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
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
We passed the Farallon Islands and fished near Fanny Shoal
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
Rita and Kyle with a starry rockfish
The larger two of the three lingcod that were caught
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
Rita helping bait the crab pots
Heading back; the Point Bonito Lighthouse
Three Dungeness crabs and a Red Rock crab (after cooking)