Striper and Halibut Action Heats Up—While Tariffs Threaten the Tackle Industry
- alexosen
- 12 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Hello friends,
In this edition, we'll be covering:
Striper Bite is Red Hot
Halibut Fishing Report
Salmon Season Update
Sweeney's on Good Morning America
Spring Festival Update - Saturday, May 3rd
Chasing Stripers
Chase McWhorter dropped into Sweeney’s on Wednesday to grab one of our popular “Wild Thing” striper lures before making his way to the Napa River for a quick afternoon outing.
It didn’t take long—just 30 minutes into the incoming tide, he hooked into a hefty 29.5-inch, 15-pound striped bass.
Nice catch, Chase!
Halibut Fishing Report
Halibut fishing in San Francisco Bay is gaining serious traction this April, as warming waters and increasing bait activity point to a strong season ahead.
On April 5, the Happy Hooker kicked off its first halibut trip of the year, finding plenty of bait in the South Bay and water temps hovering in the high 50s. The crew brought in six halibut and one striped bass, releasing around 25 undersized fish—clear signs that the fish are here and more action is on the horizon.
Fast forward to April 14, and the Lovely Martha reported an exciting day on the water—landing 14 halibut and one striped bass for nine anglers, along with more than 70 shaker halibut. The surge in activity suggests the bite is turning on.
That same day, Fish Emeryville shared similar success, with halibut and striped bass trips averaging about one fish per rod. Some lucky anglers even hit their limits over the weekend.
As water temperatures continue to rise and baitfish remain thick in the Bay, halibut fishing is only expected to improve. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to head out, this is it.
Need gear or advice? Stop by Sweeney’s Sports in Napa or visit our online store for the latest tackle tips and local insights.
The Catch Happy crew will be heading out this week to put the halibut bite to the test ourselves—stay tuned for our instructional video dropping next week!
California Salmon Season Update – April 17, 2025
Remember those glory days of salmon season on the California coast? Well… they’re not fully back, but there’s a glimmer of hope for 2025.
While the commercial ocean salmon fishery remains shut down for the third year in a row—due to severely reduced fall-run Chinook returns in the Sacramento and Klamath Rivers—recreational anglers will have a handful of limited windows to target salmon this year.
🎣 2025 Recreational Salmon Season Openers
If you're itching to chase kings this season, mark these dates:
☀️ Summer Openers (Statewide):
June 7–8
July 5–6
July 31–August 3
August 25–31
🍂 Fall Opportunities (Area-Specific):
September 4–7
September 29–30
October 1–5
October 27–31
Each period will be governed by strict harvest caps:→ 7,000 Chinook quota for summer→ 7,500 Chinook for the fall.
If those numbers are reached, early closures are possible—so plan accordingly.
⚠️ Know Before You Go: Key Regulations
Minimum Size: 20 inches total length
Daily Limit: 2 salmon (excluding coho)
Possession Limit: 2 daily limits on land, 1 while aboard a vessel
Hooks: Only single-point, single-shank barbless allowed
Filleting: Not allowed until fish are brought ashore
📌 For the most up-to-date info, check in with California Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Whether you're heading out for your first salmon trip or just brushing off the gear, we’ve got what you need. Stop by Sweeney’s Sports for rigging help, tackle, and the latest local reports.
Let’s make the most of this short window—tight lines out there!
The Small Business Owners Who Drive our Nation's Economy Need a Seat at the Table
When Good Morning America contacted me to discuss the impact of tariffs on small businesses, I didn’t quite know what to expect. Being featured on national television wasn’t just a personal milestone—it was a chance to speak up for every small business owner caught in the crossfire of an escalating trade war.
Running a small retail business like mine takes everything you’ve got. Over the years, I’ve focused on creating strong relationships with our community, curating gear that fits real fishing needs, and moving into a new location with one goal: to build the best fishing shop in the Bay Area. We’re still on that journey—but right now, businesses like mine are being squeezed from all sides.
What many people don’t realize is that nearly 90% of all sporting goods, regardless of brand, are manufactured in China or Southeast Asia. That includes rods, reels, lures—everything. Even the companies labeled “Made in the USA” often rely on imported components. Trust me, I’d love to stock exclusively American-made gear. But without a domestic manufacturing base, that just isn’t realistic today.
Tariffs on imports from China—some rising by 145% or more—aren’t small changes. These increases hit hard. First, they raise prices for our customers. Then they threaten to wipe out businesses like ours that are already operating on tight margins.
And here’s the kicker: the big players in the industry? They have options. They can pivot to other countries, negotiate better terms, and ride out temporary losses. Independent shops like ours don’t have that kind of flexibility. We need time—time for brands to shift production, for infrastructure to catch up, and for pricing to stabilize.
I’ve done what I can—buying extra inventory ahead of tariff deadlines, managing cash flow creatively—but that’s just a short-term patch. Without a long-term solution, we’re heading into rough waters.
What we really need is a coordinated push to rebuild American manufacturing, and small businesses must be part of that conversation. We need access to capital, streamlined permitting, and partnerships that help us invest in domestic production.
We’re not asking for handouts. We’re asking for a seat at the table—because small businesses are the backbone of the economy. And if we’re going to rebuild, we need to do it together.
🎁 Raffle Prizes, Free Classes & More at the Spring Festival!
Our prize table is stacking up fast—thanks to generous giveaways from Salty Crew, Okuma, Pure Fishing, and other top brands in the fishing world. Want in? Just grab your free event ticket and show up for your chance to win!
🎣 Hands-On Classes (Free with Entry)
Come learn from some of the best local anglers at our live, on-site sessions:
Striper Fishing on the Napa River🕚 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM with Jeffrey Swank
Sturgeon Fishing Techniques🕛 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM with Austin Bator
… and more sessions to be announced soon!
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