6A Sports Outdoors Saturday, June 13, 2015 Ryan Sparks, sports editor • 541-469-3123 • [email protected] • @rsparkspilot Fish Report Baitfish thrills anglers at Brookings-Harbor Last week, sardines, herring, smelt and American shad were being caught in copious quantities by anglers at the crab pier on the south jetty at the Port of Brookings Harbor, and anglers are all us- ON THE ing sabiki rigs to catch WATER them. Larry Ellis A sabiki rig is not a brand name, but a gen- eralized name denoting are anywhere between a type of baitfish rig 4- and 6-inches long, commonly used to catch and look almost ex- herring and sardines. actly like Pacific her- They go by numerous ring, except for one brand names, but they very important telltale all consist of at least feature — the bellies six very small hooks. of a shad are quite Some sabiki rigs have sharp when stroked wings and others only toward the head — so have colored beads. sharp that they can Sometimes you will find even cut you. Of course that the baitfish will on the Umpqua and hit the rigs with wings, Coquille Rivers, shad while on other days, will achieve weights they seem to go for the between three and six beaded varieties. pounds, but not in the A trick of the trade: Chetco River. If baitfish are hitting I decided to take a rigs without wings trip to the crab pier and you only have on Wednesday and The Pilot / Larry Ellis winged sabiki rigs on proceeded to catch To catch big lingcod and rockfish like Roland Hart of Stockton (left) did last week with close friend Howard Jones hand, simply tear off sardines, herring, shad while fishing out of the Port of Brookings Harbor with Captain Jim Bithell of Charthouse Sportfishing, it often pays the wings and you’re and smelt about as to jig for your own baitfish like Tommy Berg (right) did on Wednesday while using a sabiki rig at the Port’s crab pier. loaded for bear. If this fast as I could cast. In The harbor is presently plugged with herring, shad, sardines and smelt. is the scenario, I would addition, I also caught only tear the wings off several juvenile black aurs, because they are When you catch one longer casts. But some- Sportfishing. half of the jigs and let rockfish on the sabikis. so shiny and not fre- of the aforementioned times the baitfish were Anglers from Brook- the baitfish tell you But that wasn’t all quently caught in this baitfish, tossing one only within 15 feet of ings also towed their which ones they want. that was caught on neck of the woods. of the fish on the ice/ the shoreline. rigs across the border Anglers are hav- these tiny sabiki hooks. Smelt probably slurry mixture immedi- You’ll want to have to California to cash ing an absolute blast One angler caught and makes the best table ately stops the baitfish plenty of one-half, in on the spectacular catching a plethora of landed a Pacific mack- fodder if you get can jig from wiggling, thereby three-quarter and one- rockfish and lingcod baitfish that are avail- erel, which was about enough of them, which enabling it to keep ounce sinkers on hand. action that the reefs able in the harbor, in 10-inches long. When most people had no its scales. It is these In addition to the outside of Crescent addition to a few extra you hook one of these problem accomplishing highly-reflective scales baitfish action, limits City were experienc- surprises. members of the tuna last week. that do most of the at- of rockfish and lingcod ing. Most of the action Right now, you can family, you can expect If you want to try tracting when it comes were also common at was occurring in 80 expect schools of her- some harder tugs and some of this exciting to catching lingcod and the Brookings fillet feet of water. ring, sardines and maybe even a run or fishing, make sure that salmon. station. Chinook salmon smelt to be dominating two, especially if you’re you bring an ice chest In addition to bait- Roland Hart from have yet to make their the action. But this is using ultra-light fishing or a bucket loaded fish, a keeper-size ling- Stockton, California appearance in fish- the time of year when tackle. with plenty of ice cod was caught on one decided to pay close able numbers outside American shad also All of the aforemen- inside. You’ll also want of the sabiki hooks, but friend Howard Jones the Port of Brookings start making their ap- tioned baitfish, with to sprinkle a liberal its razor-sharp teeth of Sporthaven