Fishing conditions are improving all across the Monterey Bay, and anglers are making the most of new opportunities.

We had a few windy days last week, but most mornings were quite fishable, and some boats were able to hit the more remote locations for bigger fish. Stagnaro’s Sportfishing took the Velocity up past Ano Nuevo on Saturday. Skipper Ken Stagnaro said, “Great full day cod trip up to Franklin Point area today! 29 on board, caught three-quarter limits good quality mixed rock fish with some nice vermillion, plus 18 Ling Cod.”

Beth Thomas from Go Fish Santa Cruz told a similar tale on Tuesday, reporting, “Captain Jimmy Rubin and deckhand Rob took the charter boat up the coast by Davenport where the rocks are big and plentiful. Rocks as in boulders, but also rocks as in fish. Rockfish and lingcod. Our customers caught limits of quality blues, blacks and olives.”

With a negligible swell and gentling winds, the inshore fishing is starting to heat up. Tom Dolan on the Mega-Bite has been able to run up to two fishing trips per day. Tuesday’s foray was quite successful according to Dolan who reported, “Nice fishing today with flat calm water and a gentle five-knot breeze. We started out a bit slow with a few fish nearshore, then went out to South Rock and the fish were on fire! BIG olives today with some black, blue and brown pacific snapper mixed in.”

Those fishing near Monterey are doing equally well on the rockfish and especially lingcod. Chris’ Fishing Trips, out of Monterey posted their usual limit-style reports for the week. With half to full limits of rock cod on each trip, and full limits of lings on every trip last week aboard the Caroline and the Check Mate. Kahuna Sportfishing launches from Moss Landing and had an epic trip Saturday. Owner Carol Jones was happy to report “Lingcod limits with at least a dozen fish going over 15 pounds with the brute weighing in at 25.”

The Kahuna is now scheduling halibut trips. Good timing, as the halibut bite in Monterey Bay is now officially “ON.” Last week, most big flatties were caught by boats bounce-ball trolling, a technique that covers more territory. This week, as conditions calmed and more bait moved in, drifting live bait has been effective, and in increasingly shallow waters.

The halibut bite is ranging from 40 to 70 feet of water from the Mile Buoy in Santa Cruz and ranging down to the beaches near Pajaro. Ed Burrell from Capitola Boat and Bait counted numerous halibut this week and recommends using live mackerel in 50-60 feet of water in that area. In Monterey, the flat sandy areas near DelMonte Beach and the “Hotel” area are a very good bet right now for the big flatfish. Reports indicate commercial squid boats are working near Monterey right now. It might be time to haul out the white sea bass gear.