The fishing community around Monterey Bay is abuzz with preparations for the upcoming dual season openers on April 1. This year, both salmon season and the Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling (RCG) seasons will open on the same day. Skippers are busy getting boats ready, making sure motors and electronics as well as all safety gear is operable and in place. Don’t forget to put those drain plugs in before you launch your trailer boat this year!

It looks like things will get lively very soon. Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait is seeing an increase of baitfish in that area, mostly sardines. Last week the ‘dines were out near the Capitola Mile Reef. This week they are moving inside, some even being caught from the Capitola Wharf. Wharf anglers continue to catch a variety of perch, juvenile leopard sharks, and one fellow brought in the season’s first halibut last week. The flatty was undersized and was released.

Stagnaro’s Sportfishing sent the Legacy out on a half-day trip Saturday. Skipper Chris Victorino fished the flats on the east side of Soquel Hole. They returned to port with 300 sand dabs, and “could have caught more,” according to Victorino. Note: When fishing on a charter boat, listen to the Captain and the crew. They’re out there every day and know what’s working.

Clients must have been listening on the Check Mate from Chris’ Fishing Trips Sunday. 17 anglers brought home 850 sand dabs as well as 85 Dungeness Crab. Success is sweet.

Before the seasons open next week, it’s a good idea to review details in the Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations. As an overview, here is the most current information we have gathered.

The RCG fishing depth limit has moved out to 300 feet this year. That opens a large area for fishing that has been closed for many years. Bag and possession limits are the similar to last year’s regs. Bag limit remains at 10 fish in combination within the rockfish, cabezon and greenling complex. Within that limit we are allowed to keep only three black rockfish per day, and can now keep one canary rockfish per day as part of the bag limit. We can retain three cabezon at least 15 inches long. There is no sub-limit for greenlings this year, and minimum size remains at 12 inches. Lingcod must measure 22 inches, and the limit is two per day.

Salmon season is very limited this year. The Klamath area will remain closed for ocean salmon fishing in 2017 due to low return numbers. The Pacific Fisheries Management Council will meet in mid-April for final decisions on length and dates of salmon fishing along the entire west coast. For now, we know the season will open on April 1, and remain open through the end of the month. The PFMC might close the season after April 30, or could extend through June 30 or July 15 in the Pigeon Point- Point Sur area.