Despite the relentless winds lately, anglers on the Monterey Bay are finding good fishable conditions, especially in the early mornings. And, there’s plenty to catch right now as the summertime fishing pattern settles in.

Rockfish and lingcod remain as the most abundant and accessible species to target in and around Monterey Bay. Any reef or rocky area can hold bottom dwelling rockfish and lings, and we’re actually seeing a fair presence of mid-water “schoolie” rockfish such as blacks, blues and yellows. These fish can be found as shallow as 40 feet of water. The charter operations usually fish a bit deeper, for increased size and abundance.

Go Fish Santa Cruz Charters has been frequenting the deeper reefs off of Natural Bridges and they are doing quite well. Last weekend’s trip to the 120-foot reefs resulted in limits for all aboard, and a return to the dock by 10 am.

Chris’ Fishing Trips in Monterey has been constrained a little by the windy conditions. But, they found plenty of fish between Point Pinos and Carmel Bay this week. Using live squid for bait, Chris’ continues to record full limits of lingcod and rockfish for trips aboard the Check Mate and Caroline. Owner Chris Arcoleo reports, “We’re still knocking them silly.” Arcoleo also reports plenty of small halibut caught along DelMonte Beach “Right on the beach within a half mile or so of the Wharf.” In regards to salmon action in the Monterey area, Arcoleo says, “they’re catching salmon just off Marina Beach in 200 feet near what we used to call D buoy.”

Just as in Monterey, there are plenty of small halibut in the shallows right now near Santa Cruz. And, some bigger ones were caught in the deeper water. Todd Fraser from Bayside Marine says, “The halibut were biting all over the place today. I had reports around the West Side of Santa Cruz, Mile Buoy, Capitola and Pajaro. The majority of the halibut are being caught in 35-60 feet of water. The halibut are biting on herring, squid, anchovies, Pearl Big Hammers, and Purple Haze Hoochies.”

Anglers on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf are pulling halibut over the rail using live anchovies or anchovy swimbaits. Most are undersized, but diligent anglers are hooking legal halibut over 22 inches on a daily basis. A round crab net with a long rope is a necessity for landing the legal flatties. Evening fishing from the wharf could result in striped bass as well.