In general, we have had a rather slow start for the 2015 fishing season. Rockfish and lingcod catches are fairly steady, though bagging limits is taking a bit more time than in prior years. Salmon fishing is still hit and miss with fish moving fast, here one day and gone the next. Halibut fishing has not even really started yet, and it’s usually going pretty well by April.

We had warm water all winter, then temperatures dropped in March with heavy northwest winds causing upwelling. Salmon prefer cooler temps, but rockfish and especially halibut move to the shallows with warmer water. Observations from this past week suggest the pattern is evening out somewhat, and I tentatively predict an upsurge for rockfishing, a beginning for consistent halibut, a hope for tighter schools of bait surrounded by salmon and a hint of tuna possibilities in the near future.

Captain Tom Joseph aboard the Sara Bella, a four-pack charter vessel is planning to make the long trip offshore on an initial albacore hunt next week. Joseph notes good temperature increases from the offshore Monterey Buoy, and definite temperature “breaks” near this developing warm-water push. These are the conditions that promote big schools of hungry tuna. Joseph knows it’s a gamble, and we’re lucky to have someone willing to spend the time and fuel in pursuit of what might be the premier gamefish available in the Monterey Bay.

Salmon fishing remains spotty, with the bite popping up here and there over the past month. Most successful are the commercial boats that can fish consistently near the bottom with their heavy trolling weights. We’ve received reports of salmon caught on various days near Soldier’s Club, Pajaro, the west side of Soquel Hole, near Davenport, and off Pescadaro.

Captain Mike Baxter feels the full moon this week is also having an effect. He says, “The lunar phase makes a difference. With this full moon, salmon seem to feed for one or two days then don’t bite at all for a day. Last week’s bite near Pajaro turned off as warm blue clear water moved in to that area, bringing mackerel schools feeding on smaller bait. For the coming weekend, a good bet would be to explore the deeper cooler water along the edges of the Soquel Hole.”

We have tons of mackerel all over the bay. The Spanish macks and smaller greenback macks make great bait for lingcod and ambitious rockfish. Santa Cruz reefs near Lighthouse Point, Natural Bridges and Wilders Ranch are producing good catches of lingcod as well as hefty bottom rockfish, mostly bolinas and vermilion. Classic shrimp fly jigs are working well on local reefs. Skipper Kenny Stagnaro from Stagnaro Charters reported, “Our local half day cod trips have been coming back with quality fish. Velocity has been getting over half limit on most trips. The Sea Stag has been getting limits of nice fish for 6 people. Last trip they had two to three nice big reds per person and a couple nice lings.”

Boats from Monterey Harbor continue to head out around Pt. Pinos to the rocky areas off Carmel and northern Big Sur. It’s limit-style fishing for these charter vessels. Fish counts from Sunday’s outing with Chris Fishing Trips included limits of rock cod, eight cabezon and 18 lingcod for 19 anglers on the Check Mate. The Caroline brought home limits of rock cod, two cabbies and one ling per rod for the 16 anglers aboard.