Fishing Reports

11-16-2023 We are currently running daily crab trips when the weather allows. The crabs are nice and full.

11-11-2023 There was a pretty big swell on the crab grounds today but we made it out and sent everyone home with their limit of crabs. The crabs are in the best shape that I can recall seeing for this time of year.

11-10-2023 CRAB!! We set our crab pots yesterday and pulled for the first time this morning. The crabs are big and heavy. It looks like there is some decent weather the middle of this week. Call Sherry at 707-499-4925 if you want some fresh crab. Don't forget you need a crab stamp in addition to your fishing license.

10-30-2023 Four lucky anglers got the trip of a lifetime today. When you think of Humboldt fishing you normally think of salmon, rockfish, halibut and albacore. You don't think of "big game" fishing with huge reels and heavy tackle. With some big Bluefin tuna around that has changed. Today we made our way southwest from the harbor in the dark to where we caught a big tuna a couple of days ago. With loads of anticipation we put the lines out at first light. The we started trolling and looking for tuna sign. And we trolled, and trolled and trolled some more. We had one big tangle that took some time to deal with. Then the ocean erupted with life. Whales, birds, sea lions all going crazy chasing bait near the surface. The ocean was glass flat so we got a good view of the action. We trolled that area and something popped a little drag but when we reeled in all we had was a snagged bait fish. Then we got tangled with someone's lost gear. We got everything cleared and we got a call that a friend had caught a big fish and was heading in. So we trolled out to that area and were just making a turn to head towards home (it was around 2pm)when the long rod went off. Drag screaming as the fish made a run. Finally, our persistence had paid off. But this was just the beginning. The guys took turns on the rod as they learned the hard way about the strength and endurance of these big tuna. Eventually, we got the fish within about fifty feet from the boat. That was when we reached a stalemate. We would gain a few inches and then lose it to the fish. This went on for what seemed like forever. It was getting late and we could see the sun approaching the horizon. Even 30 pounds of drag wasn't beating this fish. Against my better judgement we clamped down on the reel and started to make some progress. Finally, after three and a half hours we had the fish next to the boat. We sunk a couple of gaffs into the fish then tail roped it and pulled it through the transom tuna door. Victory! By then the sun was setting below the horizon. We tied up in the slip around 8pm. Everyone was exhausted but happy. The fish was 70 inches and had a huge girth. A Humboldt trophy fish. It was definitely a day to remember.

10-28-2023 We have been notified that crab season will start on November 4 and we will be able to use pots instead of rings. That's great news for all of us that love to eat one of this regions' major delicacies. Sherry is taking reservations for November crab now.

10-27-2023 We were back on the hunt again for a giant bluefin tuna. I don't know if it's the full moon or what but they weren't biting. We heard of one hookup on the radio but that was all. Most of the boats ended up with nothing to show for a day of trolling just like us. It was a great day to be out on the water though and we saw plenty of marine life on a flat calm and sun drenched ocean. Hopefully the fish are still around. Bluefin are notorious for being finicky at times and that may be all it was.

10-25-2023 It's not very often that we get to experience something totally new on a fishing trip. Today was just such a day. We crossed the Humboldt Bay Bar in the dark and slowly made our way out to the fishing grounds. Just as it started to get light the rain began. Then it got a little breezy. After about a 40 minute boat ride we were in position to set out the gear. This is not our normal tackle. This is big stuff made for big fish. We did not know what to expect but after a half hour of trolling one of the rods went off. We brought in the other rod and the fight was on. After a 45 minute heavyweight tug of war we saw our quarry. A big Bluefin tuna. We got it next to the boat and sunk a couple of gaffs into the fish. After letting it bleed out in the water we opened the tuna door and drug the monster in. Up until now the tuna door had only been used once to pull a half drowned homeless person into the boat. But that's another story. The rest of the day was pretty much sightseeing. We saw a pod of Killer Whales, Some dolphins rode our bow wake for a while. Lots of birds but no more tuna. We didn't have a scale big enough so we are guessing 125# to 150#. It was a first for the Reel Steel and hopefully not the last.

10-8-2023 What a great day to be out on the ocean. The water was flat calm and we had some really nice folks on the boat. As we made our way offshore we saw feeding salmon and a couple of Blue Sharks chasing bait. Once on the spot we dropped lines to the bottom as the gulls and some albatross watched. The fishing did not start out wide open as it sometimes does but built as the morning wore on. Eventually we had limits of Canary and Yellowtail rockfish with a couple of nice lings. This could be our last fishing trip of the season since October 15 is the last day of rockfish and the weather between now and then doesn't look that good for offshore fishing. Next, we will begin crabbing on November 9. See you then!

10-6-2023 We had another fantastic day fishing deep water for rockfish. These fish are big and mean. We had some monster Bocaccio to go with some huge Canary rockfish. Limits for everyone on a flat calm ocean. Other than the hard work of reeling big fish up from the deep it can't get too much better.

9-23-2024 What a difference a day can make. We had great weather and made a comfortable trip offshore for deep water rockfish. A friend of ours was already on the spot we were planning to fish and as we pulled up we saw him lift a fat rockfish over the side. Game on! Everyone dropped their line over the side and as soon as they hit bottom it was "FISH ON!". In less than two hours we had limits for all on board and were heading back in. The ocean was glass flat, perfect amount of current and biting fish. Who could ask for anything more? Well, how about some of Sherry's cookies back at the dock. It was a perfect way to spend a Saturday morning.

9-22-2023 With a forecast of 5-10 knots of South wind we figured we would be ok for an offshore trip for rockfish. Well, we made it out about three miles and decided that it was in everyone's interest to turn back. The wind was blowing pretty good and the water still had a lump on it from yesterday. We came in and dropped one guy off and made some live bait. We tried for California Halibut for an hour or so and just pulled the plug entirely. Bummer.

9-17-2023 We finally got out for our first tuna trip of the year. There did not seem to be too many fish around and we only got a few strikes and they were all singles. We heard there were some fish south of us (we went north yesterday). The wind is supposed to blow all week so we will see what happens when the weather settles down. The fish seemed to be in a late season mode. The fish down south were still biting clones so maybe there is still some season left.

9-16-2023 After a long break to attend the Pacific Fisheries Management Council meetings we were finally back on the water. We were hoping for big rockfish in the deep and they did not disappoint. It only took the gang a couple of hours to put limits on the boat. Canary, Yellowtail, Widow and Bocaccio all wanted to bite. Plenty of nice fillets for everyone.

9-3-2023 We took advantage of a very flat ocean to fish the deep water for rockfish again today. The fishing did not disappoint as everyone reeled in big rockfish and ling cod.

9-2-2023 The forecast wasn't great with some late morning south wind and a 70% chance of rain. We all decided to give it a look anyway and we were glad we did. The deep water rockfish were really biting. The wind was calm and the seas weren't too bad either. It was a really good group and they had a ball reeling in fish two at a time.

8-27-2023 We have had very calm seas for the last few days and it looks like those conditions may persist for a couple more days. Unfortunately everyone cancelled so we have not had a trip. Disappointing to miss such good conditions.

8-18-2023 Today we made our first try this year for California halibut in Humboldt Bay. The fishing was somewhat slow and we only landed one fish out of five bites. We had two nice young ladies on the boat plus Lonnie(who is neither young or a lady). They had a good time and bravely fought a Leopard shark and watched leaping Sturgeon as the Bay continuously changed moods throughout the day going from foggy to clear and calm to breezy and back again.

8-17-2023 The weather wasn't as nice as we would have liked but we worked through bumpy seas and a little rain for quick limits of big rockfish. We made a brief run to look for some warm water but tuna just weren't in the cards for us today. We did see some Killer Whales though.

8-16-2023 We fished the Lost Coast for rockfish today. The bite was not red hot but it was steady and we caught fish on practically every stop. The ocean was nice with the right amount of current which made the fishing easy. We had some nice Lings to go with the rockfish limits. The warm water is really pushing in so we hope to make a tuna run soon.

