be released unharmed, except in the Smith River. Wild steelhead can be identified by their intact adipose fin (a smaller fin on the back between the larger dorsal fin and the tail). Hatchery reared steelhead may be kept in accordance with the regulations in specific waters and are identified by the absence of the adipose fin and a healed scar where the fin had been. Anglers are encouraged to keep the allowable hatchery steelhead limit.
Additional information is available at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/nafwb/steelhead.html
 Steelhead Report Cards should be mailed to:
  Department of Fish and Game
  Steelhead Fishing Report-Restoration Card
  P.O. Box 944209
  Sacramento CA 94244-2090

Art of Pier Fishing - Part III

Part III of CaliforniaAngler.com's five-part series on pier fishing ...

Central Coast destinations
A quick look at some favorite Central Coast piers in the Santa Barbara area:

Port Hueneme Pier
Directions: Take Highway 1 and exit Hueneme Road west until you hit the port. Turn left on Ventura Road, left again at Surfside Drive and stay straight until you hit the park.
Notes: Finding bait around Pt. Hueneme is tough, but bring along some anchovies or catch your own live bait and you could have a fun day, or night. The pier is open 24 hours and is better protected than many along the coast, but still offers a chance at thresher or small sand sharks. Crabbing is also decent along with the perch, mackerel, halibut and bonito bite.

Santa Barbara/Sterns Wharf Pier
Directions: Take Highway 101 to Santa Barbara and exit at State Street and head west, following signs to the pier/beach.
Notes: Similar fishing to nearby Port Hueneme and Goleta piers, with decent calico and sand bass bites. Sterns, however, provides a better break from afternoon winds. Both the Goleta and Santa Barbara piers are equipped with lights for nighttime fishing and open 24 hours. Try fishing with large chunks of fresh-cut jacksmelt or anchovies for a chance at a batray or guitarfish.

Goleta Point Pier
Directions: Take Highway 101 north of Santa Barbara and take the UCSB exit to Sandspot Road.
Notes: A hot spot for calico and sand bass, along with your typical surfperch and halibut/sand dabs. If you're not into flatties, try rigging up some large cuts of frozen squid (you can purchase some at local grocery stores) for bigger rays and sharks.

Coming tomorrow, a look at some piers in the San Luis Obispo area.

Art of Pier Fishing - Part II

Part II of CaliforniaAngler.com's week-long series on pier fishing ...
Tackle and techniques
Pier anglers use an assortment of techniques and tackle depending on conditions and the species of fish they're after.
Anglers in search of a quick nibble typically rig up a surf fishing rig - one favorite is the Sabiki Rig - on a light-medium freshwater pole. They usually fish straight down from the rod tip, jigging their bait in a vertical manner in hopes of the perch, jacksmelt and small rockfish that patrol the pilings.
Fishermen hunting for larger species upgrade to larger saltwater rods and reels with 150-200 yards of 12- to 25-pound test line. Baits range from anchovies, squid, clams and crabs and sometimes include artificial soft baits or spoons.
Experienced anglers also like to bring a pail or bucket for holding fish/bait, along with a crab net, which helps haul in larger fish that would regularly snap your line halfway up the pier.
As always, check current rules and regulations before fishing along the coast.

Coming tomorrow, a closer look at some piers in the Santa Barbara area.

Art of Pier Fishing - Part I

It's not as glamorous as fly-fishing for rainbow trout in the Sierras.
It doesn't have the same appeal as tackling trophy tuna in the deep sea.
But pier fishing along the California coast is less expensive, easier to master and can be equally rewarding this time of year when the freshwater fishing is too frigid and the rockcod fishery is off limits courtesy the DFG.
This is the first in a series of pier fishing updates CaliforniaAngler.com is posting this week. Here's what makes pier fishing so great: 
* Pier anglers regularly catch some of the same sought-after species that charters seek, including halibut, rockfish and even shark.
* Pier fishing is free in most instances along the Central Coast.
* No fishing license is required because the piers are public property.
* Most Central Coast piers are also open 24 hours a day, which gives anglers legal means of wetting their line after work and provides an opportunity to hook up with the large nocturnal feeders that patrol the shallows.
* Plus it's a lot harder to get seasick on a pier than it is on an afternoon charter boat.

Coming tomorrow, pier fishing tackle and techniques.

