It looks like fishing in Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay is in full swing finally. Weather is still a factor with some blustery days and occasional swells that make things difficult, but all seasons are open (including SALMON). Catch rates range from merely steady to pretty good.

Mike Schell at Bayside Marine has good news on the salmon front. "The fish are coming up. Last week we were fishing 250 feet down, now they're catching kings at 30-60 feet. It's really improved, people are catching more fish." Schell says the best bite is still on the west side of the Soquel Hole, though we had a brief flurry of salmon of the North Coast/Three Trees area last week. Schell has seen keeper salmon up to 30 pounds caught this week. "A few are mooching, though trollers are still doing best. They're biting on bait, but hardware is working" Schell adds. These salmon have hung around for a month now, and the bait balls are increasing, so the fishing should remain good for a while. Captain Jim Rubin from Captain Jimmy Sportfishing checked in early in the morning yesterday. "We already have three fish in the box, and lost one at the boat. This is a good grade of fish, two of our fish are in the 18-pound range." Rubin will be booking salmon trips every day of the week except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which are closed for salmon this year.

On the days salmon is closed, or if you don't want to make the nine- mile trip to the Hole, inshore fishing is picking up as well. Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait reports good rockfishing from Capitola to the South Rock area. We've seen a few limits, and lots of heavy stringers this week. Burrell says the skiff anglers are catching mostly Bolinas, grass and gopher rockfish with some big lingcod in the mix. "We weighed in one ling at 13 pounds last week, caught from the local kelpbeds on a swimbait."

The halibut fishing is also picking up. The flatties are still somewhat deep, mostly along the ten-fathom line, with the mile buoy and some spots on the west side of town producing best. Live bait is always the best ticket for halibut and more bait is showing up by the day. Sardines and small anchovies are being jigged up from the Capitola Wharf along with walleye and shiner perch. Sardine balls were reported in 30 feet of water right out in front of the harbor last week. Carl Aceves from Bocci Boy Bait will be out bait hunting soon, and his S-Dock receivers could be full by next week.