8-11-2023 We just received notice from California Fish and Wildlife that the nearshore rockfish season will close next Sunday the 20th at midnight. It looks like some ok weather mid week this week with light winds but 5-7 ft seas. Not flat but ok to fish. So beginning 8-21 we will be fishing deep water (300ft+) for rockfish or tuna(hopefully). The warm tuna water has been trying to move within our range but the wind keeps pushing it back. We just need a week of good weather and it should push right in. For now though, it remains a little too far out.

8-10-2023 We had a group of young people from Wyoming and Fortuna. They did a great job of fishing and caught their limits of rockfish in record time. The ocean was beautiful and so was the scenery when the fog lifted. It was another great day!

8-9-2023 We got back out today and made our way down to the Lost Coast for rockfish. For the first couple of hours we tried for Ling Cod but could only catch (and release ) giant Coppers. So we moved around some as the wind increased. It was still good fishing conditions and everything but the Lings were biting. We got some nice Vermilion and lots of Canary and Black and Blue rockfish. We did pick up a few Lings but we were hoping for more. Eventually the wind blew us closer to shore where we finished our limits on a red hot rockfish bite. We had a young man, 15 that did quite well for his first time on the boat. The "seasoned" fishermen did well also.

8-4-2023 It was a bittersweet day for the Reel Steel crew. The Pacific Halibut fishing was amazing again with limits of big fish before noon. The fish came a little slower than they had the last few days but the grade made up for it with the biggest over 70#. Sadly though, today is the end of halibut season for the year. It has been epic this year with plenty of big fish and early limits (usually). We are sad to see it end but are looking forward to tuna and rockfish.

8-3-2023 Wow! The halibut fishing was great again today. We had limits up to almost 50#. It was steady action all morning. The ocean was absolutely flat calm. We had a great group that would have had a good time even if the fishing was slow. Tomorrow is the last day of Pacific Halibut fishing and then it will be closed until May. No word on tuna yet but we will be watching that very closely.

8-2-2023 The good news is that the Pacific Halibut fishing continues to be RED HOT! The bad news is that the season ends the day after tomorrow. We had limits before 10 am.

7-31-2023 We managed to sneak one in today before the wind started to blow offshore. The halibut fishing was steady all morning with early limits again.

7-30-2023 Another great morning of fishing for Pacific Halibut. They were biting right off the bat and never really stopped. We had a couple of smalls, a couple of mediums and a couple of large size fish. We missed a few and lost a couple that apparently weren't hooked that good. All before 9:30.

7-29-2023 The red hot Pacific Halibut bite continued today. We had limits by 8:30 this morning. The fish were not real big but the action was great. There are some rockfish mixed in with the halibut so you never know what you might hook.

7-28-2023 The ocean came down a bit today and we were able to get out for some Pacific Halibut fishing. We tried one spot for a little while with no luck so we moved on to another spot that has produced in the past. The tide went slack and not much was happening but then suddenly the bite went wide open with fish being hooked all around the boat. It didn't take long before we had limits for all and were heading for the dock in time for lunch.

7-25-2023 We had a family from Wisconsin on the boat today. We fished for deep water rockfish and they caught limits of big Canary and Yellowtail rockfish plus a couple of Lings. It was still early and Mom wanted a halibut and since it was her birthday we gave halibut fishing a shot. There was a fair amount of Hake and Black cod biting and it was hard to keep the hooks baited. Eventually though, it was time to head for home. I dumped out the last of the bait and that was when Mom hooked up her birthday halibut. Talk about last minute. Anyway, it was a nice 20# fish. I think they had a day of good family memories.

7-24-2023 The halibut fishing was not as good as we had hoped although we did catch a couple of medium size fish. We had a lot of trouble with big Canary rockfish but fortunately we can keep them so they went into the fish box. The ocean was beautiful and there was plenty of wildlife to watch while we fished. We had a couple of Blue whales hanging around for a while. A big sea lion paid us a visit later but didn't cause any problems for us. The fog rolled in late but it was sunny and warm at the Marina.

7-23-2023 We had a real nice group on the boat for our fishing trip today. The ocean started out a little bumpy but got nicer as the day progressed. The halibut started pretty slow for us so we ran for some bottom fish. It turned out to be a good decision since we picked up some dandy rock fish and Ling Cod. A new angler got their first halibut too, a nice 40# fish that was shared with the other anglers.

7-20-2023 It's been a while since we have been out and it showed today. We ran out on a nice ocean to where we have been catching some good size halibut. As it turned out we caught just about everything but a halibut. We had wonderful guests on board who were gracious even though the fishing wasn't what any of us expected. So all I can say is "better days are coming".

7-13-2023 We had a fantastic morning out on the halibut grounds. The ocean was glass flat without a breath of wind. Other than a little fog it was perfect weather. The fishing was not red hot at first but a little after the tide change the fish started to bite and it wasn't long before we had limits from 15# to 50+. The fish were feisty and it took some serious effort to get each one to the boat. We were back to the dock by one o'clock.

7-12-2023 We made a trip down to the Lost Coast for rockfish. The weather was ok but not great. We started inside where the fish were really tearing it up. Then we went looking around for some variety. We caught one real nice ling cod and lost a couple of others but they weren't that hungry today. We had limits of nice rockfish though so everyone went home with a big bag of fillets.

7-11-2023 Conditions really flipped on us from yesterday. It was breezy and bouncy and the fish were uncooperative. We had plenty of miscellaneous action but only one halibut where they were plentiful before. Eventually, the decision was made to head for home. But as were slogging our way back we got a call that conditions were better and some fish were biting where we fished last week. We headed over that way and it was so much nicer. We managed to pick up a few more halibut there before it was time to go home.

7-10-2023 The halibut fishing was as good as it can get this morning. In less than an hour and a half we had limits and were on our way in. No big ones today although we had a good one bust a leader. It was a little breezy but otherwise the ocean was very nice. Fishing is a lot of fun on days like this.

7-9-2023 We had a flat calm and mostly sunny day for our halibut trip today. We got set up in our spot first thing and waited for a bite. And then we waited some more..... Eventually a couple of friends sent messages that they were catching like crazy about 5 miles from us. I was getting the skinny from one of them when we had a rod go off. It was a little halibut but the bite had started. But of course, the grass is always greener so we left to go to the new "hot spot". We set up there and began fishing and of course, the fish had quit biting right before we got there. ( I'm sure there is a lesson here) After what seemed like a long time we caught another small halibut. But then one rod doubled over on a big fish. We got it to the boat but it had tangled with another line. We lifted the big fish into the boat and went about untangling the other rod. Which as it turned out also had a fish on it. We got that fish in the boat just as another rod went off. Three fish in about 15 minutes to cap off our limits.

7-8-2023 It was a very pleasant morning out on the halibut grounds. The fishing started off a little slow but then we started to put some fish in the boat. There were some small ones, some medium ones and a fairly large fish in the 50# range. When it was all said and done we had halibut limits before 11 am.

7-7-2023 Some days it pays to grind it out. This morning we only had one small halibut in the box. We had a good one pumping but the angler was in the bathroom and by the time he finished his business and made it out on deck the fish was gone. We had plenty of action on Black Cod, Hake, Sand Dabs etc. but no more halibut action. By 1pm with still only one (very) small halibut in the box we decided to try somewhere else. It was the right move. The action picked up right away and we were able to put limits on the boat. All of the halibut were small except for one fat 42# fish. It was a good gang that maintained a positive attitude all day.

7-5-2023 Today we had the honor of taking a group of veterans fishing for rockfish. The forecast wasn't very good but we gave it a try and we were glad we did. It wasn't flat calm but the ocean got pretty nice. The rockfish were ravenous but we couldn't get the Ling Cod to bite. Everyone caught fish and each of them went home with a nice bag of fillets.

7-1-2023 Well, we are still tied to the dock waiting for good weather to return. The weather and the forecast have not aligned too well so we missed a couple of days that we could have fished. Very frustrating. We try to watch out for our customers and we won't go if it might not be comfortable for them.

6-29-2023 I finally returned from a week of fisheries management meetings in Vancouver. The weather and the forecast have not aligned too well so we missed a couple of days that we could have fished. Very frustrating. We try to watch out for our customers and we won't go if it might not be comfortable for them.

