Free fishing? You’ll get ho o ked
Whether you’re an occasional fisherman or a total trout newbie, chances are good that you’ve at least imagined spending an idyllic afternoon casting your line off a wooden dock, chilled beer or soda in hand. Perhaps you’ve even dreamed of a weekend away, a boat at your disposal, and the happy hours spent reeling in a fresh catch to grill up for dinner. May we suggest doing that Labor Day weekend?
Twice a year, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife declares a hiatus from the usual license rules, a Free Fishing Day when anyone can enjoy the pastime without a license. The next one will be Saturday. Consider it an invitation for newbies of all ages to join the splashy fun at a lake or reservoir close to home or farther afield. (Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to just that day. You can fish anytime. A one-day fishing license is $16, an annual license is $53, and kids under age 16 are always free.)
Here are a few of our favorite lakes and waterways for Bay Area families to enjoy, rod and reel in hand .
Quick trip » Lake Chabot
This 315-acre, man-made lake and surrounding park straddle Oakland’s city limits and unincorporated Castro Valley. Anglers flock here for the trout fishing, although Lake Chabot has catfish, too. But the lake is restocked with 1,200 pounds of trout every two weeks, raising the odds of hook-and-sinker success.
There are two popular methods of fishing here. If you’re bait fishing for trout, use nightcrawlers on small hooks to lure the fish in. Catfish will respond to larger hooks baited with chicken liver or small fish like anchovies and mackerel. Another tactic that works well for trout is trolling a nightcrawler behind some flashers to catch the fish’s attention.
You’ll find the best biting action in the area between Indian Cove and Raccoon Point for trout, and Honker Bay for catfish that have made it past the summer rush.
New to fishing? You can rent gear for $10 per day from the Lake Chabot Marina & Cafe. There are rental boats available, too, including rowboats ($28 per hour) and electric motorboats ($37-$53).
POST-FISHING FUN » Once you’re done reeling them in, explore Lake Chabot Regional Park. Part of the East Bay Regional Parks system, the park is filled with scenic hikes on paved and dirt trails that offer views of the water. And the Oakland Zoo is a 10-minute drive away.
GRABABITE» The waterside cafe is open for grab-and-go fare from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. No grill fare right now — you’ll have to try the famous Skippy Burger, peanut butter and all, at a later time. But sandwiches, wraps, salads and box lunches are all tasty possibilities.
DETAILS » The Lake Chabot Marina rental counter is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, until 5:30 p.m. weekends at 17936 Lake Chabot Road, Castro Valley; www.lakechabot recreation.com. Find park and trail information at www.ebparks.org/parks/lake_chabot.
California Delta
Largemouth bass, anyone? A Delta day trip is just the thing if you’re looking for something farther afield. With river frontage from San Joaquin to Sacramento counties, the Delta offers plenty of options for casting a line. You’ll want to stay near the banks and fish along the tall weeds favored by secretive bass. They like lurking under docks, too. Eye-catching spinnerbaits should be tempting enough to garner plenty of bites.
Relative ease in catching fish here makes it a good bet for those new to the sport. If you don’t have a fishing boat of your own, H20 Craft Rentals in Manteca and Delta Rental Center at Bethel Island’s Sugar Barge Resort have rentals to spare. Buckley Cove Park and Dad’s Point, both in Stockton, offer good dock fishing.
POST-FISHING FUN >> Most of these waterways offer prime fishing, but if you’re after largemouth bass in particular, Stockton is a good destination — and it offers other things to do once you set down your rod. If you have little ones in tow, cruise into town to visit the Children’s Museum of Stockton. Or head for Banner Island Ballpark, where the Stockton Ports minor league baseball team takes on the Fresno Grizzlies Saturday. Expect fireworks.
GRABABITE>> Bob’s at the Marina offers Delta-front dining, plenty of “best of” awards and a motto that promises “almost world famous hamburgers.” How can you resist? They serve breakfast and other grub, too, but you’ll want to treat yourself to Bob’s Giant Bacon Cheeseburger. Don’t skip the fries.
DETAILS >> There are several boat rental options up here. Bethel Island’s Delta Rental Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the Sugar Barge Resort at 1440 Sugar Barge Road. Fishing boat rentals start at $150 for four hours; deltaboatrental.com. Manteca’s H20 Craft is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 1162 Bessemer Ave. Fishing boat rentals start at $225 per day; www.h2ocraft.com.
The Stockton Ports season runs through Sept. 19 at Banner
Island Ballpark, 404 W. Fremont St.; www.milb.com/stockton. And Bob’s at the Marina is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 6 p.m. Friday-Sunday at 6639 Embarcadero Drive in Stockton; www.bobsatthe marina.com.
Weekend jaunt >> Bodega Bay
If you’d like to parlay your fishing excursion into a full weekend of fun, we can’t think of a better coastal spot than Bodega Bay for catching a variety of fish. From May to November, salmon, rockfish, lingcod, sanddabs and tuna are all available. In September, it’s all about the salmon.
Whether you’re new to fishing or just want to take some of the hard work out of it, one of the luxuries of Bodega Bay is its fishing charters. North Bay Charters offers public and private excursions where guides take you directly to spots based on the fish you’re trying to catch and what’s in season. To go it on your own, Sonoma Coast State Park offers day passes ($8 per vehicle).
If you’re fully embracing the seaside theme, pick a campsite — RV and tent camping are both available — at Sonoma Coast State Park, which offers a boat launch and a fish-cleaning station so you can grill your catch for dinner.
Or go the luxurious route at Bodega Bay Lodge, which proffers breathtaking views of the Sonoma coastline. Simply step out onto your balcony to take in the ocean air and killer sunsets.
POST-FISHING FUN >> If you’ve snuck away without the kids, opt for wine tasting at Sonoma Coast Vineyards, which offers reservation-only tastings of its cool climate wines at a perch overlooking the bay. If the kids are in tow — or you’re looking to soak up more sea breezes — take a trip out to the Bodega Head Trail. Breezes keep things cool as you hike along the Sonoma Coast gazing at the view.
GRABABITE>> If you’re staying at the Bodega Bay Lodge, head for the hotel’s Drakes Sonoma Coast restaurant, where breakfast and dinner are only available to hotel guests right now. We enjoyed the Bay Fog Clam Chowder ($11) and the fresh catch of the day, a king salmon ($36) served with wilted baby kale, cranberry beans and fennel flowers. (Not staying at the lodge? Bodega Bay brims with other possibilities, including the counter-service Spud Point Crab Co.)
DETAILS >> Bodega Bay’s North Bay Charter trips start at $300 per person. Find details and make reservations at www.northbaycharters.com. Sonoma Coast State Park’s day use fee is $8 per car, and campsites start at $25 per night; www.parks.ca.gov.
Find the Bodega Bay Lodge, where rooms start at $379, at 103 Highway 1 in Bodega Bay; bodegabaylodge.com. Spud Point Crab Co., open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, is located at 1910 Westshore Road; www. spudpointcrabco.com. And Sonoma Coast Vineyards, open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday, is at 555 Highway 1; www.sonomacoastvineyards.com.