Saltwater Rules & Regs Update

The DFG has updated its California Ocean Sports Fishing Regulations for those who are interested in the 2007 rules and regulations changes.

Three sources of the current bottomfishing regulations are now up to date:

1. Summary tables for the 2007 recreational groundfish fishing regulations are posted to the Marine Region's web site at: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/bfregs2007.html

2. The Marine Region's California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations Map has been updated - see: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/fishing_map.html
3. The recreational groundfish fishing regulations hotline, (831) 649-2801, has also been updated with current bottomfishing regulations.

 

-From a DFG press release

Golden State Getaway: Santa Paula Creek

Look past the local college, avocado farms and oil wells that sour the lower portions of the creek, and you'll see Santa Paula Creek for what it's supposed to be – a historic southern steelhead spawning habitat within the Santa Clara River watershed.

The Department of Fish and Game has halted plants on this tributary of the Santa Clara and is working with the Santa Paula Creek Fish Ladder Authority and other local organizations to help repair damaged fish ladders and provide other restorations that will help improve steelhead passage and habitat in Santa Paula Canyon.

Like the Santa Clara's other embattled tributaries, Piru and Sespe creeks, the Santa Paula has been subject to the same stressors that plague the urban watersheds – loss of riparian habitat, streambed alteration caused by flood control structures, habitat fragmentation and degradation of water quality.

All of which has made for difficult fishing on the lower stretches of the creek.

While these conservation efforts are taking place, the best fishing on the Santa Paula will be above the falls and tributaries located 3 miles upstream from the Highway 180 bridge.

That makes for a long but mandatory hike along the Santa Paula Creek Trail, scooting past Thomas Aquinas College (a four-year Catholic liberal arts school), ranch houses and thumpity thump of those rusty old oil wells. After the first mile, the eyesores fall off and the trail follows the creek upstream through the towering Topatopa Mountains of the Los Padres National Forest.

The hike to Santa Paula Canyon Falls is about 3 miles. Backpackers can stay at Big Cone Camp, located just before the falls. The best fishing on the Santa Paula is above the falls or further up the East Fork and its feeder creeks.

Tiny nymphs and dry flies are the norm on this small-water stretch. Small, barbless spinners such as pink Panther Martins will also work for these small, wild trout on the upper stretches.

 

Getting to Santa Paula: Take Highway 126 from Ventura to the town of Santa Paula and take the Highway 150 exit toward Ojai. Take the 150 for about 10 miles to Thomas Aquinas College and park outside the campus entrance gate. Follow the "Trail Hikers" signs to the trailhead, located off perimeter road the winds counterclockwise around the campus.

Golden State Getaway: Pine Flat Reservoir

Pine Flat Reservoir not only keeps the Kings River in check, it produces state record spotted bass as well.

The evolving reservoir was created in 1954 with the completion of the Pine Flat Dam, whose initial purpose was to provide flood control, regulating irrigation water and providing hydroelectricity in the process.

Turns out this late-blooming fishery, located at an elevation of 1,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada foothills outside of Fresno, is a stellar spotted bass fishery as well.

In fact, Brian Shishido landed the state record on this water in a bass tournament during the 2001 spring season. Shishido hit the 10-pound, 4-ounce hog throwing a Senko on just 8-pound test line. As Shishido proved, finesse fishing is the key to finding good numbers of spotted bass at Pine Flat as many anglers downsize to 8- or even 6-pound test line.

No one is quite sure why the spotted bass at Pine Flat are larger than most, but it's likely in part to solid shad and crawfish populations at the lake – not to mention plenty of other species, including smallmouth and largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish, crappies, trout and even salmon.

For bass, plastics in the shad and crawfish patterns are popular. Bunches of bass, mostly spots, can be found around concentrations of shad trapped in coves or creek channels and around rock piles or other cover. Drop-shotting plastic worms will also work around the rainy season when night crawlers are being washed into the river and reservoir.

Trollers will run into the occasional rainbow trout and a few land-locked salmon with Rapalas and Needlefish down to 2 or 3 colors, depending on water temperatures. The dam area is a popular spot for cold-water species. Lombardos to the Powerline is another productive run, as is the Trimmer Marina.

Shore fishermen often follow the same approach used by anglers fishing the Kings River below the dam, fishing with a spinning-reel outfit tipped with a casting bubble and fly. Most anglers will stick with bead-head nymphs about 36 to 48 inches below the bobber.