Marina Harbor. And although I pearance in the bait- the exception of the amount of table salt cut the line. Bar and Grill a visit know it sounds redun- fish schools. Anytime juvenile black rockfish on top of the ice. When A standard freshwa- last week, and the two dant, they will be show- between Mother’s Day (and I heartily recom- the salt hits the ice, ter rod and reel used to anglers easily caught ing themselves any day and Father’s Day, the mend releasing all of the temperature inside catch bass and trout is limits of rockfish and now. I’m sticking to shad enter the Port of these puppies), make the ice chest plunges all you need for a rig- lingcod on Tuesday Mother Nature’s cal- Brookings Harbor en great lingcod bait. Pa- below zero, which then ging. Load up your reel morning while fishing endar. She’s just a few masse. cific mackerel make the turns the ice chest into with plenty of 6-pound with local guide Jim days late this year. In these parts, shad best bait for the lingas- a freezer. test in order to achieve Bithell of Charthouse Tight lines! SPORTS BRIEFS Big surf, strong winds make for great competition Bruin Volleyball Camp opens registration ■■Weather co- Registration is now open for the 18th Annual Little operates as Wave Bruins Volleyball Camp, Bash enters final day which will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. August of competition 19-21 at the Azalea Middle School gymnasium. By Ryan Sparks The camp is for youths Pilot staff writer grades 4-8 and will be With strong wind gusts, coached by Brookings-Har- big surf swells and plenty bor High School coaches and of sunshine the weather at players. the 2015 Pistol River Wave The cost of registration Bash has been perfect for the is $30 until August 1 ($35 throngs of professional and after that) and registration amateur windsurfers com- forms can be picked up at peting at this year’s event. either Azalea Middle School “It’s been incredible,” said or the BHHS main office. Russ Faurot, a 10-year pro For more information, rider based in Maui. “It’s contact Emilie Aliamus at extreme conditions. We’ve 252-305-3409 or Lori Cooper had 30-knot winds, 40-knot at 541-661-2005. gusts and 10-foot wave faces — even bigger occasionally.” Little League holding can/ Farout explained that he bottle drive regularly rides waves that The Brookings-Harbor size in Maui, but rarely gets Photo by Mark Harpur/American Windsurfing Tour Little League will be hold- the large waves combined A windsurfer carves through the waves during the 2015 Pistol River Wave Bash south of Gold Beach. ing a can and bottle drive with the strong winds, thus Competition concludes today near “The Rock” in Pistol River. from noon to 4 p.m. on creating high risk, high re- Sunday, June 14 to raise ward windsurfing conditions. as you can get.” champion Matt Schweitzer. late 1960’s, getting back to funds for the league’s three “If you make a mistake and On Friday, the winds “I like the windy conditions. the Southern Oregon coast to all-star teams that will be fall, there are so many big picked up as the day grew It creates more ramps. When ride is a welcome trip. competing at the all-star waves that you can end up long, meaning many riders it’s windier you get a lot high- “The weather is nice and tournament in Grants Pass, losing your gear and that’s changed to smaller sails to er on jumps and, to me, that’s warm and I just love the June 18-29. no fun,” said Farout, who adjust to the changing wind one of the fun things about Southern Oregon coastline,” Little Leaguers will be go- has competed in all six Wave conditions. windsurfing — just launching he said. “It’s rugged and ing door-to-door, asking for Bash competitions. “This “Now that the wind is into the air and getting super beautiful.” can/bottle donations. is as good as I’ve ever seen picking up, I decided to rig high on a jump.” The Pistol River Wave The Ray’s Food Place and (the weather conditions),” he something a little smaller to For Schweitzer, whose Bash concludes today near Grocery Outlet parking lots added. “Everyone can show prepare for my heat,” said grandfather, Hoyle, is one Eagle Rock, with competition will also serve as donation their bigger moves. This is as Zane Schweitzer, a Maui na- of the people credited with beginning at approximately drop-off locations. high a level (of windsurfing) tive and son of 18-time world inventing the sport in the mid-morning.