The forecast for today was not very good but we had some folks that really wanted to go and were willing to give it a try. The ocean was not too bad and never really got as rough as predicted. There were a lot of unwanted fish biting and we released lots of skates, hake, sharks and black cod. Eventually we caught a nice halibut but by 1pm it was the only thing in the box. Then the fish started biting and by 1:30 we were done with limits and heading in. The grade was mixed with a couple of smaller fish and a couple of pretty nice ones. We even had a double with a big canary rockfish on one hook and a halibut on the other hook.

6-19-2023 The weather finally settled down enough for us to get out again. The goal was rockfish and we had a great day with plenty of fish. It wasn't lights out but then again, we're pretty spoiled up here. After getting limits of
big rockfish we bounced around for a while looking for Ling Cod. We lost one big one when it ran all of the way to the bottom but spit the bait when it was just about back to the surface. We caught some more including one large green ling. We'll be shut down for a few days as I travel to Vancouver for Pacific Fishery Management Council meetings.

6-10-2023 Yesterday the story was big fish. Today's story was the weather. It was a pretty bouncy Bar crossing and it was choppy and breezy all of the way out to the Halibut grounds. We were jostled around quite a bit for the first couple of hours and then it laid down and was downright beautiful. Like yesterday, the fish didn't start biting for us until after noon. But then it was a steady bite. We missed a couple but managed to land our limits just as the wind began to ramp up. It looks like windy weather will keep us off of the ocean for the next few days.

6-9-2023 Sometimes being patient means waiting for something that never happens. Other times patience can pay off in a big way. Today it paid off in a big way. We fished all morning with nothing but a few junk fish bites and a double hookup on skates. Yuck. By noon we were relegating ourselves to the fact that maybe we weren't going to catch a halibut today. But right around 1pm we hooked up. Finally! And it was a heavy pumper. We got it in the boat and it was a fat 50#er. In the next 45 minutes our gang landed 4 more halibut for limits with the biggest tipping the Englund Marine scale at 84#. The gang today is a wonderful young family and everyone reeled in their own fish. Mom had big fish honors which entitled her to the choice for dinner. A bet that was made long before the first fish was caught. So patience paid off today.

6-8-2023 The ocean was flat calm all day today. We ran down to the Lost Coast for some rockfish. The bite was a little on the slow side but we caught plenty of fish. The variety was amazing. We caught Ling Cod, Black. Blue, Copper, Quillback, Yellowtail, China, Kelp Greenling, Tiger, Rosy, Yelloweye, Yellowtail and an Octopus. We released a lot too.

6-7-2023 We had an interesting morning on the halibut grounds. The ocean was glassy calm and conditions looked perfect. We dropped lines in and waited. We had one bite in the first hour and a half and that fish didn't stick. Maybe they were waiting for the tide change. Then we hooked up to a decent fish. We just put it in the box and another rod bent over double. And then another rod bent over. Double hookup! These fish were a nice grade and they had a mean streak and peeled line with heavy head shakes. We were busy for the next 20 minutes with fish and then we were limited out and ready to head for the dock.

5-30-2023 With yesterday's success on our minds we made our way out to the halibut grounds for a repeat. It was obvious as soon as we got there that things had changed. We still had trouble with bait stealers but today they were mostly Hake and not Black Cod. We fished through the tide without a single halibut bite. There was a little more breeze on the water but otherwise seas conditions were similar to yesterday. Eventually, we surrendered and gave credit to the halibut for being able to keep their mouths shut. We'll get them next time. For now, it looks like rough ocean conditions will keep us off of the water for the next few days.

5-29-2023 The forecast wasn't great but we decided to try anyway. It was lumpy but not much wind just like the forecast said. The first hour we had two light bites but neither one stuck. There were some small Black Cod and Spiny Dogfish that were chewing our baits and generally making our lives difficult. Then we caught a small halibut and we boxed it. (Never throw back your first fish) Then we caught another slightly larger halibut and we kept it. Then a young lady on the boat tied into a real nice one that was pulling line and was pretty heavy. She got it up and it went a little over 40#. Then we caught another small halibut which was gently released and right after that we hooked another nice fish that went into the box for limits before 8:30.

5-26-2023 We were back on the water today, finally. We left the dock at 9am (planned) because one of the gang didn't get off work until 8. We ran out to the halibut grounds and put our lines in at 10am. We had one bite right off the bat
that let go and then a little lull before we got one to stick. The Black Cod continue to give us problems. Then we caught another one before another short lull at the tide change. Then it was bang bang and we were done before noon with limits for our four anglers. The bouncy ocean didn't agree with three of the four but they toughed it out until we were done. We bounced our way back to the dock where everyone enjoyed some fresh cookies.

5-20-2023 It looks like blustery springtime weather is upon us. With all of this wind we will be off of the water for a few days (at least). With the excellent fishing we have been enjoying we are anxious to get back to fishing. Stay tuned.

5-19-2023 It was breezy on the halibut grounds but that didn't bother our intrepid group of anglers today. Everyone had a great attitude and were prepared for whatever the fishing provided. By about 9am we only had one small halibut in the box. The trash fish were mauling our baits but the halibut were being picky. So we changed our tactics up and then things really turned on. After our slow start we boxed our last halibut for limits before 10am. We had a mixed grade with a couple of dandies that everyone agreed to split up evenly. Good people and good fishing sure made for a great day.

5-18-2023 We knew it might be a little breezy today on the rockfish grounds but we weren't expecting the current to be running so strong. Fortunately for us the fish were in a biting mood and we were able to put rockfish limits in the boat. The Lings were not as good to us and we would have liked to catch more of them but the current kept us off of some of the good spots.

5-17-2023 The halibut fishing started off pretty slow and we didn't have a bite in the first couple of hours. We made a move but our luck didn't improve at the new spot so we moved again. That spot paid off big time when we hooked a nice 30# plus fish. Then it was steady action until we had limits and even caught a fish for the Captain. Great group on the boat as usual and they each went home with a bag of fresh Pacific halibut fillets.

5-16-2023 There was a little more breeze today than in the forecast. We went for it though and made good time traveling down to the rockfish grounds. The rockfish were really biting and it wasn't too long before we were ready to move offshore to look for some variety. Once that was accomplished it was time for some ling cod. They were biting too and we made pretty short work of the lings.
The ride home wasn't too bad and as usual, Sherry met us at the dock with some fresh homemade cookies.

5-15-2023 We have been waiting for the weather to come down for the last few days. It looks good for the middle of this week and then it is forecast to come back up for the weekend. We have room on Wednesday and Thursday for folks that want to take advantage of the better ocean conditions. Give Sherry a call or send us an email if you want to go.

5-11-2023 The ocean has been up and down lately so our fishing has been sporadic. Typical springtime weather. Today the forecast was great so we made it out for some halibut fishing. It was windier than predicted but there was no swell. While the fishing started off slow, it was good enough for us to have limits before noon. The grade was mixed with fish from small to 30# plus. We struggled a bit as we got hung up on something not once, but twice. That cost us some gear and valuable fishing time. The real treat was getting to fish with Dennis Baxter who used to run the New Captain Pete out of Half Moon Bay. His son Braden and their friend Joe and Lonnie made it so easy I hardly had to go out on deck. Other than the snags and a stubborn skate it was a good day.

5-6-2023 Perfect weather and ocean conditions made today a real treat to be out on the water. The halibut fishing was kind of slow for us and we did not exactly make the most of our opportunities but it was a fun group to hang with and we all had a great time.

5-4-2023 The halibut fishing was pretty tough for us today. The ocean had come up some overnight. We finally caught a pretty nice halibut at the end of the day but it wasn't the kind of fishing we had yesterday. It looks like some more South wind tomorrow so we are going to take the day off. The fish are out there.

5-3-2023 The first two days of Halibut season were blown out but the ocean laid down today. So like all first days we left the dock with high hopes and enthusiasm and just a little apprehension. Were the fish where we thought they should be? Would the rain and full moon put them off the bite? The answers were pretty quick coming. Our first drift resulted in a light bite but it didn't stick. So we ran back and started another drift. In just a few minutes a rod was bent double with line peeling off of the reel. We landed that fish and reset. It wasn't long before we had another hookup. We proceeded to put a nice 40# fish in the box. Then we missed a couple of bites and then another small fish and while that fish was coming in another rod went off. Double hookup! But we only needed one fish for limits so the first fish was released boatside and the other went in the box. Halibut limits before 9:30. A great start to the fishing season.