 

Getting to Pine Flat: From Fresno, head east to the Kings River Canyon on Highway 180 for about 18 miles. Take a left on North Piedra Road and continue for 8 miles before making a right on Elwood Road. Make a left on Pine Flat Road at 2 miles.

 

Tips & Tricks: Scouting reports

It's cold, it's miserable and what little water that's left in our local fisheries is half frozen in the morning.
But just because winter is here, it doesn't mean it's time to pack away the rods and count down the days until spring.
The rain season still hasn't come around full swing, so now's the time to head out to your favorite river or stream and scout out runs for the upcoming spring season. A time when you don't even have to string up your rod to have one of your most productive "fishing" days of the year.
Sure, catch rates are typically down along with the winter water levels, but if you do your homework in the offseason you're bound to have a field day when late-winter steelhead runs or spring trout openers roll around.
Adept anglers take advantage of this time of year when rivers are still at their lowest, clearest flows - perfect for taking note of submerged logs, ledges, boulders or other underwater features that are more visible now than they are for much of the year.
Now, most rivers rarely see anglers in this fair-weather state of ours. So fishermen can use the quiet time to their advantage, working the banks of their favorite stretches in total anonymity, studying the flows and tendencies of its resident fish populations.
The key is to pay attention and take note of all the fine details of the river. Bring along a small notepad to help map out what you see. A good pair of waders and a wading staff will make getting from one side of the river to another a snap.
Look for anything that strikes you as different, providing habitat for Mr. Rainbow. Study everything from endless eddies and side channels of your favorite runs, to the foamy edges of the main currents you rarely consider.
Look for rising trout. If there's a hatch coming off, but you don't notice any fish, you might not be looking close enough. In the winter, rises are so lazy they barely make a ring. So sit back, and let your eyes do the fishing.
Scan for those telltale boils that will only appear today, and will surely hint to good fishing below when the water levels soar in coming months.
One good approach when trying to get a read on large or unfamiliar rivers is to break them up into a compilation of smaller, fishable sections rather than one overwhelming mass of water. I like to call this technique, "pick pocketing."
First, search the shallow stretches for any places a trout is likely to feel safe. Some ideal holding spots include undercut banks, beneath and beside logs and below overhanging brush or tree branches. These are prime holding
when rivers swell with snowmelt and leave the water stained and fast-moving, forcing trout to hug the banks in search of protection from the strong currents.
Second, look for areas that will provide fish with food. Find pockets (behind boulders or at the bottom of pools) where trout can camp out eat without expending a ton of energy. Trout are very sluggish this time of year and aren't willing to go out of their way for food. Find a concentration of these winter whoppers holding in a food-carrying current and you've probably stumbled across that "secret spot" for the rest of the year.
Deep pools are obvious big-fish magnets, but also see plenty of pressure throughout the year. Look past the bottomless holes and waterfalls, and seek out other key strike zones that won't catch your eye later in the year. Note seams where strong currents flow into slower, shallow-water riffles. Or outside bends (especially below undercut banks) where current, springs or feeder creeks provide a constant supply of food and refuge from harsh current and sun light.
Third, don't limit yourself to reading the river below the surface. The surface is probably the most telling aspect of the river. Dancing pyramids (where slow water meets fast) can hold nice fish even if cover isn't present. Standing waves mean there's big boulders ahead and big fish hiding out beside them. Eddies are easy giveaways for fish.
Don't forget the importance of boulders and other structure that break that surface given they'll be completely submerged once the runoff begins. Large rocks provide pockets downstream and will continue to provide tail-end cavities all year long. The same goes for large logs, or concrete slabs and other man-made structure that ends up in the river.
Once you've got those stretches scouted, be sure to reward yourself with some time on the water, testing your new spots with your favorite fly or lure.
Find a couple holding trout now and you'll be on the inside track for a stellar season next spring.

