Rockfish limits were the rule this week for anglers launching from Monterey Harbor. Charter and private boats headed around the Point Pinos corner and fished a great mix of yellows, blacks, blues, and around 25% red rockfish (vermilion and canaries). Heading past Carmel and towards Point Sur, results come quicker and the fish are bigger. The ride to and from this areas is longer, however. Afternoon winds from the north are not making things easier for those who foray south. Fishing is good for halibut as well, in the usual sandy spots near Monterey.

Moss Landing anglers are traveling north or south for rockfish and lingcod. Closer to home, the flat sandy areas nearer our deep canyons are host to lots of halibut right now. Some are of the slab variety. Some are undersized. Most range in the legal category from eight to over 30 pounds. Live bait of smelt, mackerel and anchovies do the trick, as does bounce balling dead bait or hoochies behind a dodger.

From Santa Cruz, bottom fishing along West Cliff and the North Coast up to Davenport is very productive. Quick limits of big quality fish are the norm for private boaters and six-pack charters. Some skippers have switched out to light tackle spin rods to make things even more exciting for their clients. Halibut fishing is very good from 30-70 feet of water near West Cliff reefs, the Mile Buoy area, and especially off Capitola down to New Brighton Beach. Upwards of 50 small boats were drifting or bounce-ball trolling outside the Capitola kelp beds mid-week.

Surfcasters are still waiting for things to break wide open. As it stands, the barred surf perch are “here today, gone tomorrow.” Schools are moving fast. Best beaches are protected areas where kelp and seagrass has cleared from recent swells. Many reports were of small perch with occasional limits. A few slabs were reported in the 12 to 15-inch range. Besides clear water, sandcrabs are a key right now. Colonies of adult sandcrabs are dotted here and there around the coast. Sandcrabs are found on any sandy beach around the bay, but this year they seem slow to grow. They are there, just not quite big enough to use effectively. Perch are congregating on the beaches that have full-size sandcrabs. 

Stripers are usually in the mix on the big sandcrab areas too. Water temps are higher than normal, but anchovy and juvenile smelt have yet to take up residence close to the beach in surfcast range. Reports indicate and increasing number of surfcast halibut caught from protected areas. Drop shot white flukes seem to work best, but white swimbaits, live or dead anchovies and stickbaits are doing the trick as well. Striped bass fishing is decent from Pacifica down through Monterey Bay right now. Starting your session pre-dawn will bring the greatest success. The fish are getting bigger in length and especially girth. Big stickbaits are catching most the stripers, according to reports received.