Windy conditions persist across the North Coast and Monterey Bay. Most mornings are fishable but fishing range is limited when you might need to tuck your tail and run. There are still plenty of king salmon being caught all around the bay. The North Coast and up towards Half Moon Bay is enjoying an even better bite, but our local boats are being very careful about venturing too far from the harbors of Monterey Bay.

 

There are exceptions. The six-pack operation Go Fish Santa Cruz had a group that wanted rockfish on Friday. Skipper JT Thomas gauged the forecast and took the risk to steam towards Davenport where the fish are bigger and the limits come more quickly. The group aboard the beautiful Miss Beth were rewarded . “they caught limits of a variety of rock cod including vermillion, yellow tail,  chilis, browns and coppers. Lots of whales. The water was nice. The weather was nice,” said Thomas. Thursday’s group on Miss Beth went for salmon. Thomas reported, “Today we got ‘em. Limits of king salmon by 11am. There were a lot of whales that put on a show for everyone.”

 

Four-pack Charter Fish On Sportfishing with Tom Joseph at the helm of Sara Bella is chasing salmon exclusively. On Sunday Joseph reported, “We had flat calm seas and another incredible day of salmon fishing. Our private charter of 4 caught eight salmon to 18 pounds. We have lots of room next week” His prior trip on Thursday netted limits for four plus two fish for the crew. Santa Cruz Coastal Charters also reported a couple good days in a row. On Friday they had to work a bit. Captain Rodney Armstrong told us, “Today started out like we were going to be done quick with four fish right off the bat. Then, nothing for a while. Heard the fish were coming a lot deeper than we had been fishing.  So once we started fishing deep we landed four more. We also released four silvers and lost a few fish! Great times again out there!” Saturday the boys were at it again. “Same spot! Same limits! The salmon fishing remains steady! We had two clients back out last minute so only had to get six fish but we got seven. Whales and bait are thick, fish have gone deeper so hopefully that's means they’re going to stick around for awhile.” Armstrong recounted. In Monterey, Chris’ Sportfishing sent the Check Mate out a few times for king salmon this week. The big boat mooches rather than trolls, and had mixed results. One day was a skunk. One day counted six salmon for 16 anglers. The best showing was on Wednesday when the boat caught limits for eight anglers, plus a bonus crew fish.

 

Despite the relentless northwest winds, our water temperatures are inching up and that’s bringing the halibut closer in to shore. Last week we measured temps of 50 degrees outside Santa Cruz Harbor.  This week the temp is up to 55. Perfect for big flatties! Capitola measured 56 degrees on Sunday. The average temperature then drops as we travel to the southern part of the bay, back to 52 just off Monterey. Right now the favored spots to find legal butts and even some hogs seems to be the Mile Buoy area of Santa Cruz and the SC3 Buoy or Mile Reef area of Capitola. Increasing reports are coming in of multiple flatties caught including some big ones measuring into the 20-pound range. Terry Campion, owner of The Boardroom in Santa Cruz reported back to back hogs on Thursday and Saturday, caught while drifting squid in 40-60 feet of water off Pleasure Point. Campion’s boat Go Deep is a beautiful Island Hopper and the sole crew is wife Lorna.

 

Surfcasters are also getting excited all around the Bay. Warming water and the lull in big swells is creating good conditions for getting your feet wet in the surf. The best bite seems to be north of Moss landing, on the Santa Cruz side of the bay. Some surfcasters reported no fish, or a few fish, or a succession of dink perch. A few guys hit the jackpot with hikes down the beach that netted 20 to 30 fish caught and released, all in the 10-15-inch class. A good number of walleyes made their appearance in addition to the mainstay barred surf perch. There have even been a few small stripers caught this week. The bigger beaches south of Capitola seem to be the favored locale. Because bigger perch will hit stickbaits and other larger lures, it might be well worth it to leave the grubs at home and concentrate on throwing Lucky Craft Flash Minnows in the 110 to 115 size. That will weed out the smaller perch and increase the chance of a possible striper hit.