FISH REPORT: Salty anglers turn to perch

Central Coast saltwater anglers are running out of options.
Thanks to recent rockcod closures, saltwater fishermen are stuck on the beach searching for spawning surf fish.
The wide range of winter tides has been perfect for larger spawners, especially feisty barred surfperch that can reach sizes of 17 inches and a couple pounds in some areas.
While most anglers from San Diego to Santa Cruz have resorted to pier fishing for the large perch with vertical bronze bars and spots on each side, wader-clad surf fishermen are having plenty of luck from the shore. That’s where the big ones are, swimming in schools along the breaks. Silver, calico, redtail and smaller walleye surfperch can also be caught up and down the coast, with your best bet for catching barred perch coming from Pismo Beach to San Simeon.
In Morro Bay, just north of Morro Rock at Morro Strand State Beach, anglers are hauling in barred perch on mud shrimp, sand crabs and plastic grubs.
Rubber lipped and rainbow perch can be caught further north in the Monterey Bay area with pile worms near rock piles and kelp beds.
If the wind picks up, or the weather turns sour, those perch often hug the shoreline of inner bays where the water is calm.
The go-to bait in all conditions seems to be motor oil grubs with gold or red flakes. Scented attractants such as shrimp- or crayfish-smelling baits can help pick up the action.
Fly fishermen are catching fish on streamers and various shrimp flies and always have a chance to hook up with stripers, steelhead or other sought-after species.
The larger barred perch that have been recorded have come from the waters above Morro Bay in Cayucos and Cambria.
Most anglers use spinning reels and seven- to eight-foot rods. Ten- to 12-pound test line and a leader with size 6 to 2 hooks and a pyramid weight work best. But the size and weight of tackle should correlate with conditions such as the drift, tide and wave height and frequency.
It’s recommended that anglers fish knee to waist deep in waders, but try to keep their line high off the water to avoid overshooting the surf zone. If anglers are fishing more than 50 feet out from a beach’s average low-water mark, they’re probably missing fish until later on in their retrieve.
Although surfperch can be caught all day long, it’s best to work breaks early when the conditions are calm. Those morning sessions are even better when tides begin to fluctuate from extremely high (7.0) to a consistent stretch of negative lows.
If the conditions seem perfect and you’re still not hooking fish, downsize to 8-pound test and keep walking the beach until you find a school.
If your timing is right, a five-fish limit could be reached within the hour.

REPORT: SLO's most polluted waters

Late last year, state water officials published a list of San Luis Obispo County’s most polluted fisheries.
The goal of the report is to pinpoint where the pollutants are coming from in hopes of cleaning up the respective stream, river, reservoir or bay.
In all, 19 SLO County waters were listed on the annual watch list — affecting 10,341 acres of open water and 146 miles of creeks and rivers.
The pollutants ranged from bacteria, byproducts of nearby farms and pesticides, and toxic metals.
Here’s a link to the actual report: http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/tmdl/docs/303dlists2006/final/r3_final303dlist.pdf

TIPS & TRICKS: Spring Training

Winter doldrums?

I like to call this frigid portion of year spring training.

Winter is the time to tinker with tackle, tie flies, clean reels, repair rods and prepare for the 2007 fishing season.

Whether you're into small-stream trout angling or big-water bassin', nothing makes a wintry evening go by quicker than churning out a few dozen Elk Hair Caddis, or cleaning out that ol' tackle box of yours.

Preparing your fishing gear for the spring now will surely save you some headaches in the future. Migraines like opening your tackle box streamside for the first time only to find your salmon eggs have turned into red BBs, your petrified PowerBait mine as well be PaperWeight, and your plastic worms have melted into a glittery gob of goo.

Here's a checklist that can help you get through the so-called winter doldrums and get you primed for a productive spring:

Repair rods

Take a good look at your fishing rods, which will be the backbone of your fishing experience this spring.

Start at the tip, which sees most of the abuse throughout the year, and slowly check the remainder of the rod for anything out of the ordinary such as a chip, a dent, or even a (gulp) crack.

After going over the rod itself, check the guides for hairline cracks or inconsistencies that can damage fishing line. One way to find cracks in guides is to run a cotton swab or q-tip inside the guides. If the swab or tip sticks, a crack could be in the works.

You can repair rods yourself with any of the numerous repair kits on the market, or take it in to a shop to get the work done by experts. But do it now in the offseason, or you could go weeks without it during the season.

For do-it-yourself anglers, Rodsmith makes repair kits for everything from damaged guides and tiptops to replacement handle kits, complete with handle, reel seats, grips, butt caps and winding checks.

Ready reels

If the rod is the backbone, the reel is the heart of your fishing outfit. Give your reels the respect they deserve this winter. In fact, go over your reels two or three times if need be.

