Monterey Bay anglers enjoyed mild conditions this week and were able to fish every day. A few mid-week days remained calm from sunrise to sunset. We took the opportunity to hit some local reefs with Stagnaro’s Sportfishing and their new boat, Legacy. Besides daily whale watching trips and a scattering of private charters, the family-owned sport fishing business offers a variety of fishing trips ranging from full-day journeys to Ano Nuevo and Franklin Point where the big fish dwell, to the short but sweet “Twilight Trip” on our local Santa Cruz reefs.

Stagnaro’s is running two big boats now out of the Santa Cruz Harbor. The flagship Velocity is certified for 60 passengers while the slightly smaller Westport 56 Legacy carries a maximum load of 48. Fishing trips on Legacy are limited to 30 anglers for plenty of elbow room.

Our morning half-day trip left the harbor at 6:30am and we were fishing within 15 minutes on the reefs off Natural Bridges. Captain Chris Victorino kept the boat centered on the thickest schools of rock cod. Fish were coming over the rail within minutes. It’s about the easiest and most comfortable way to get out on the ocean to fish, with the bonus of bringing home dinner for the family and the neighbors as well. Most enjoyable is watching the anglers who are just learning to fish. Especially the kids as they get a bite, reel up on their shaking rod and finally bring a big flopping fish aboard the boat.

Deckhands Clark Walker and Azure Cohen were always right on hand to coach the kids, secure a fish or untangle lines quickly. We ended up with better than 1/2 limits of rockfish, including some big browns and a nice vermilion. Legacy’s full-day trip to Franklin Point on Sunday netted 40 lingcod to 15 pounds and ¾ limits of big quality rockies, according to Captain Victorino.

In Monterey, Chris’ Fishing Trips continues to post cookie-cutter reports of lingcod limits every trip, and rockcod limits most days. Private boaters report halibut are starting to bite more consistently out of Monterey, along the broad sandy beaches towards Marina. The halibut bite in Santa Cruz is becoming more consistent as well, with fish reported from Capitola, the SC3 Buoy near Pleasure Point, the Mile Buoy area, and up the coast from West Cliff to Five-Mile Beach.

Some of the best fishing right now along Monterey Bay requires no boat whatsoever. Surfcasters have enjoyed a banner season for striped bass on al the beaches of Monterey Bay. These fish move around in schools, so one week they are here, and the next they are there. Avid striper anglers dial in reports and share info in order to be in the right place at the right time.

Most of the stripers are not quite legal, but at least one in ten is a keeper, and they are all very fun to target and hook up out of the surf line. Top water poppers, Krokodile and Kastmaster lures as well as some of the soft plastic swimbaits are working well for these fish. High tide is the best for fishing stripers from the beach, but sunrise and sunset might be even more critical for success.