4-26-2023 The boat is about ready and so are we for the start of Pacific Halibut season. It looks like the opener on Monday may be blown out but the weather looks to settle down by midweek and looks really good for the end of next week. We have plenty of room available so give Sherry a call at 707-499-4925 if you're ready to pull on a fat Halibut.

4-21-2023 Well, it's less than 2 weeks until fishing begins. May 1st is opening day for Pacific Halibut and we have been looking forward to this day since last Fall. With no salmon season in California this year we will be focused on halibut, rock cod, Ling Cod and tuna. Rock cod opens May 15th and for the first time in many years it will be open to all depths all season long. We just finished getting the boat all prettied up for fishing and it goes back in the water tomorrow. It should be a fun year.

3-23-2023 In case you missed us in Anderson we will be at the Redding Sportsman's Expo at the Redding Civic Auditorium April 1st and 2nd. Hope to see you there! We have been promised warm and sunny weather.

3-1-2023 IT'S SHOW TIME!! Sherry will be at the Sportsman Show at the Shasta County Fairgrounds this weekend. Stop by to say Hi! and check out the show discount for halibut trips. We don't know what the salmon season will be but with any depth rockfish and Ling Cod and great Pacific Halibut fishing we are expecting a lot of fish to come over the rail again this season. Now is the time to book your trip!

1-30-2023 It's been a while since we have posted on here but that doesn't mean we haven't been busy. Tim just got back from a class on fisheries management procedures in Vancouver Washington and then went straight to the International Pacific Halibut Commission meeting in Victoria BC Canada. In Canada we were successful in getting the same allocation for halibut as last year. The numbers have declined in Alaska and Canada but ours are holding steady for now. It should be another good year for halibut here. The process for setting this year's salmon season will happen in March and April. Our rockfish season will start two weeks later than normal on May 15th. For the first time since early 2000 we will be able to fish for and retain rockfish caught at any depth. That includes Sablefish as well as some other deep water species like Widow Rockfish.
So there are some changes this year but they offer some great new opportunities. I would like to thank everyone who reads these reports. They will resume daily when we start fishing again. Until then we will report whenever there is something worth reporting.

1-01-2023 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! The Reel Steel crew wishes you a new year filled with joy, big fish and of course, cookies!

12-21-2022 We finished up our crab season with limits for everyone again. The crabs are in great shape and the Commercials could go at any time. Thanks to all who came crabbing with us this year.

12-18-2022 We had another fantastic day of crabbing with easy limits for all. Other than a little breeze in the afternoon the ocean conditions were good too.
Super nice people on every trip so it was always a good time.

12-17-2022 The ocean was flat and beautiful today for our morning crab trips. We were able to make several trips and got easy limits every time. The crabs are in great shape right now.

12-16-2022 The weather has been so nice that we decided to make a little rockfish/crab trip today. The rockfish was not wide open but it was still good and we had limits before noon. We got some nice Ling Cod up to 28# too. We only had to pull a couple of crab pots to get limits of crabs. It was a little chilly(cold actually) in the morning but it turned into a beautiful sunny day.

12-14-2022 We made two trips today for easy limits. The crabbing and the weather have lined up for some good days ahead.

12-13-2022 The crab pots are set and they're loading up with fresh Dungeness crabs. With nice ocean conditions NOW is the time to get some fresh crab.

12-12-2022 We will be back out crabbing beginning Wednesday 12-14. If you have a hankerin' for fresh crab then give Sherry a call at 707-499-4925.

12-6-2022 We made two crab trips this morning. The pots were stuffed with big healthy crabs. Everyone went home with a limit.

12-4-2022 We have room for crabbing on Tuesday and Wednesday. The ocean conditions look good for both days but then they come up again as another weather front rolls through.

12-1-2022 The boat is ready to go and so are we. It looks like good crabbing weather all next week so we plan on getting out on the water again. We are looking forward to be able to use crab pots again too!

11-25-2022 Happy day after Thanksgiving everyone. We have been off of the water for the last few days due to an issue with the boats heat exchanger. A new one should be on the way soon but it looks like we will be on a break from crabbing until then. We apologize for any inconvenience to our customers but we like to fix things the right way and that can take a little longer sometimes.

11-22-2022 The crabs were chewing again today and limits were easy to come by. It looks like there is some weather on the horizon so we may not run every day. Next Monday at 9am we can go back to using crab pots. That will make things better for us and our customers since the pots are usually full before we even leave the dock.

11-21-2022 Limits of crab again today with one pull through the gear. Flat ocean with no wind made it even better.

11-20-2022 The good weather coupled with outstanding crabbing has everyone pretty happy nowadays. One run through the gear today was all it took to get limits for everyone.

11-19-2022 Back to crabbing today. It was a fun group and everyone said they had a good time. The ocean was flat and it was great crabbing with easy limits.

11-18-2022 We changed things up from the regular crab trips we have been running lately. The ocean was nice so we made our way out for some deep water rockfish. We limited everyone with huge Canary rockfish plus some Widows and Yellowtail rockfish. We only got one Ling Cod but it was a dandy. Then we pulled rings for a while to get a bunch of crabs to top it all off.

11-17-2022 Not much to add to the report from yesterday. We left the dock late to avoid the outgoing tide and it took a couple of hours to get limits of crab for everyone. Nice ocean and even nicer people on the boat. A great day!

11-16-2022 We made two very successful crab trips today on a flat calm ocean. Everyone went home with limits again!

11-15-2022 The ocean was flat calm and the skies were sunny as we made our way out to go crabbing. The first pull on the rings got us three limits of crabs with a mix of jumbos and medium size crabs. The second pull got us what we needed and we headed in with limits again. It takes a little more work with the rings but we have still sent everyone home with their limits so far.

11-11-2022 We had a full day of crabbing with three trips. We managed to get our crabs on the first two trips but they weren't exactly coming hot and heavy. By the third trip the weather front had come in and it was wet and windy. But that was when the crabs really started to bite and we easily had limits and threw a bunch back as well. It looks kind of rough tomorrow so we are going to wait for nicer weather.

11-10-2022 Today was our first trip for crab. It was also the first try with the new regulations for crab rings instead of pots. It was a learning experience but I think we are going to get it figured out. We got limits for everyone but it took longer than it does with pots. We should get that figured out too. The crabs appear to be in pretty good shape for this early in the season. We had crab for dinner and half of the crab were completely full and the others were a little over half full.

10-31-2022 It's been a while since we have been out but we have been busy getting ready for crab season. Sherry is currently taking reservations for crabbing. The cost is $90 per person and you need a Ca fishing license (a one day is good enough) and possibly a crab stamp. We are starting the season off with rings instead of pots which does not require the stamp but when we can switch to pots then you will need the stamp.(confused yet?) Just ask Sherry what you need. She'll know. Her number is 707-499-4925

10-17-2022 We had an amazing day of fishing for rockfish and Ling Cod. The ocean was as nice as I have ever seen it. The seas were glassy and there was no wind or fog. It was t-shirt weather. The fish were in a biting mood too. It is nice to see that the Ling Cod are back after some slow days earlier this year. We had some monster Vermilion and a wide assortment of other rockfish. The gang on the boat were all fun and it was a good time.

10-9-2022 We spent last week in Oregon learning about the science behind fisheries management. Interesting stuff. Today we were back out fishing. The target was rock cod and Ling Cod. We had a real nice mix of fish with Blacks, Blues, Canary, Copper, Quillback, Tiger, Ling Cod, and more coming over the rail. We had a couple of Yelloweye that were successfully released with a descending device. The goal was to be back across the Bar by the noon tide change. That only gave us a couple of hours of fishing time but we had our limits and were back before the Bar got a chance to rough up on the ebb. It was pretty foggy so there wasn't much to see except water and the fish in the fish box. It was a good gang with a couple of locals and others from as far away as Texas. We may still make a few more trips this month when the weather is good enough to go. Then it will be time to get ready for crab season in November.