First, it's important to clean out any sand or dirt with an old rag or t-shirt. This will keep your reels free spinning and ensure accurate casting year-round. Just be sure to use plenty of care when taking reels apart and take note of which parts go where.

After wiping down the interior parts, be sure to add a drop of oil to the ball bearings to keep the unit running smoothly. Avoid applying excess oil (Abu Garcia Reel Oil is a good choice) as it can drip onto the spool and affect casting. You might want to strip your line off all together when working on a reel.

Abu Garcia also makes a Silicote Reel Lube that helps protect reels against wear and corrosion in-season. Quantum Hot Sauce lube is another favorite among bass anglers.

Last, but not least, change out your line to prevent future heartbreak. Don't risk losing trophy fish by using old, worn-out, or weathered line.

Some professional anglers go as far as replace their lines prior to every tournament.

Casual anglers should spool up two to three times a season, while more frequent anglers should consider replacing line on their main and spare reels every couple fishing trips (especially when fishing toothy fish or in heavy cover).

When you stow your reel between trips, it's a good idea to loosen the drag to alleviate stress on the line and the drag washers.

Prep tackle

The cold months are also an ideal time to maintain your tackle.

Flies and hard plastic lures should be cleaned with soap and water to prevent corrosion or mildew.

Have a favorite lure that just doesn't retrieve the way it used to?

If the bait still doesn't run true after a cleaning, use a pair of pliers to straighten out the line tie. Misaligned wires on spinnerbaits or buzzbaits might also need straightening if heavily used.

Old hooks should be checked for rust, or better yet, ditched in favor of stainless steel hooks when possible.

Now it's on to the tackle box. If organization hasn't been your thing during past seasons, make it a resolution this year.

Instead of just separating the basics -- weights from hooks and hard baits from plastics -- organize your lures by type (spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and crankbaits) and even color. Knowing where that go-to lure is on the fly will mean fewer missed opportunities when lunkers come swimming by.

If fly-fishing's your thing, get cracking on those new flies. You can never have enough PMDs in that trusty fishing cap of yours. It also wouldn't hurt to tighty up those fly boxes and improve on that hodgepodge of a fly filing system you have in place.

Check threads

Yes, even your wardrobe could use a look over -- and no, we're not asking for a complete makeover here.

Take your waders to the tub and check for leaks now rather than when you're hopping into that snowmelt in the Sierra Nevada.

Keep an eye out for dry rot, cracks, tears or worn areas around the seams, feet and knees. If waders leak, and they're still under warranty, it's time to send them in for repairs.

If you don't have time, or if the warranty has expired, wader repair kits are cheap and easy to use. Sun Set Super Patch even cures with UV light, while Aqua Seal works without patches or seam tape.

After your waders are ready, take a good look at your wading boots. Check laces for cuts or frays and make sure the soles are ready to make that next trek across the river. If it's time for replacement felt, Simms makes a thick, high-density replacement that's durable and easy to apply on most styles of boots.

Now that your wading outfit is set, wash that dirty old fishing vest of yours and check out clearance racks at your local sporting goods store for new fishing shirts and pants.

Forget style points and stick to earth tones such as tans and olives to avoid spooking fish while you're browsing the banks. Plenty of pockets are also a plus when shopping for outdoor attire.
Prepare for disaster

Once you've given your gear the TLC it deserves, prepare for the worst-case scenario this spring.

On top of a first aid kit, every angler should pack rod and wader repair kits for their fishing trips.

When putting together a rod repair kit, be sure to include such necessities as tape, rubber bands, spare tiptops, guides, split rings, candle/wax stubs along with waterproof matches or a lighter, pliers, safety pints (which can double as a temporary line guide), and heat-set cement or Superglue.

It's also a good idea to have a backup rod and reel on hand along with 500 yards of extra line. Better yet, treat yourself to a new rod or reel and use your old setup as a backup this season.

Winter is a great time to consider purchasing a new combo as many retailers discount last year's models for the new year.

With a backup setup in place, and all of your other gear in check, you should be prepared to make 2007 a year to remember on the water.

Remember, if you take care of your fishing gear, your fishing gear will take care of you.

