My goals for 2026

[pjstevko]

I've got a few fishing related goals I want to start working towards in 2026.


Fish over 30 days

Start the California Heritage Trout Challenge (https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/HTC).
To qualify for the Challenge, six different native trout must be caught within their historic range.

Work on my speed jigging technique

Catch a new personal best bft (over 110#)

Catch a halibut, salmon, and white sea bass

Thin out gear I'm not using

Fly fish the Park more

Limit my tackle (not set-ups) on my SD trips

Bring newbies rockfishing


Some of these will be easy some will not.....

What are your goals for 2026?

[reelynew]

Good luck on the heritage trout challenge.

I'm going to work on snaring a dungeness, catching a kokanee and a steelhead.

Looking forward to fishing the reels that were gifted to me by friends and family.

Eating more fish

[Gfish]

Good reference for the Calif. Heritage Trout Challenge. Took a close look at all the trout pictures and the maps specific to each species. I got 6! That is, over the course of my off/on 30 + years of fishing there: Coastal Rainbow; Coastal Cutthroat; Eagle Lake Rainbow; McCloud River Redband Rainbow(the prettiest); Goose Lake Redband from the Pit River(a definite "probably") and Lahontan Cutthroat.

Those are the ones I can remember. I do recall some interesting/different colored Rainbows from places like the Truckee River, the Susan River, and the S. Fork of the San Joaquin River.

Good luck with the Golden trout species. Tried and tried in Montana, where they stocked 'em, never even saw one.

[pjstevko]

Good reference for the Calif. Heritage Trout Challenge. Took a close look at all the trout pictures and the maps specific to each species. I got 6! That is, over the course of my off/on 30 + years of fishing there: Coastal Rainbow; Coastal Cutthroat; Eagle Lake Rainbow; McCloud River Redband Rainbow(the prettiest); Goose Lake Redband from the Pit River(a definite "probably") and Lahontan Cutthroat.

Those are the ones I can remember. I do recall some interesting/different colored Rainbows from places like the Truckee River, the Susan River, and the S. Fork of the San Joaquin River.

Good luck with the Golden trout species. Tried and tried in Montana, where they stocked 'em, never even saw one.

There's no time limit on the Trout Challenge so if you have pics you can submit an application....

[Keta]

quote author=pjstevko link=msg=479851 date=1767290931]

Catch a new personal best bft (over 110#)

Thin out gear I'm not using

Limit my tackle (not set-ups) on my SD trips

Good goals.  Some of mine that are similar.

NOT catch a BFT over 110#

Thin out my gear I am not using, sure it's like quiting heroin.

Limit the gear I bring on SD long range trips.  Not a chance.

I set a goal of 5 rods every year but always end up with 12 or more.  I have a 3 day in May I paid for in 2025 but the trip was canceled.  As of now for the May 3 day I have one 30#, one 40#, one 50/60#, two 80# and a 100#. The extra 80# rig is a Avet EX30 spooled with JB 65# (it breaks at around 75#) that I want to see if the drift does not effect it as bad as 80#.  It could be a big mistake but I realy do not want to deal with another cow tuna.

[pjstevko]

I've been selling and giving away gear so I'm already chipping away at one of my 2026 goals!

[Swami805]

The last few years I have only been fishing the Channel Islands with a trip or two to Morro bay. I signed up for 13 charters this season, my goal is to just enjoy myself and catch a few fish. Last year was a good White Sea bass year, hopefully it will be good this year

[pjstevko]

The last few years I have only been fishing the Channel Islands with a trip or two to Morro bay. I signed up for 13 charters this season, my goal is to just enjoy myself and catch a few fish. Last year was a good White Sea bass year, hopefully it will be good this year

Sheridan that's a great set of goals.

What's the best time of year to catch seabass? I might be interested in joining you on a wsb trip

[Swami805]

I did well from April to September. Early season the seabass were around the lower islands, anacapa and Santa Cruz. As the water warmed they sort of move up the islands following the squid spawn. If you just have one day to go there a 6 pack boat, the grey light, that's very consistent,pricey but the guy is a magician. The limit is 1 fish until June 15th then it's 3

[pjstevko]

With 2026 over 3/4 done I thought I'd revisit this post....

I'm actually doing well on my list....


As of today I have 30 days of fishing for the year and more days/trips planned.

I've updated my pb bluefin tuna from 110 to 135#.

I've been thinning the gear stash a bunch with more to give away and sell.

I've been fly fishing the Park often.

I limited myself to one small tackle bag on my SD trips.

Still need to....

Start documenting my catches for the HTC.

Go catch a halibut, salmon, and white sea bass.

Set up a rockfish trip to bring a couple newbies on.

[quang tran]

My goal simply to get well enough to get back To fishing this winter ( crappie ) get back my muscle so I can walk and pulling my fishing cart to jetty or pier

[Keta]

Glad to see you are achieving your goals. 

My only real goal for 2026 is to get a roof over our heads and it is slowly happening.  The house than the tree hit really should have been condemned 20 years ago and now there is a 95% chance it will be taken down.  After months the insurance company came up with better than their first $30,00 offer, low bids for repair were over $190,000 but their fianal offer is still 12 10 day LR trips below the $190,000 +.  We are down to 2 options, both requiring tapping my retirement.  Option #1 is to repair the other house on our property with some additions, my first option.  Option #2 is to put a modular where the crap shack was.  With the December deadline option #2 will most likely be what we are forced to do.

On a much better note, I AM going to Cedros at the end of August even if my knee says NO, I destroyed my bad knee moving heavy book boxes out of the crap shack, and I WILL be on the November SOA 10 day. I might be setting in the galley with Peaches but I will be there. Plus size BFT and YFT are defiantly a big NO. So far zero fishing in 2026.... 

2027 goals are get a new right knee, get hearing aids,  cataract surgery and take a Sawzall to my crushed boat, remove the smashed pilot house, put a center console on it and tow it to the Sea of Cortez.

[Swami805]

So far 7 trips to the Channel Islands and zero seabass. Calico bass fishing has been phenomenal and I did one 2 day trip to San Nicolas island, haven't been there in years. Saw a giant great white shark up close and a couple albatross which was cool. Anyway I have 3 more trips this month, hope springs eternal.  Been a good year so far

[Brewcrafter]

PJ - With all of your tenkara adventures, how is the Heritage Trout Challenge going? - john