For the most part, weather and sea conditions were mild, and very favorable for local fishing as well as longer trips outside Monterey Bay. A significant south swell, seven to nine feet with a 22-second interval hit our coast on Tuesday, slowing things down for a few days.

The wild areas below Carmel and above Santa Cruz have ideal structure for a healthy fish population, and get very little pressure. So, the fish are bigger, more numerous and more easily fooled. