We have a couple more weeks to enjoy chasing rockfish and lingcod in the Monterey Bay. If the past week is any indication, fishing should remain very good through the end of the season.

So far, it's a very good year for lings, both for quantity and quality. Tyler Smith took a window of good weather opportunity Wednesday for some West Cliff kayak-fishing action. "I got a late start but found amazing conditions out on the bay. Crystal clear water. Only went a quarter mile or so outside the kelp and there were so many fish. Caught four undersized ling, and almost brought in a brute that somehow let go at the surface. Lots of rockfish out there too. Went into the kelp outside lighthouse field and caught my first cabezon!!! Watched it strike, the water is so clear...an amazing fish. All the fish were released."

Most charter boats seem to be concentrating on lingcod these days as well. Chris' Sportfishing out of Monterey has recorded at least a ling per rod every trip this week, with ling limits on Wednesday and Thursday. Combined with ?? to full limits of rockfish, and limits of Dungeness crab every day, it's quite a trip! The Kahuna from Moss Landing posted similar reports, sans crab. Sunday's trip featured limits of rockfish and lingcod for the 15 anglers aboard. That's 150 rockies, of which 35 were the preferred vermilion or red rockfish, and 30 lings.

Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait echoes the prior reports. Lots of lings came in to the wharf last week, including a few pushing 20 pounds as evidenced by this week's photo. The Mile Reef and Surfer's Reef seem to be the most productive, and live bait as always is the best. Burrell has no problem getting bait these days. "Before it gets light in the morning, there's a lot of small five to eight-inch jack smelt around the wharf. One toss of the net and I had plenty of bait. There were more large sardines caught off the wharf this afternoon."

Further reports indicate good numbers of anchovies in the area as well, so there's no reason not to use live bait. Be sure and bring your sabiki rigs with you, and spend an extra half-hour making bait for the big rewards.

Photos:
Pictured Above: Ed Burrell braved the cold to capture this big ling last week.
Photo #1: "Darn Glen" Larsen with a couple hefty Capitola Lingcod.