The weather has not been very cooperative. In fact, a couple days this week were downright nasty. But, it is fall fishing season after all, and conditions will change quickly. When boats do make it out, the results can be world-class fishing right in our own backyard.

We have been tracking the "tuna water" for a couple months now. Mostly the scores have been reported from 80 or 90 miles away, off Pt. Sur. Last week the warm blue currents moved considerably closer to Santa Cruz. Jim Rubin from Captain Jimmy Charters took the plunge on Sunday with four anglers aboard in search of the elusive albacore. Rubin only needed to steam 28 miles from the Santa Cruz Harbor to find the fish. "Our four anglers landed 30 albacore, all in the 25-30-pound range. It was a really nice day."

Rubin's latest report indicates the tuna waters are still somewhat close-by. "I've been talking to some of the commercial guys. They're still out there landing around 50 a day." Hopefully the weather will allow boats to reach the area this weekend and the tuna currents will stay in place for a while.

Rubin was "blown off the water" on his Thursday rockfishing trip. "The Coast Guard issued a severe lightning and thunderstorm warning this morning and we had to run for the harbor." His clients still managed to bag half-limits of rockfish before 9am, all from the local reefs in 80 feet of water. Rubin reminds us that rockfish season stays open through December this year, and he will be hosting Dungeness crab and rockfish "combo" charters starting November 6.

Ken Stagnaro agrees that rockfishing remains very good off West Cliff and especially the North Coast reefs. "Cod fishing was great up to Davenport on Saturday. We had limits of nice blues and bolina rockfish. Big fish for the day were a 12-pound ling, a 13-pound cabezone and a 15-pound halibut." Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait reported a quality mix of fish from the Capitola area as well, including limits of rockfish from Adam's Reef, and multiple halibut up to 27 pounds from the SC3 buoy area.

White sea bass are still high on the menu. Reader Aaron Cantrell gets some big fish honors for last Thursday's limit of sea bass, caught near Pajaro while fly-lining squid. Cantrell reports the fish ranged from 44 to 52 pounds each.

Time is running out to get your ticket to the Golden Gate Salmon Association "Inaugural Dinner," on October 14, 2011. Hosted by Director Joe Donatini from Johnson Hicks Marine, tickets are available at his shop or directly from GGSA associate Mike Baxter, captmikebaxter@yahoo.com.