9-26-2022 We had a pretty good morning of rock fishing. The ocean was nice and the fog was not as dense as it has been for a few days. The fish were biting and it did not take long to fill everyone's limit.

9-24-2022 It was another foggy morning as we left the dock headed for the rockfish grounds. There was a cruise ship with its entourage coming in as we were leaving. We caught a glimpse of it through the fog as we passed by. Once on the fishing grounds we began to catch fish almost immediately in spite of choppy conditions and lots of current. The fish bit good all morning and we had limits of Ling Cod as well as limits of colorful rockfish. The fog never lifted all day . We were just pulling into the dock as the cruise ship announced it was leaving Humboldt Bay to continue its trip.

9-22-2022 We made our way through the fog down to the rockfish grounds. The ocean was calm and the fog lifted so we could clearly see the beautiful coastline. On our first stop the fishing was almost too good and we had to put the rods down or we would have limits too early. We had a 10 year old on the boat and he was a natural at fishing. With the help of his mom he caught a load of fish. We soon went looking for some Ling Cod plus some color for the box. We got a couple of Vermilion and some Cabs but only a couple of Lings. At the end of the day we found a big rock in the stomach of a Cabazon and now that rock is a souvenir for a tired 10 year old.

9-21-2022 The ocean was great today and we spent plenty of time searching for a good tuna bite. Although we found plenty of tuna (jumpers that refused to bite) we never found the mother lode. We caught some tuna (and they were big ones) but the bite was pretty slow overall. It looks like the water should hang around for a while so we should get another chance.

9-19-2022 The ocean had a little lump on it and some breeze in the morning but it settled down by afternoon. I don't know if it is the weather or what but the tuna were very scattered and not real hungry. Fortunately they were a nice size. We bounced around from spot to spot and managed to get just over a fish a rod. We did not get to the area that we fished on our last trip because there was not good weather in that area. There should still be fish there.

9-17-2022 The Lost Coast was beautiful this morning and the rockfish were biting. We got a box full of colorful rockfish and just over one Ling Cod per rod. There was quite a bit of current that made fishing a little more challenging than usual but the guys stuck with and caught some nice fish.

9-15-2022 We cancelled today's tuna trip due to windy conditions on the tuna grounds.

9-14-2022 Just got back from fishing meetings in Boise in time to make a trip to the tuna grounds. It was pretty foggy to start with and was overcast all day. We picked a random place to start and got a double right away. Then another double and then another double that turned into a single. Then a dry spell for a while before the fish started to bite again. We had some singles as well as multiple hookups including a five way that the guys did a masterful job with and got all five fish. We had some small fish early on but then it was a good grade from 15 to over 30#.We quit when the fish box was full and made an easy run on glass flat seas back to the dock.

9-5-2022 Today is the last day of our 2022 salmon season. May was great but the first part of September was a bust with warm water temperatures preventing the salmon from moving in close to shore. Once water temps cooled we began to catch fish. Today was typical with one fish caught per rod. The ocean today was pretty bouncy and at times covered with dense fog. We caught a couple of fish during the morning tide change but then things slowed down. Things really picked up with the afternoon tide change. In fact, we had a hard time keeping up with multiple bites and a couple of fish on at once. When the dust cleared, everyone had caught a keeper fish and it was time to head for home. The swells were building and we did not want to stay out too late. We also got a couple of new stories but those can only be told "on the boat".

9-4-2022 It was the penultimate day of salmon season and we crossed the bar with high hopes for a good day. As it turned out the ocean was flat calm but it was foggy most of the day. The sun came out towards the end and buoyed our spirits. The fish bit a little in the morning and then again in the afternoon. Slow in the middle. We had a little better than one fish per rod. All in all a pretty good day of salmon fishing.

9-3-2022 We were a little leery of the weather forecast for the Lost Coast but we took a chance and went for it anyway. There was a little breeze on the water and we were hoping that the fish would be biting in case we had to leave early. Well, things worked out perfectly. The wind never did really come up and the fish were hungry. We could have had our limits on the first drift but since we did not have any Ling Cod we went looking around. So we managed one Ling per angler plus limits of rockfish before the weather changed.

9-2-2022 The salmon bit much better for us today. We had limits by 11am and then stayed a little longer to get Sherry a salmon and to explore a little. The fish are nice size and in excellent condition.

9-1-2022 Our planned trip to the Lost Coast lost it's luster with a weather report that included lots of wind there. So we made the best of things and fished rockfish closer to home where we got half limits before the bite tapered off. So we went looking for salmon. We had a fair number of bites but the fish were not getting hooked. Eventually we did get a couple of salmon.

8-31-2022 It was a long way out to the tuna grounds. We were still about 10 miles short of our destination when the guys spotted a big bird pile (flock) sitting on the water. We quickly got the lines in the water and in less than five minutes we had a triple on. So after landing those fish we just hung around that area and had steady action. We had one five way hookup(landed 4) and lots of singles and doubles. After about three and a half hours of fishing the tote and the fish bag were totally maxed out. The fish were mostly large with many in the high twenties and low thirty pound range. The weather was perfect and it was a great crew.

8-30-2022 We made a run to the Lost Coast on flat calm seas. The fish were biting as soon as we got there. We made a few moves just to change things up but the fish were hungry everywhere we went. We had the usual nice variety including a little over one Ling Cod per rod. A great day with a really great group.

8-29-2022 We made a stab at salmon fishing today but after beating ourselves up trying to get offshore we quit and turned back around towards shore. Did not wet a line.

8-23-2022 We had quite a start to our Bay halibut trip this morning. We were about halfway down the Bay in the center of the channel when we spotted something floating in the water. At first we thought maybe it was a seal or possibly a log but it turned out to be a person. Hypothermic and barely floating. When we stopped and tried to communicate with him all we got was gibberish. We managed to pull him to the boat with a life ring and then pulled him through the transom tuna door (very handy to have). We took him to the Eureka boat ramp where were met by paramedics and an ambulance. It appeared that he will be all right. After that we bounced around the Bay trying to catch a halibut but all we got were a couple of "shorts".

8-22-2022 There are all kinds of things that can make a fishing trip "epic". Amazing weather, good company, big fish, lots of big fish. Today's trip had all of that. We had a great group on board that got to try their hand at tuna fishing. It took a little while in the morning to get located but once we did we had a spot all to ourselves with plenty of fish. Using the boats electronics we were able to identify a tuna boat in a trolling pattern about 5 miles West of us. We trolled in that direction but we never made it that far before the rods started going off. Epic. People often ask about what the limit is for tuna. We tell them not to worry about it because their arms will fall off before they can reach it. Today's group learned what that meant. Epic.

8-21-2022 We had an experienced group for our rockfish trip today. The ocean was pretty decent with not much wind. The fish were biting right off the bat and we were able to load the box fairly quickly. We only had to hit a few spots to get limits for everyone. They caught some nice Lings and a couple of real big Cabs.

8-18-2022 The wind was blowing in the Bay as we pulled out of the Marina. We were on our way to the Lost Coast for rockfish and we didn't want to see the wind. By the time we got to our first spot the wind had died down to nothing and conditions were near perfect. The fish were biting as soon as the first line went in. It was steady fishing but we moved around some to look for more variety and maybe a Ling Cod or two. We had a family on board and they were all good fisherfolks. Grandpa said he wasn't much of a fisherman but guess what? He said he thought he was stuck on the bottom but with a little coaxing the bottom began to move. With a little coaching and some help he was able to very slowly bring the beast to the boat. Actually two beasts, no three. He had hooked a Blue rockfish which was then inhaled by a 12# Ling Cod which was then inhaled by a 40# + Ling Cod. Yep, he caught three fish on one small hook. Guess he's a pretty good fisherman after all.

8-17-2022 We went after the salmon that got away yesterday without success. We had one bite that missed the hook and that was it for about three hours of trolling. The Bar was pretty chunky this morning and the seas did not come down as predicted but it was a great group and they stuck it out. We eventually slid inside and found some very willing rockfish and everyone had fun catching them.
Brian did great and NEVER missed a fish or a bite. Happy retirement. You've earned it.