DFG starts Fishing Passport Program

The Department of Fish and Game is set to unveil its new Fishing Passport Program on Thursday at the International Sportsmen's Expo in San Mateo.
DFG director Ryan Broddrick will announce the start of the promotional fishing incentive program at 2:30 p.m. at the San Francisco Chronicle Sportfishing Theater stage.
"The start of the California Fishing Passport Program marks a milestone in sport fishing in our state," Broddrick said. "This program serves as a great complement to California's highly prized ocean and freshwater fisheries by challenging all types of anglers to get out and explore the Golden State along with the challenge of catching a variety of fish species."
Anglers who buy a 2007 fishing license will receive a passport that includes 150 finfish and shellfish species. Anglers earn stamps for successfully catching each species.
The program was designed to highlight and promote the variety of fishing experiences to be found in California, which has more than 4,172 lakes and reservoirs, 29,664 miles of streams and 1,100 miles of ocean shoreline.
The Passport Challenge begins Jan. 11 and is open to anglers of all ages.
At the International Sportsmen's Expo, DFG's booth will be staffed with biologists and game wardens answering questions, selling annual fishing licenses and handing out free Passport books. After Jan. 11 Passport books and stamps will be available at any of DFG's 10 license offices throughout the state.
For additional information, log on to the California Fishing Passport Web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishingpassport/, which includes a schedule of upcoming events, an online fishing map, TripTracks (a new personal online fishing log), and lots of other great resources to help anglers in their pursuit of a lifetime of fishing adventures.

Information in this report provided by the DFG.

LAST CAST: Where's M. Creek?

Everyone’s always asking me: “So, where’s this M Creek you’re always raving about? I’ve never heard of it.”
“That’s the point,” I respond.
M Creek doesn’t exist. I’ve looked for it myself. Not a creek in the United States named M Creek.
“That doesn’t make sense,” they always respond.
“That’s the point,” I tell them again.
M Creek is many things if not confusing and impossible to find, and I’d like to keep it that way.
But if you really must know, the M stands for many things.
Made-up Creek. Majestic Creek. Memorable Creek. Mysterious Creek. Magnificent Creek.
In other words, it’s My Creek.
No, I’m not stupid enough to think there should be a creek named after me. This just happens to be my favorite little fishery around. A think-nothing-of-it, drive-by-it-a-million-times stream that gets overlooked by nearly everyone around these parts, and I’d like to keep it that way.
Every good angler has an M Creek that they escape to now and then.
That one secret spot or little-known fishery that produces fish time and time again, no matter what time of year it’s fished. It’s one of the few things in life you can count on.
M Creek might be reduced to a trickle in the summer, but its few remaining pools still hold a couple pesky rainbows that’ll smack a nymph like it’s the first snack they’ve seen all year.
A creek where all is right with the world, as long as you’re fishing it and escaping the daily rigors of everyday life.
It might only be four feet deep in its largest pool and eight feet at its widest run, but M Creek is My Creek and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be (this side of the Sierra Nevada).
It’s a creek you care for. One where barbless hooks are the only ones these wild trout will ever see.
It’s also the least-photographed fishery around because every rainbow that graces a hook usually escapes by the time he reaches the bank.
Even when you do land a fish, you quickly slip him off the hook and send him on his way in the amount of time it takes to turn on that $500 digital camera you have tucked away in your vest.
And I’d like to keep it that way.

Last Cast is a column written by the editor of CaliforniaAngler.com.

FISH REPORT: Central Coast region

Best Bites
1. Lake Nacimiento
Spotted bass are the best bet since the lake levels have dropped off in the coves and creeks where white bass hang out. Look for boils and shad and you'll find the spots near the surface. If not, fish deep. Dropshot and spider jigs will work depending on weather.
2. Lake San Antonio
The striper bite is slowing like most of the bass fisheries in the region. Other bass species are slowing down as well, but fishing here is better than most lakes at this point.
3. Cachuma Lake
Cachuma has been getting some plants. Try Needlefish and Roostertails for rainbows. Night crawlers can also pick up fish. Shore fishermen are sticking with worms and PowerBait. Couldn't hurt to throw some swimbaits after a plant.
4. Santa Margarita Lake
The lake has been getting trout plants. Decent for trolling. Everything else has dropped off. Bass can be found deep with plastics and deep diving crankbaits. Swimbaits will work for big fish.
5. Lopez Lake
Trout are the top draw here and plenty of fish still remain from recent plants. PowerBait, worms and other standard baits are producing.
6. Ocean fishing
Rockcod fishing is closed. Halibut are tough to find now that they've left the bays.