The weather was fairly cooperative this week, except for a sneaky south swell that scattered fish all week. Generally, fishing in the Monterey Bay remains decent, with the exception of a few notable hookups.

On the rockfish front, the north side of the Bay is still playing catch up to Monterey and Carmel. Captain Jim Rubin made the decision to head south on Sunday. His five clients were rewarded by 11a.m. with full limits of big red and jumbo olive rockfish. Coming home, they were treated to the bonus of viewing humpback whales in the middle of the Bay.

Ken Stagnaro from Stagnaro's Sportfishing took the opposite route Sunday, heading north towards Davenport. "The water is still cold up there, around 49 degrees, and fishing was tough until we moved back to the Wilder Ranch area," Stagnaro reports. Once they found warmer water, the 25 clients aboard the Velocity quickly loaded up with 200 rockfish, mostly blacks and gophers with a few vermillion rockfish and one lingcod in the mix. Stagnaro's Sportfishing also includes twilight fishing trips on Saturday and Sunday.

Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait reports the small south swell that came through the bay this week slowed fishing somewhat. Despite this, a number of rental skiffs returned with good stringer of rockfish including some limits. Notable catches this week included a 20-pound striped bass caught and released by a sportsman angler at the Cement Ship, and an 8-foot Mako shark hooked and lost by Kurtis Williams while commercial fishing. According to Burrell, a youngster on one of the rental skiffs managed to bring in a 20-pound thresher this week as well. Burrell also notes a marked increase in baitfish this week, mostly sardines, mackerel and jacksmelt.

Halibut fishing is getting better in our area. Wednesday's news from Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine featured a 28-pound hog halibut caught in 50 feet of water near the Harbor. Josh Larsen in Capitola found a 15-pounder using with live bait near the Capitola Mile Reef on Monday. The surfline near Capitola is still kicking out up to 15 small flatties per day, and the occasional legal-sized halibut as well.

Freshwater Report

Ernie Kinzli from Ernie's Casting Pond in Soquel chimed in this week. A few of his flyfishing clients are working the New Brighton area for surfperch and stripers, but he says, "Most of the guys are leaving for the Truckee River and the Upper Sacramento. Trout fishing is picking up."

Locally, Loch Lomond remains consistent for planter trout. Bruce Worden at the lake says the water is beginning to stratify, with a thermocline showing at 35 feet on Tuesday. Trollers may want to start fishing deeper at Loch Lomond. Fishing could be good there this weekend, as the Department of Fish and Game planted 2,000 pounds of trout in the lake on Tuesday.