Sometimes I love it when I am proven wrong. A few times this summer I have stated "It doesn't get any better than this!" And, it keeps getting better. Anglers in the Monterey Bay are still enjoying a rockfish season with limit-style fishing from local reefs, a consistent and robust halibut bite, an ongoing salmon season that started out "just like the old days," warm water currents offshore hosting big schools of voracious albacore tuna and one of the best white sea bass bites in recent history. And it's still going on right now!

Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait has been pretty busy the past few weeks. Skiff rentals are a popular way to get out and catch some of these quality fish. Burrell still managed to get a day off on Tuesday, returning to the dock with a limit of white sea bass for his efforts. Last month's sea bass bite seemed to be centered near Capitola, but they are more spread out right now. Look for spawning squid and you will find the sea bass.

Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine weighed in big bass caught from the Mile Buoy all the way down to Pajaro area. Fraser notes that most fish have been caught near the bottom, or a few cranks off the bottom. Live squid is working the best, of course, but Fraser notes those anglers using fresh dead squid have an advantage as well. Frozen calimari squid still works, but if you can get fresh stuff, go for it. Bass caught this week range from 20 pounds upwards to the 60-pound range.

In the same areas eating the same squid, are big halibut. A good number were caught by anglers looking for sea bass near the bottom. Both sea bass and halibut anglers can use multiple rods and two-hook rigs, so it's all legal. A number of king salmon are also in the area and on the bite. While it may be tempting, anglers cannot keep incidentally - caught salmon when using halibut or white sea bass tackle. Barbless hooks only are allowed for salmon, and they must be "circle-hooks" if one is drift fishing.

The offshore albacore grounds are holding steady at 25-35 miles out from the Santa Cruz Harbor. Windy conditions offshore kept most boats from tuna fishing this week, though last weekend's weather was decent enough. Gerry Brookes on the Doble gave a good report on Sunday. "We had a fantastic day of fishing. Ran southwest this morning. Things were slow until about 10:30, then it was like turning on a switch. We had doubles, triples, and ended the day with all six troll rods going off at the same time. We managed to put all six fish in the boat. The weather was perfect. Ended the day with 26 albies, and pulled the plug by 12:30. The boat was plugged."

Main Photo Above: Mike Sapp with two of the five white sea bass he caught this week on his Ocean Kayak.