8-16-2022 The forecast was for a choppy ocean and we cancelled everyone but two from Kansas that wanted to try to fish for salmon no matter what. We waited until the tide change and made it out across the Bar. The salmon fishing has not been too good but there have been a few fish caught. We put the lines out but it wasn't long before they decided that they had had enough bouncing around. As we were pulling in the lines to go home we had a salmon grab a bait. It made it to the surface but wasn't hooked good enough to make it to the net. It's nice to know there is at least one salmon out there. The nearshore water has cooled quite a bit which is good for salmon. There is still warm water offshore so we hope to get out after some more tuna when the ocean settles down.

8-11-2022 Instead of a charter trip today we took a group of very experienced anglers to determine if there was any quantity of salmon available to catch. There have been salmon caught almost every day but only one or two per boat on average. While we found some good looking water we did not find the salmon. It is probably due to the influx of warm water that has brought the tuna in close.
It doesn't help that we have a full moon right now as well. The wind is supposed to start to blow offshore this weekend which may improve things but we won't know for sure until late next week. In the meantime we suggest keeping your powder dry until the next weather break.

8-10-2022 The weather on the tuna grounds was great again today. In fact it was almost too warm. We covered a lot of ground but the fish were not being too kind to us. We lost several fish that should have gone in the box. That's fishing sometimes. We don't have to like it when it happens though. Everyone got to pull on a tuna and went home with a bag of fresh tuna fillets. We are going to give salmon a go tomorrow.

8-9-2022 The weather was balmy and the ocean was calm again today on the tuna grounds. The fish remain scattered in small schools. We started the day with two doubles, then a very long dry spell then a triple and then singles after that. The grade of fish continues to be excellent. It was a lot of fun with nice folks.

8-8-2022 We had a magnificent day out tuna fishing. The ocean was flat calm with no wind. The bite was not red hot but we had a bite often enough to keep things interesting. It was a wonderful family that is doing a great job of raising their kids. Each kid got to pull on a couple of tuna. Usually the kid won but a couple of times the tuna won. Just as we were about to wrap it up for the day, two huge (200#) Bluefin tuna erupted from the water right next to the boat. It was an awe inspiring sight.

8-7-2022 We made our first real tuna run today. The ocean was nice until the afternoon when the South wind came up. The fish were scattered and not in large schools. We had a couple of doubles but most were singles. The fish were large and hard fighters. Everyone on the boat got to reel in at least one fish but we didn't fill the boat. The fish are close so it's not too long of a trip before we're fishing.

8-6-2022 The ocean wasn't glass flat but it was plenty fishable. The warm water has pushed in all of the way to the beach and we were wondering if the halibut could "handle the heat". By noon with only one fish in the box we were beginning to have some doubts. But patience can pay off in the halibut game and it did this time. By one o'clock we had a fish for everyone except the Captain and were ready to pull the plug and head in. But the bow rod was slack and when we started reeling we felt that halibut headshake. It took forever to get that fish to the boat and when we saw it we knew why. There was a 30# halibut on the top hook and a big skate on the bottom hook. In the end the halibut went in the box and the skate swam back to the bottom. Congratulations to Gracie, a 10 year old that landed the biggest halibut of the day.

8-5-2022 The sound of the roaring surf this morning made it clear we would not be venturing offshore today. We took a poll at the dock and decided to try the Bay for some California halibut. We grabbed some live shiner perch and went fishing. The weather was odd in the Bay and the wind literally changed from South to Northeast in minutes. Then it got calm and then blew from the West. We caught some short halibut but no keepers. The kelp flies descended on us when the wind quit blowing too. It was an odd day but we still had a good time.

8-4-2022 The halibut fishing was not red hot but we stuck it out and were rewarded with limits. Sunday will be the last day for Pacific Halibut in California this year. It was a good season with lots of nice fish caught. Now on to salmon, rockfish and tuna.

8-3-2022 It's Sherry's birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERRY! We did things backward today and started off fishing for salmon. We did not get any salmon and heard the halibut bite was going on so we headed out to the halibut grounds and switched tackle. By then the halibut bite had slowed some. We ended the day one halibut short of limits and had to listen as some salmon were finally being caught. So we missed that. Oh well!

8-2-2022 It was an interesting day of Pacific Halibut fishing. We set the anchor after reaching our spot but we slid down a little and had to reposition. There was a ship operating a Remotely Operated Vehicle nearby but after contacting them we determined that we would be well clear of their operation. As it turned out they were having some difficulty with the ocean current and ended up close to us. Closer than I wanted to be at least. We cut loose from our anchor and drifted away while they worked out their issues. Once they were clear of us we pulled our anchor and moved to a whole new area. Once there, it took a while before we got any action. But then the fish came steady and at one point we had four bites in about 10 minutes. We only managed to land one of those fish. We broke one off and two never stuck. Eventually though, we got the job done and headed in with limits of halibut from 28# to 52#.

8-1-2022 We had a planned rockfish trip today even though it was the salmon opener. It worked out good since the salmon fishing was slow but the rockcod were really biting. It only took a few hours to get the 60 nice rockfish we needed for limits. The Lost Coast was as beautiful as I have ever seen it with glassy calm seas and good visibility to see the great coastline.

7-31-2022 The ocean was perfect this morning with glassy seas and no wind or fog. We made it out to the halibut grounds and dropped in our lines. We had to fight off the bait stealers for a while but eventually we hooked the first fish, a fat 45 #er. We boxed it and then it was a steady pick until we put our fifth and final fish in the box. It wasn't even 9:30 yet.

7-29-2022 It was kind of a slow day out on the halibut grounds. We missed a bite early and then later put a couple of nice fish in the box. Then it was a while before another bite that didn't stick. Shortly after that another short bite and then about 1:15 we got one to stick. That was enough for our gang who bravely stuck it out most of the day so we went in a little early one fish shy of limits. Tomorrow we prep the boat for Monday's salmon opener.

7-28-2022 It was another great day to be out on the water. Just like yesterday we had a group of real nice folks and the ocean was calm. The only real difference was that the Halibut wanted to bite today. It wasn't a morning bite so it took a while but we managed to bag limits of a very nice grade of fish. We even had a couple come unbuttoned like yesterday but enough held on to send everyone home with a good fish. Every rod caught a fish so everyone caught a fish on their own rod. The Captain claimed this took amazing skill but it was pretty much just luck.

7-27-2022 We had a really great group on the boat today and the ocean was flat calm with some fog that moved in and out throughout the day. It would have been a perfect day except for one small detail. We couldn't get the halibut to stay hooked up. They bit good in the morning but by noon we had nothing to show for three solid hookups. We finally managed to get a fish to stick and it was a fat 50# fish.

7-26-2022 The rockfish trip we had planned for today changed to a tuna exploratory trip after one of the local offshore buoys gained six degrees overnight. We found the warm water and while there were some signs of life we did not see a lot of activity. We trolled around for several hours and eventually caught a 20# tuna. That was it for the day. We left the warm water early so we could get in a little rockfish on the way home and put half limits in the box before calling it a day. It was great to be trolling for tuna again and we expect better results as conditions continue to improve.

7-22-2022 Before we even headed out, one of today's group told me that we would have limits by 10am. I just smiled and said "sure". The morning started off pretty slow and it was a while before our first halibut. Once they started biting though, it was steady with a bite every 15 minutes or so. When we put the last fish in the box I asked what time it was. "10am" came the reply. What do you know.

7-21-2022 Well, today was more like it. After grinding all day yesterday we were happy to get our halibut limits before 9:30 this morning. We had a very nice family from Minnesota that put the wood to the halibut early and often. Then we tried for some sharks in the Bay without much success except for a bat ray and a clam shell. Still, we're calling it a successful day.

7-20-2022 Yesterday the fishing was easy. Not so much today. We put in a full day to catch 3 nice halibut. We missed a couple of bites that didn't stick so we had our chances. The Black Cod were back making it hard to keep a bait on the hook long enough to interest a halibut. Still, everyone went home with plenty of halibut for dinner and the freezer.

