A Trip to the Farallon Islands — Rockfish and Crabs

December 23, 2014, saw a group of Pier Fishing in California regulars try something a little different, a journey to the Farallon Islands on the Golden Eye 2000 out of Berkeley Marina. The quest, some fresh rockfish, hopefully some lingcod, and enough crabs for Christmas dinner.  Limits of rockfish were achieved, only three lingcod were seen, and crabbing was a little slow—three Dungeness crabs and one rock crab per person. Still it was a fun day filled with the usual magnificent sights to and from the islands. A big thanks to Captain Quang Vo and deckhand Frank Lovelady.

The Bay Bridge and San Francisco were the sights as we headed out from Berkeley.

The early mornin’ view of San Francisco

We made a quick stop to pick up some fuel

Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory with the San Francisco Municipal Pier in the foreground

A beautiful dawn morning and the Golden Gate

We’re on our way

The Golden Gate Bridge is always impressive

Some people preferred to sit outside (hoping to avoid getting seasick)

“The City” framed by the bridge

A beautiful sunrise over the hills of San Francisco

A little bit rougher water

Fog, sun and sea

Goodby San Francisco

We passed the Farallon Islands and fished near Fanny Shoal

Kyle and a starry rockfish

Kyle and what is probably a dusky or bank rockfish

Kyle with a vermilion rockfish

Hans (Sofa King) wiith a vermilion rockfish

Gretchen with a yelloweye rockfish that had to be released since they’re illegal

Hans with a lingcod

Rita and Kyle with a starry rockfish

The larger two of the three lingcod that were caught

Fish cleaning time — MY fish

Our deckhand, Frank Lovelady

Rita watching her fish being cleaned

After filleting the fish it was time to pull the crab pots

 

There were crabs, just not as many as we had hoped for

Alex volunteered to help out

Robert (Redfish) and Rita

Gretchen

Gretchen and a rockfish

Frank and some crabs

Crabs

Rita

Rita helping bait the crab pots

Heading back; the Point Bonito Lighthouse

Next up, the Golden Gate

Into San Francisco Bay

It’s getting dark

Sunset and the moon

Three Dungeness crabs and a Red Rock crab (after cooking)

 

 

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