Monterey Bay anglers emjoyed a  third straight week of stellar salmon fishing before increasing winds slowed the bite. A few big schools settled in to various spots around the bay to feed on super-abundant anchovy bait balls. Sardines are making a showing as well as pop-up spots of spawning squid, especially near Monterey.

 

“Back at the dock by 9:30; In at ten; and Done by eight am!” are common phrases from the private boat reports this week as well as the charter six-packs. Even the big charters carrying 15-20 anglers got limits while mooching for salmon at the hot spots around the bay.

 

And, all of the classic salmon areas were producing this week. Point Pinos, Soldier’s Club, Mulligans Hill, the Pajaro Hole, the Soquel Hole, Three Trees and Davenport all kicked out limits for anglers trolling hoochies, spoons or straight bait. Water temperatures remain low, averaging around 52 degrees for most of the bay. As a result, the fish are high in the water column with most catches reported from 50 down to 120 feet on the wire for trollers. Shallow fish means hot fish. Many opportunities were lost lately as fish became unbuttoned during the exciting fights. But, there’s plenty more salmon and they seem to be biting well. Lost ground is regained quickly when you are counting double, triple even quintuple hookups. The quality of the fish is high as well. Most salmon caught are in the teens, with a good number weighing in the 20’s, and a few reaching up to the low 30-pound area.

 

Afternoon winds have been ferocious. It seems we have gale warnings every other day or so with winds up to 35 knots within 10 miles of shore. The northwest winds continue to blow after dark before easing off towards dawn. This makes for an uncomfortable early morning bump on the water but doesn’t seem to affect the bite.  If anything the winds are ultimately helpful, creating the upwelling that keeps the water cool and nutrient-rich and has the effect of keeping these hungry salmon here in the area feeding.

 

Charter boat reports include Go Fish Santa Cruz with limits or near limits every day by ten a.m. at  the latest. On Saturday, skipper JT Thomas from Go Fish reported, “The salmon bite continues to be hot. The clients had 12 nice king salmon by 8:30 this morning. Deckhand JP had the fish cleaned and bagged by 10:30. They left happy and ready to go cook salmon snd drink Bloody Marys.” Four-packer Tom Joseph on the Sara Bella chimed in on Sunday saying, “Our three anglers boated six salmon to 18 pounds the bite is still hot.” The big boats mooch, or drift fish for the kings.  Trying to troll with 15-20 lines is pretty much unworkable especially if the fish are deep. This week Chris’ Fishing Trips from Monterey reported limits of salmon for the Check Mate and the Caroline mid-week on their best days of the week, while Stagnaro’s in Santa Cruz averaged a fish per rod while salmon fishing on Tuesday.

 

Lots of local anglers are burning up their vacation days from work while taking advantage of this hot bite situation. Private boater Joe Baxter fished with Nick Castillo  for nine a.m. limits last Thursday and Friday. Baxter reported the key for their success was rather simple. “Find the bird schools above the whales. Drive by and hook up.” The duo were fishing the central part of Monterey Bay on the vessel Atom Bomb. Straight bait and Tom Mack spoons did the trick for these guys, fishing 80 to 120 feet on the wire.