7-19-2022 We started out this morning questioning if we should even go. The seas were pretty rough and the wind in the harbor was blowing up whitecaps. We decided to give it a go and then the question was what to fish for. Everyone hemmed and hawed until one guy says "I want Halibut". OK, so we're going fishing and we're targeting Halibut. The bar was pretty big but we made it out fine. When we got to our spot there was a pretty good lump but we dropped in lines with the high hopes that only a fisherman understands. After a little bit we hooked a nice one and got it in the boat. A short while later we were hooked up again. Another keeper. We had drifted a ways so we made a move hoping to drift back over the same area. The drift had changed and we were drifting South instead of East. Apparently that was the right move because we hooked three more fish in short order and were done with limits. It was only 9:30. The Bay entrance had settled down by then so it was a quick trip back to the dock. Real nice folks on the boat. I'm glad they all got their fish today.

7-16-2022 We had a Bay trip today with a super nice family that wanted to get some experience with California Halibut. We anchored up for sharks during the worst of the tide and then switched over to halibut for a couple of hours. We didn't expect too much but they ended up catching a few to 28 inches. Things should improve with better tides. We are still waiting for the anchovies to start filtering into the Bay.

7-15-2022 The day started off great with flat calm seas and biting Halibut. And just when it looked like we were in for a short day the Halibut closed their mouths and refused to bite. We went for a long time without a bite before we finally got another fish. By then it was time to head in and we were one fish short of limits. The fish are there, they just are not biting all day with these big tides.

7-11-2022 It was a warm and sunny day today but there was a disagreeable lump on the ocean due to strong winds offshore. The halibut bite was almost nonexistent until around 1pm. Then things started to happen. We had plenty of bites in the next hour but getting the fish to the boat was another story. It could have been the swell or maybe the fish were not taking the bait all of the way but we missed several bites and had a couple of fish just come unbuttoned on the way up. We managed to put a couple in the box but we could have done much better. Now it looks like a couple of days off while we wait for the seas to settle down.

7-9-2022 We are getting spoiled with these calm ocean days and hot Pacific Halibut fishing. But like all good things it looks like it is going to pause for a few days while the wind blows offshore. The conditions were perfect for halibut fishing and we took advantage. The first hour was pretty boring with no bites but then things got interesting and we started to get some action. Almost every rod got bit and everyone got to reel in a halibut. We had one big tangle when a wild halibut slammed a bait and took off through everyone's line. Other than that, things went like clockwork and at 9:30 we were done with limits and headed back to the dock.

7-8-2022 The ocean was great again today with flat calm seas and no wind. We had a couple of youngsters on the boat and they fished hard all morning. They were kept busy catching Sand Dabs and Halibut. They had their halibut limits by 11 am. The grade was good again today with most of the fish in the 30# range. We put one rod on the bow with the clicker on and when line started peeling off of the reel it took all of us a few moments to figure out that a big halibut was making a run for the bottom. One of the boys took the rod and brought that fish all the way to the boat. Great job! At dock all their fish were filleted and should make for quite a bit of delicious eating.

7-7-2022 Today was the kind of day everyone dreams about when booking a fishing trip. The ocean was glass flat with no wind and the perfect air temperature. Everyone on the boat was cheerful and friendly. Best of all the big Pacific Halibut were in a biting mood. Except for one slightly smaller fish, all of the fish were over 30#. We had limits in the boat before 10 am. Back at the dock we were greeted by Sherry with fresh out of the oven snickerdoodle cookies.

7-6-2022 We ran to where we finished up yesterday with high expectations. The fishing was a little slower but they were still biting. We had one guy who really had the bad breaks though, literally. He lost two real heavy fish when the line broke, two different times. The first fish broke the main line and the next fish broke a leader. And then he never got another bite. Everyone else got their fish and were gracious enough to offer to share their fillets with him. Other than that it was a perfect day on the water.

7-5-2022 The Pacific Halibut fishing really kicked back into gear today. We tried a couple of spots and caught fish in both. The grade was medium. We were finished with limits including for the crew before noon. The weather started off windy and wet but cleared up a little and calmed down nicely. It was sultry but not too warm. We were pretty busy with the fish and missed several that bit but didn't stick. It was a fun group and everyone worked together to make it a productive trip.

7-4-2022 Happy 4th of July everyone. What a great country we live in. We had every kind of weather on the ocean today. Clouds, sun, calm, wind, smooth seas, choppy seas. A little bit of everything. The halibut made us work again today. It was slow all morning with only one fish but eventually a friend called us and put us on some fish that were in a biting mood. They were a nice grade with most in the 30# range. We came up just short of limits again today when the last fish made a violent run and snapped the leader.

7-3-2022 The ocean was beautiful all day today. The Halibut fishing was pretty slow but we put in a full day since it was so nice and were only one fish short of limits when we headed in. It looks like good weather for the next few days.

7-2-2022 It was going to be too rough for our planned rockfish trip so we regrouped and took three anglers in the Bay for our first try at California Halibut this year. Conditions were perfect with no wind and good tides. The gang was pretty active with plenty of bites all morning. We landed about 14 fish but only a few were large enough to keep. Still, it was lots of fun.

6-28-2022 It was a long slow day for us. The fish would not bite for most of the day. Once they started biting it became obvious we weren't located so we pull anchor and began drifting. The current was so bad we had to maneuver the boat to stay on top of our baits. We finally picked up a couple of Halibut right at the end of the day. The group on the boat are great people (seeing a theme here?) and were patient and worked hard all day. The weather was clear and warm with flat seas. It looks like we are in for a few days of wind before we can get back out on the water.

6-27-2022 Today was quite different from yesterday. The ocean started off with a little South breeze but then got nicer as the day progressed. We fished most of the morning with no action. We finally made a significant move and that paid off for us. We hooked a real wild fish that was too much for the tackle and broke a 150# leader. Then we began to catch some fish and it wasn't too long before we had 5 halibut in the box for limits. It was a really nice group and I'm pretty sure they have a good time wherever they go. It's always a pleasure to have them on the boat.

6-26-2022 The day started off in a normal fashion for a Halibut trip. The ocean was nice and we were getting bit on a fairly regular basis. The first fish hooked came right in and went in the box. The second fish made it all of the way to the boat before it managed to shake the hook. Then we were getting bites but most of them wouldn't stick. It was pretty frustrating. Then the South wind came up and it got so sloppy that we just pulled the plug and headed back in. So we were a couple of fish short but thanks to some sharing everyone went home with fish.

6-25-2022 We had a VERY late cancellation so we ran with a short crew today for Pacific Halibut. One would think that would make for an easy day on the water. Well, we did everything possible to drag things out. We hooked a real nice halibut only to have the hook pull. Then we got attacked by a shark and lost a halibut rig. Then we hooked another halibut only to have the line break. All that happened as we were trying for our last fish. But we gave the five minute notice and low and behold we hookup and this one makes it all the way into the fish box. Mission accomplished!

6-20-2022 It looks like the weather is going to keep us tied to the dock for a few days.

6-18-2022 We were back on the Pacific Halibut grounds today. The fishing continues to be excellent with quite a few fish in the 30# to 40# range being caught. We had a few that size along with a couple of smaller ones. The current was ripping so we anchored up and that worked for us. Still a lot of pesky bait stealers but the gang persevered and managed to keep bait on long enough to get their limits of Halibut. There are a lot of Black Cod out there and we managed to hook a small one on a big circle hook. On the way up the fishing line took off at a weird angle and there was a lot of extra weight. After reeling everything in we saw that a shark had grabbed the Black Cod on the way up but spit it out leaving a very dead Cod full of big teeth marks on the hook.

6-17-2022 The ocean was glass flat for our rockfish trip today. The fishing was
good all day and we boxed some nice fish. We had a couple of hitchhiker Lings including one that grabbed a big Quillback. I don't know what that fish was thinking. Nothing but spines everywhere but it tried to eat it anyway. It was a fun day with a great group.

6-16-16-2022 We made a trip to the Lost Coast for rockfish. The ocean was really flat and we had great conditions for the whole trip. While not red hot, the fish bit pretty good. We ended up just a couple of ling cod short of limits but with limits of rockfish.

