Salmon fever has hit once again for Monterey Bay anglers. Saturday's opener featured hundreds of boats heading out in less than ideal conditions. At the end of the day, only dozens could claim success. Fishing was slow and the grade of fish tended towards smaller size kings.

Big party boats have the advantage of easier handling in windy and choppy conditions. Chris' Fishing Trips from Monterey sent three boats out Saturday to scour the Bay in hopes of finding king salmon, and were only somewhat successful. Averaging less than ?? fish per rod, the Caroline reported two fish for 18 anglers, the Check Mate had seven fish for 27 and the Star of Monterey brought in a high score of nine king salmon for 26 anglers aboard.

Carol Jones owner of Kahuna Sportfishing in Moss Landing is hopeful for the immediate future. On Monday, Jones reported "A few salmon were caught over the opening weekend. (We are) staying optimistic that conditions will improve along with the bite. We will be fishing for salmon all week." The poor conditions included wind gusts up to 25 knots, big ugly wind chop over a six-foot swell and a series of rain squalls that finally died down on Tuesday. Not easy fishing weather, and the most likely culprit for the overall low scores so far this season.

Captain Tom Joseph from Fish On Sportfishing is another optimistic angler. On Monday he reported "After a very slow opening weekend we finally boated a double of 18-pounders and lost four more. Salmon fishing is starting to look better. I have plenty of room this week on the Sara Bella."

The primary key so far this season seems to be finding the anchovy schools that salmon are feeding upon. Carl Azevedo operator of Boccie Boy Bait on "S" Dock at the Santa Cruz Harbor notes bigger schools of anchovies are in the deeper water as well as selected spots closer to shore. Azevedo notes there have been sardines in the five to seven-inch size range spotted near Capitola and that market squid are starting to show, though they are small at this time. One positive factor Azevedo shared is the report of 16 "bigger" salmon caught this weekend in Avila Beach, near San Luis Obispo. Those are fish that will have to come this way on their feeding/spawning route.

Private boaters have blanketed the Bay since Saturday with mixed results. Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine keeps close tabs of results and summarizes the season so far. He says "The salmon bite remains slow for most of the anglers fishing near the Soquel Hole. There were a few fish caught at the Soquel Hole Monday morning. There were a few limits caught at Soldier's Club early in the morning and again around ten a.m. Some nice fish were caught in front of Santa Cruz and Capitola in 120-160 feet of water. One boat had three fish at 36'53/121'56. The Salmon were caught in the shallow water near Soldiers Club as well. I have a feeling that there is a good amount of Salmon in 100-170 feet of water where all the bait has been. The Salmon were caught 50-130 feet down today."

Send your reports and fishing photos to Bushnell at scruzfishing@yahoo.com .