Well would you look at that! Some hogs being brought in from the salt (pacific ocean) this week. Salmon fishing charters as well as private salmon fishing vessels took advantage of a wide open bite that’s been going on since the season opener (June 28, 2021). Splurging themselves on some quality king salmon. Great news for the “in river” season opener on July 16, 2021. Now roughly a week away. While the salt water captains of the larger party boats charged out of the Golden Gate this week. Marinas in Bodega Bay, Ca and Pacifica, Ca served the private sport fishermen up proper.

Captain John McGee owner of Legal Limit Sport Fishing in Berkeley, Ca is no stranger to the salmon game. In fresh or salt water. McGee runs Sacramento River and Ocean fishing charters here in Northern California. Pictured is a box of king salmon on a return trip from the “shipping channel”. A popular staging spot for king salmon waiting to migrate into fresh water.

According to “Six Pack” (six person fishing charter) fishing charter captain John McGee, owner and operator of Legal Limit Sport Fishing. There were salmon just about everywhere this past week. McGee reported the school of large king salmon that provided the wide open action in the days following the season opener. Split up, with some salmon headed up the California coast to presumably the Fort Bragg, Ca area. As well as a group that headed South down the coast. Showing up at “DucksBerry” just outside the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Ca. This large reef is a very popular staging area for chinook (king) salmon in the days prior to them heading into the freshwater river systems of Northern California.

This client of Legal Limit Sport Fishing holds up his limit of shiny chinook salmon he caught this week while fishing with Captain John McGee.

Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram lit up with loads of pictures of big hefty Chinook Salmon. Including two photos that caught my attention. A 41 and a 46 pound king salmon were brought in up North in Bodega Bay, Ca this week. As well as a plethora of kings weighing over 30 pounds respectively. These are four and five year old Chinook Salmon that stayed out in the Pacific Ocean a year or two longer then the majority of their born year class. Meaning, most salmon come back into fresh water to reproduce at the age of three years old. These salmon may weigh 15-25 pounds, salmon weighing say 26-35 pounds could be considered to be four year olds. Salmon weighing 36-45 pounds could be considered five year olds, and so on.... Again a welcome site for those of us who are eagerly waiting for the Sacramento River and Feather River to open for salmon fishing.

Austin Yates holds up a hog of a chinook salmon that went 31 pounds. Austin caught this four year old king while fishing with Captain John McGee of Legal Limit Sport Fishing out of Berkeley, Ca.

Captain John McGee spent his time fishing in the shipping channel out in front of San Francisco, Ca this week. Fishing out of Berkeley, Ca the short ride to the shipping channel served the veteran captain well. McGee (aka “Bubba”) also put some four year old kings in his boat for the clients. Just to be clear a Chinook Salmon weighing over thirty pounds is no joke, and they put on a hell of a fight. Take good pictures too! I asked the captain if the salmon were on krill. He replied “no, anchovies, big anchovies”. Explaining to me the salmon’s stomachs were so full, when he cleaned the fish at the end of the day, he said their stomachs looked like a stuffed white sock. Gorging themselves on the large bait before their throat swells shut and their stomachs dissipate, and eating ceases to be a necessity. When they enter the fresh water they will not return. Death is imminent after spawning for chinook salmon. So eating becomes unnecessary for the doomed salmon, and food consumption is instinctively stopped when they enter fresh water. It’s the nature of their design.

The often heard about but seldom photographed Mike Tipton even jumped in front of the camera, with a pair of great king salmon. Mike was fishing with boat owner and captain Joe Cimino from San Jose, Ca. The group fished out of Bodega Bay, Ca.

Private boaters also enjoyed the great salmon fishing action last weekend. Taking advantage of their days off work. Filling the freezer with bright red salmon fillets. Avid recreational salmon angler Joe Cimino from San Jose, Ca took a few fishy fellas like himself and made the drive up the Pacific Coast to Bodega Bay, Ca. The crew quickly realized it was worth the drive, as they tore into some quality king salmon. Nothing but good times for these weekend warriors who will certainly be out in the salt this coming weekend. Again looking for some fast action catching these chunky king salmon.

This pair of kings was among the quality box of chinooks caught last weekend with Joe Cimino and crew. Fishing out of Bodega Bay, Ca.

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.