6-15-2022 We knew the bar crossing could be an issue this morning when we left the dock. With a monster runoff we weren't sure if we could cross early or if the fish would be biting when we got to our spot. Well the crossing was very nice but the run offshore was pretty sporty with a stacked up ebb slop. Once we were about four miles out the ocean got real nice. We set up for our first drift and the current was running strong. We decided to give the anchor a go and dropped the hook and set out our lines. It took about an hour of battling with pesky black cod before one of the halibut rods doubled over and it was FISH ON!. The fish eventually came to gaff after making several good runs. We were just getting the fish put away when a second rod went off, another good one. As we were fighting that fish another fish grabbed on. Whew! Three quick ones. It took a little bit to get everything straightened out and then we caught a couple more. Halibut limits before 10 am. Pretty good morning.

6-13-2022 I just got back from a week in Vancouver Washington for the Pacific Fisheries Management Council meeting. The big item for us was a recent stock assessment for Quillback and Copper rockfish. The assessment showed both species at very low levels. We were faced with the possibility of a 2 month rockfish season next year. To their credit, California Fish and Wildlife worked with us and other stakeholders to develop a strategy that would allow maximum fishing opportunity while protecting impacted fish stocks. The regulations next year will be different for each management area in the state as a result of stakeholder input. It is very likely that although we will lose November, December and part of May we will get to fish at all depths when open. This means that the Black Cod or big rockfish that you caught while halibut fishing can go right into the fish box. We should be back on the water Wednesday. We have had a few cancellations lately for summer or fall days so if you want on the list you can give Sherry a shout.

6-3-2022 We had a very late cancellation for a rockfish trip today so to conserve fuel costs we fished for halibut instead. The fishing was pretty slow and it took us the whole day to get fish. We were one fish short of limits when it was time to head in. The Black Cod are thick offshore and are making it difficult to keep a bait on. The ocean was super calm so it was an easy decision to stay all day.

6-2-2022 The ocean was flat calm today so we made a trip to the rockfish grounds. The fishing started off a little on the slow side but got better as the morning progressed. We had a WIDE variety of fish plus a big octopus(released unharmed). We had a few ling cod and managed to lose a couple more right at the boat. Everyone got their limit of rockfish and went home with nice bags of fillets.

6-1-2022 We gave our best effort today to find some hungry halibut but were unsuccessful in our quest. The ocean was nice in the morning but breezy in the afternoon. There was not much swell.

5-31-2022 Today ended the first part of our May and August salmon season. Once again the fish were really biting. We started off a little slow but then they started to chew and we had limits in short order. Size wise the fish weren't much to brag about but limits by 10am sure is. We will focus on halibut, rockfish and ling cod until August 1st when salmon reopens.

5-28-2022 We decided that we wouldn't fish today. The strong winds in the forecast for the morning would be too much if they came early. Tomorrow doesn't look good and we haven't decided on Monday yet. Tuesday might be ok weather and then the rest of the week looks ok. Salmon will be closed until August beginning Wednesday so we will be fishing for halibut or rockfish.

5-27-2022 What an incredible morning of salmon fishing. We headed back to the spot where we found fish yesterday with hope that they would still be there. Boy were they! We did not even get the first line all the way down before it was "FISH ON" After that it was hard to get even two lines in before one would be hooked up. And there were some pretty nice fish in the mix too. It was as good of a salmon bite as I have ever seen. Just amazing. At one point one downrigger ball broke off so we were fishing one rod for 6 people. We still were limited out in an hour. It looks like the weather is coming up for a few days and the salmon season will end on Tuesday and then reopen August 1. I hope these fish stick around.

5-26-2022 It was another day of fantastic salmon fishing on the Reel Steel. We got a late start and cruised on out to where we caught fish yesterday. The ocean was flat calm and there were a lot of boats out. We trolled that area for a good bit but only caught two shakers. It was time for drastic measures. We took off hoping for greener pastures. We came across loads of Shearwaters and gulls feeding heavily so we stopped and sent our lures out. It wasn't long before we had a bite. Then it was very good action for the next hour or so that it took to put limits on the boat. We took a chance and it paid off. Thanks to our group that was willing for anything. Sometimes an open mind is what it takes to make a great day.

5-25-2022 It was foggy and windy as we crossed the Humboldt Bay Bar this morning. We were hoping to do a little Pacific Halibut fishing or salmon fishing. We got an early report that the current and wind were too strong for halibut fishing so we made our way out to the salmon grounds. We weren't too lucky early on and we lost a couple of fish and then we caught a couple. It didn't sound like it was better fishing anywhere else so we boxed our little spot and began to catch fish. The size was mixed but we did get a couple of real nice ones. We managed to put the last fish in the box before 10:30 so it was an early day for our gang.

5-23=2022 It was a little more breeze this morning but not much swell so we were able to get back out for salmon. The fish were right where we left them and they were in a biting mood. Even after losing a half dozen fish or so we were still completely limited out before 10am. We are off tomorrow due to more wind but then it looks like fishable weather for a while.

5-21-2022 It was too windy and rough to venture offshore so we fished in the Bay. The California Halibut have not come into the Bay in sufficient numbers so all that was left was shark fishing (or "sharkin'" as Quint would call it). As it happened, the sharks were in a receptive mood and we caught fish all morning. Everyone had a great time pulling on Leopard and sevengill sharks. The kids got some great pictures as they released their vanquished foes.

5-18-2022 We did not fish yesterday due to bad weather but today was a different story. We waited for the 8:30 tide change so we left the dock a little later than usual. The ocean was nice in the morning and got even nicer as the day wore on. We tried a different spot than where we had been fishing earlier in the week but did not have any luck there. We heard of a few fish being caught a mile away so we trolled in that direction. Once there we started to put some salmon in the boat. The action wasn't wide open like it has been but we eventually got all of our salmon and still made it back to the dock by 2pm. The weather was great, the company was great and the fishing was great!

5-16-2022 The wind was blowing this morning when we got up. That usually doesn't bode well for offshore fishing. We all met at the boat and discussed whether or not we should even try to go out. I let everyone decide for themselves and almost everyone wanted to give it a go. The swells were not big but the ocean was very choppy. So we slogged our way offshore. Conditions had changed dramatically from yesterday and the fishing started off a little slow. But once we got located it was "game on" again and we were busy battling hungry salmon. We got limits for everyone in short order and were on our way in before 11am.

5-15-2022 It was another fantastic day of salmon fishing out of Eureka. The fishing was a little slower than it has been the last few days but it was still excellent. We had limits before 11 am and in the meantime we were very busy. We had a lot of bites that didn't stick and some that did but didn't make it all of the way to the boat. We hooked two Thresher sharks. We even caught a couple of mackerel. Just after we caught our last fish we saw a huge Thresher shark thrashing around on the surface. The ocean was nice and we had a great group on the boat and that's about the most you can ask for.

5-14-2022 The salmon fishing out of Eureka is INSANE! right now. It takes longer to get to the fishing grounds than it does to catch limits. The salmon we caught a couple of days ago were full of krill but the fish we caught today were stuffed with sardines. It has been a while since we have had sardines around. We even saw a Mola. That is very unusual for May. The salmon fishing was intense. At one point we had four fish on at once. We are going to continue to concentrate on salmon until the end of the month and then we will switch to halibut or rockfish. So many choices.

5-13-2022 There was a little South wind blowing this morning but that didn't keep us from making the long trip to the rockfish grounds. It was a little bouncy but we were able to fish with no problem. With the one fish limit for Copper and Quillback rockfish we concentrated on Black and Canary rockfish. The Blacks were their usual hungry selves and it wasn't long before we had our fill. We tried for Ling Cod for a while with no success. In less than two hours we had rockfish limits. The folks that salmon fished had quick limits again today.

5-12-2022 No fishing for us today. We will be back out tomorrow. Just as a reminder. The salmon season ends May 31 and won't restart until August. The salmon are snapping right now so this is the time to get out and get them. We have spots available next week. Call Sherry. If you are already on the call list we won't forget you. It's first come first served.

5-11-2022 Eureka salmon is RED HOT!! Salmon fishing today was the best that we have seen in a few years. The wind was blowing and the ocean was a little cranky. The chop sent quite a few boats back in but the Reel Steel handled it with no problem and soon we were out near where we caught fish yesterday. The salmon were biting just like we left them and soon our rods were bending with wild Pacific King salmon on the lines. We had several double hookups and it was pretty much non stop action until 8:30 when we had limits for everyone.

5-10-2022 We had