There is plenty of bait around Monterey and Carmel, which means there are lots of fish! We have observed mackerel, sardines, anchovies, smelt, and scattered spots of squid. Deep-water rockfish is receiving the most attention, but nearshore rockies and halibut are keeping skiff anglers and kayak fishermen busy. Boats launching from Moss Landing Harbor are discovering that the canyon edges continue to provide a bounty of chilipepper rockfish mixed with vermilion and canaries. Big lingcod are being caught from rockpiles as deep as 700 feet.

In Santa Cruz, the halibut fishing has been fantastic! From surfcasters on the beach to those in 90 feet of water, almost everyone is reaching their limits of flatties. Deepwater rockfish from Santa Cruz up to the Davenport area are still biting voraciously in water depths ranging from 300-400 feet.

Chris' Fishing Trips in Monterey consistently achieves full limits of rockfish on every trip, including their half-day excursions. We have come to expect nothing less from them. The Kahuna fished locally on Sunday and caught limits of lingcod along with sizable rockfish, as reported by skipper Joey Stagnaro. JT Thomas from Go Fish Santa Cruz, aboard the beautiful Miss Beth, returned to the harbor well before lunchtime on Sunday. This is noteworthy considering they targeted deepwater species, which often requires a long journey. JT reports, "We fished the deep waters again today. The clients caught early limits of rockfish, including big vermillion, green spots, and chili peppers."

With the relentless winds finally subsiding and the swell decreasing, conditions have been excellent for surfcasters in our area. Reports indicate a good mix of surf perch along the coast, mainly consisting of barred, walleye, calico, and forktails. Striped bass have been found as far south as Carmel, although most catches are reported from the Seaside and Marina areas. A few stripers caught have weighed around 20 pounds, but most are smaller schoolies. Those interested in targeting larger striped bass would be advised to head up the coast north of Santa Cruz, to the historical beaches of Pescadero, Pomponio, and San Gregorio. A variety of irons, stick baits, and poppers are all effective in these areas, as well as in Half Moon Bay and Pacifica for the larger specimens.