The weekly fish report is prepared a couple days before publication. By Friday morning, we will know how much an impact the season's first major storm will have on the Monterey Bay area. Satellite images and NOAA weather reports indicate high winds, big waves and significant precipitation for our area. The marine forecast includes gale warnings in effect as well as small craft advisories for hazardous seas. Winds may exceed 40 miles per hour with combined seas from four to 18 feet. Savvy anglers have already pulled in their crab pots prior to the storm so as not to lose them to wind, waves and currents.


The weather will calm down for the weekend. We can expect fishing to resume at a steady pace through the remainder of the month, while rockfish and lingcod season is still open. Santa Cruz area reports indicate fishing for rockies and lings is still pretty good along the Capitola reefs, and the deeper reefs off West Cliff, and north to Four-Mile and Five-Mile beaches. Todd Fraser from Bayside Marine also reports some anglers continue to catch the more tropical bonito in 120 feet of water off Lighthouse Point in Santa Cruz.


In Monterey, Chris' Fishing Trips was busy this week stacking up cookie-cutter scores of limits on their crab combo trips. The Checkmate went out every day last week till Wednesday, and reported full limits of rockfish, lingcod and Dungeness crab for each of the trips.


If the big storm lives up to the predictions, we might see some local flooding and mudslides in our area. On a positive note, rivers and streams will experience a scouring surge with the sudden increase of water volume. Perfect for establishing conditions for our anadromous steelhead trout. Steelhead season is open in our area right now. Most of the streams around the bay will be fishable after this weekend. Steelhead regulations are extensive and vary in details from one stream to another. A separate "Steelhead Report Card" is required to pursue these fish legally. Be very sure to carefully check the official regulations from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife before venturing out for steelhead fishing.


While not on the "endangered" list steelheading remains a delicate fishery. Catch and release is recommended even on those few rivers that allow a minimal take of hatchery steelhead. The DFW reminds us "All wild steelhead caught must be released unharmed." Their release recommendations include these tips:

"Follow these five points to release fish unharmed:

1. Land your fish as carefully and quickly as possible.
2. Try to avoid removing the fish from the water. Underwater unhooking and release is preferred.
3. Do not squeeze the fish, or touch its eyes or gills.
4. Remove only those hooks that you can see and remove easily, otherwise clip the line near the mouth on deep hooked fish.
5. Use artificial lures (no bait) to minimize deep hooking. Barbless hooks or hooks with flattened barbs make unhooking easier and less stressful on the fish."


Send your photos, comments or questions to scruzfishing@yahoo.com