Published on Feb 7, 2014

A brief video round-up of happenings in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific Southwest Region.

Last weekend a club member caught 2 monster stripers... a 38 and a 36 pounder...Now that's a nice limit! He was using splits in 40' near the entrance to Pittsburg Marina.

Another club member and his guest scored a limit of 10-15 pounders out by Middleground on bullheads and splits.

Some of our Facebook fans have been reporting shakers by Sherman Island, a keeper by the green buoy and a respectable trolling limit near River's End Marina in Tracy!

A buddy of mine, Jim Millward ventured up into the Sierras to Union Valley Reservoir last weekend for some trout...he got a few small rainbows. He says it was still really cold but had a great time.

I was able to get out yesterday with my Uncle Shelby...we started out in a steady rain and headed over to the deep by Snag Island...the water was glass all day...a beautiful day...slow on the bite though. Although, Shelby was finally able to catch and release his first shaker sturgeon! 33" fork length caught on an eel / grass shrimp combo hors d'oeuvre ....giving him a good fight and keeping us on our toes the rest of the day!


Hope everyone is able to get out this weekend and hunt for some fish in between Easter egg hunts!

We had a little hiccup over the weekend when migrating OriginalSturgeonDerby.com to a new hosting service, but everything is now back up and 100% operational! 

So let's hear some fish reports! And upload some pics and videos!

In our quest to become the most informative fisherman's reference site for the waters of the Suisun Bay area, we have added a few more features to our website! 

First we have added an Interactive Nautical Map that has a starting point just outside the mouth of McAvoy Harbor.

Next we added the Sportsmans Forum. You can easily join the forum with your Facebook, Google, Open ID or other log in credentials....just click the log in with Facebook icon for the options!

See you on the Forum!

Another great weekend is in the history books! The Original Sturgeon Derby XXIX started off on Saturday morning with beautiful weather and nice water as we all headed out to catch the perfect 57" specimen of a white sturgeon to weigh in!

Saturday night and Sunday the wind picked up and along with the wind came the choppy water. 

All in all over the 32 hour Derby there were 36 sturgeon weighed in with Saturday's first place fish being closest to the 57" target length at 57 1/32"... Sunday's number one slot was 57 1/8".  All the fish on the board on both days were within 2 1/2" of the target!

Thank you to all who participated! Be sure to bookmark our site and check back with us for local fishing reports throughout the year! 

If you have any pictures or videos to share please upload them here!

According to the fishermen around here...the water has warmed up a few degrees and the bite has improved significantly! Just in time for the Derby!

The usual baits are all working and fish are being reported as caught in both the shallower water and in the deeper waters.

It is going to be a great Derby! We will be taking sign-ups at the Club at 1001 McAvoy Rd, 94565 from 0630 am this morning throughout the night until 0700 tomorrow morning. No late sign ups accepted.

Raffle tickets, apparel and Pork Sammiches available only at the club! 

Target Size will be chosen at 0700 tomorrow morning and will be broadcast on channel 68...we will also post on FB and @sturgeonderby on Twitter by 0730.

Planning on getting some great photos and video this weekend? Want to share them on the website and social media?

Send us a copy! We will put them on the website & share on our social media channels! Just click HERE or find the Submission Page under Media on the navigation bar up top!

The latest word on the sturgeon bite is grass shrimp and eel are the productive baits with a few sturgeon here and there being taken at The Middle Grounds, Garnet Point, and Honker Bay. Other reports have surfaced pinpointing the bite-zone at 27-30 ft.


If you're planning on using grass shrimp, eel or whatever bait you plan on, it is highly recommended you contact your bait shop and reserve your bait for Super Bowl weekend!

A listing of bait shops from Sacramento to the Bay can be found here. 

Entry forms for the 29th annual Original Sturgeon Derby have been mailed out to all the usual bait shops and additionally to Broadway Bait and to Sacramento Pro Tackle in Sacramento! Pick up an entry form or print one from the website.... either way, be sure to get your entry in!

Be sure to check with Department of Fish and Game for the new sturgeon regulations that went into effect 1/1/13.

The members of the Club are coming together and getting everything ready for this year's Derby! We are looking forward to another awesome turnout!