Local anglers are filling their bags with rockfish, and a surprising run of salmon appeared in shallow local waters.

Despite rumors to the contrary, rockfish and lingcod season is still open in our area. The California Department of Fish and Game enforced an early closure for the Rockcod, Cabezone and Greenling (RCG) Complex season starting on October 1 from Pigeon Point north to the Oregon border. That leaves our area and points south open for RCG fishing through the planned November 30 closure. Further confusing the issue is the September 21 implementation of Marine Protection Areas in our region. Due to the MPA rules, Ano Nuevo is now closed to all sport fishing, the shallow water near Natural Bridges is a "no-take" zone and a few areas along the Monterey Peninsula have been closed under these new rules. Maps of the new reserve areas are available on the DFG website. Despite these measures, which many sport anglers consider draconian, most areas in our region remain open for fishing.

And the fishing has been very good, according to Jim Rubin from Captain Jimmy's Sportfishing. "We fished local last week," Rubin says. "It was a great day on the Bay. We had four limits by 9:30, fishing the reefs near Wilder Ranch. The catch was mostly big black rockfish, along with nine vermillion weighing up to eight pounds each." Stagnaro's Sportfishing also fished the local reefs last weekend to catch limits of blacks and reds for the 19 anglers aboard a private charter.

Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine recommends taking the trek to Franklin Point, just above Ano Nuevo, and clear of the new MPA. Fraser received reports of great rockcod fishing in that area from 50-90 feet of water. He also reports a good bite for olive rockfish in 140 feet of water off Natural Bridges, though the halibut fishing is starting to slow down on the North Coast Beaches, according to Fraser. Most surprising were the reports Fraser received regarding king salmon being caught in 120 feet of water off Natural Bridges. A few lucky anglers found the salmon while trolling 80 feet down over the weekend.

Frank Ealy at Capitola Boat and Bait chimed in with good reports of mackerel fishing over the weekend in the Capitola area. The "Mack attack" featured fish from 10-14 inches that bit on baited sabiki rigs or small flashy lures.