Rockfish is going strong both for nearshore and deep water species.Most productive areas are from Point Pinos, south past Carmel, and to Big Sur of course. Charter boats from Monterey continue to report full limits  most days with Chris' Fishing trips counting 250 cod and 110 lings for 25 anglers aboard the Check Mate. Fisherman’s Wharf neighbors J & M Sport Fishing posted full limits of rockfish for Chubasco with 22 anglers, as well as the Kahuna on a four-hour trip with 13 guys fishing. Moss Landing anglers are doing well on a variety of species while fishing the edge of the big submarine canyons. They reported a good mix of rockfish, lingcod and big sand sole. Reports indicated a good mix of rockfish, lingcod, sand dabs and bigger sand sole.

Large-size bluefin and even albacore tuna are still on the menu for Monterey Bay boats. Windy conditions offshore limited the number of days boats could commit to ranging long from the safety of our harbors. Boats from Moss headed out 60 miles this week, when the weather cooperated. Reports trickled in through the week of bluefin caught in the ones and twos every other day or so. Bluefin in the 170-200 pound range were reported caught by a few boats. Anglers are trolling Mad Macks, or jigging up live mackerel for the slow troll. They are also seeing but only occasionally catching big tuna near the Davenport “Fingers” area, where the water is holding steady at 65 degrees. The Fingers are submarine canyons about 10-12 miles offshore, and the bluefin caught have been in the 150-200 pound class. Albacore along with a mix of smaller bluefin were caught further out, near the 601 weather buoy.

For the surfcasters, things are looking up. Winter is approaching and conditions will get rougher but that also means nearshore structure becomes more dramatic, giving our target species more feeding opportunity. The transient stripers are moving back towards the San Francisco Bay and then towards the Delta right now. A good flow of fish remain in the salt feeding as they move. The bass are biting in low-light or nighttime conditions. Most beaches are seeing a great influx of barred surf perch with a mix of calicos and occasional schools of walleye perch. All baits are working well, including stickbaits for the larger perch. Sand crabs are abundant. Both the crabs and the perch are averaging an increase in size as we head towards winter. Limits are not unusual and the average size ranges from 12-14 inches. The perch are fat and happy. There are some stripers around, but not in great numbers. Throwing a 110 or 115 size stickball is not a bad idea, attracting the larger perch, and increasing chances for a drive-by striper or lurking flatty.