Despite some windy weather this week, area anglers noticed a distinct increase in fishing action from a number of local spots.

Jim Rubin from Captain Jimmy Charters worked the West Cliff reefs on Sunday and Monday for big returns. "I had six clients on Sunday, and four clients on Monday. We were done by 9:30a.m. with limits for everyone including crew on both days." Rubin drifted the Becky Ann in 70 feet of water for a good mix of blues, blacks and vermillion as well as copper rockfish weighing up to seven pounds each. "We also hooked five or six lingcod, but they were all undersized," Rubin says. A few weeks ago these local reefs were bare. In two days this week the Becky Ann bagged 130 quality fish from the same rocks. Warmer water might be the key, but no matter what the reason, the fish are definitely moving in.

The bite is turning on in the Capitola area as well. Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait says the edges of the kelp beds remained productive last week, but the deeper reefs showed even better returns. Burrell himself fished on Tuesday near Pleasure Point and returned with two lingcod weighing six and ten pounds. Local commercial fisherman Kurtis Williams used live jacksmelt near the South Rock area for 8 lings weighing up to 14 pounds. Local angler Bill Solares also caught a 14-pounder from the Capitola Reef area, using a swim bait.

Small halibut continue to be pulled in by wharf anglers and surfcasters, and the number of legal-sized keeper fish is on the rise. On Tuesday an unnamed angler caught two legal halibut measuring 24 and 26 inches respectively. Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine received a report of on 28-pound flatty caught near Capitola with a Storm Sardine lure. As we progress through June and July, we can reasonably expect the halibut bite to get better, especially for the larger females in deeper water.

Most exciting news this week are numerous reports of White Sea Bass in the area. Both Burrell and Fraser received reports this week of a group or a school of sea bass. The reports ranged from the Cement ship area up to Pleasure Point, so the school could be anywhere. Fish traps, Krocodile and Kastmaster lures as well as anchovies, sardines or whole squid can be used to catch these fish. Some of the fish reported were small. Remember, minimum size for White Sea Bass is 28 inches, and fish that are snagged are not legally caught.