This week’s marine weather was fairly cooperative, and Monterey Bay anglers enjoyed catching a variety of species. Though the winds were blustery in the afternoons, most mornings were very fishable.

Trollers continue to find the occasional salmon along the submarine canyon edges. Reports this week of fish near Moss Landing, and from the Soquel Hole are encouraging. Anglers are trolling near the bottom in 200 feet of water for the fish, and averaging a fish per rod at best. Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine also fielded reports of kings caught in shallower water. On Tuesday, Fraser reported, “Salmon fishing was slower near the Soquel Hole but there were a few fish caught in the shallow water in 70-100 feet. There were some nice salmon caught on the Mad River Pink Worms and Fish Pills on the jetty.” The net pen salmon are returning to the Santa Cruz Harbor, but fishing for them is restricted to the entrance jetties only. Most anglers are casting Mad River Pink Worms from the West Jetty, and the incoming tide is the best bet for these beautiful fish.

The halibut bite also remains steady, at a fish (or less) per rod. The big flatfish are still in deeper water, from 50-70 feet. Preferred bait is fresh squid or live mackerel, though a few boats are doing well bounce-ball trolling with dodgers and hoochies. Those fishing for rock cod and lings can find limits every day from Capitola north to the county line, and from Monterey’s Del Monte Beach down to Big Sur.

Chris’ Sportfishing posted reports this week that are typical of this year’s success. Full limits of rockfish on all their trips and at least one ling cod per angler on most. The Chubasco and Sur Randy from Randy’s Sportfishing in Monterey had similar reports with limits of rockfish and up to eight lingcod for their charter trips. Stagnaro’s Sportfishing in Santa Cruz has caught limits of nice cod on all recent trips as well, working the areas off West Cliff Drive, South Rock, and north towards Wilder’s Ranch. Stagnaro boats are fishing the deeper reefs and are being rewarded with some big vermilion, hefty lings and plenty of large-variety black schoolie rockfish.

While reports of striped bass from the beaches have diminished, we are starting to hear more about barred surf perch as summer wanes. Bob Schneider takes surfcasting seriously and works the beaches below Manresa. Using worm baits, Schneider has been scoring good numbers of full-sized surfperch up to 1 ¾ pounds. While there is little actual structure on the beaches right now, fishing on the high tide and moving down the beach to find the fish has been key for Schneider.

It’s always “Safety First” when operating any vessel, especially on the ocean. The Santa Cruz and Capitola Flotillas of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary are offering three boating safety classes this winter/spring as part of their mission to promote boating safety in Monterey Bay. Recreational boaters, commercial vessel operators and others interested in boating and boating safety will find the courses offered to be both interesting and valuable.