The next few weeks are “prime time” for fishing in the Monterey Bay region. Summer crowds are gone, Days are warm, the number of low-wind days increases and multiple species remain on the bite.

Nearshore, rockfish and lingcod are being cooperative. The deeper reefs are a better bet, in order to avoid the juveniles who are hanging out in the shallows. Most of the 80-120 foot rocky areas are holding suspended schools of nice yellows and black rockfish. Big lingcod, grumpy browns and vermilion can be found right on the bottom, but watch out for snags!

Monterey charter boats from Chris’ fishing Trips continue to post full limits of lingcod and half to three-quarter limits of rockfish for every go out. Capitola anglers are pulling in lings from Adam’s Reef and the SC3 Buoy areas. Santa Cruz anglers fishing South Rock and the West Cliff Reefs are seeing near-limits of quality rockfish as well.

Halibut fishing started slow this year, but the fall season seems to be pretty normal. The big flatties we find in 60-80 feet of water each autumn are here, and they are biting. Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine reported on Sunday, “There were a few halibut caught near Capitola in 70 feet of water. There was a angler bounce-ball trolling for halibut near the Cement Ship that did good. There were some halibut caught in Monterey near the Hotel.”

Salmon season is closed in our area, but a few high-liners are doing very well launching from Half Moon Bay. Captain Tom Joseph with Fish On Sportfishing has been netting limits nearly every day this week. Joseph related some details from Wednesday’s trip, fishing near Pedro Point and Pacifica Pier, “Today our party of four boated eight salmon 10-16 pounds. They hooked a total of 15 just another great day on the water. There is a good evening bite and I will be running trips for those of you that that are interested.”

Another salmon alternative is just starting to shape up. If you’ve never caught a wild king salmon with a KwikFish on a river, you have a life-altering experience ahead of you. Famed guide JD Richey is running trips on the Sacramento and American Rivers for the next couple weeks, before he moves his operation to the Klamath-Trinity area. Richey is excited about what he is seeing this week, saying “We have been waiting on the kings to show...and they are finally making their first big push right now. About a month late, we were starting to think they weren't coming at all but fishing suddenly turned on the past several days!”