The much-anticipated 2011 salmon season commenced last Saturday with typical tales of triumph, tribulation and tragicomedy. Early morning at the Santa Cruz Harbor launch ramp provided the usual opening day entertainment. The line was long and but tempers never grew short, according to Sean Rothwell, Deputy Harbor Master. He characterized the early morning launch action as "average, not too crazy but not dead, either."

Rothwell estimates 80 trailer launches from the harbor on opening day, and thankfully, says the Vessel Assist boat only went out on a "handful" of tow-in calls. For those whose boats have been in storage since last year, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will perform safety checks at no cost on any vessel tomorrow, April 9 at the Harbor launch ramp, and will continue free safety checks on the second Saturday of every month. For further information contact USCGA at 831-479-9386.

The best news is, there are lots of salmon in Monterey Bay right now. Less thrilling is the number of undersized fish, or "shakers." Stagnaro's Sportfishing released over 20 undersized fish on Saturday and kept 12 legal fish while mooching near the Soquel Hole. "Most of these were almost legal size. The action was very fast and steady in the morning then the bite tapered off in the afternoon," Skipper Ken Stagnaro reported. By Monday, Stagnaro was getting things dialed in. "Since we're mooching, not trolling, we have to find the bait and stay on it. The west side of the Hole is holding the bigger fish right now. Monday'

Captain Jimmy Charters reported similar results since the opener. Jim Rubin netted four keepers weighing up to 29 pounds on Saturday, and six fish weighing 12-14 pounds each for Tuesday's trip. Rubin, on the Becky Ann worked the east side of the Hole. Ed Burrell from Capitola Boat and Bait worked the same area on Monday with companions Kurtis Williams and Matt Kangas. Between the three of them, they lost or released 10 fish but kept a few beauties weighing up to 28.5 pounds.

Mike Baxter made it out on Tuesday, and provided a good overview of our season so far: "I'm calling it 0-4 fish per boat. The fish are out there and some guys are getting limits. You gotta work for your fish, and the situation changes every day." Baxter agrees we have a good number of salmon in the bay right now. Part of the reason is the abundant food sources. Big schools of anchovies and sardines are forming in the middle of the bay, and there are market squid around as well. The salmon are also feeding on juvenile rockfish and Dungeness crab larvae. Find the bait and you should find the fish.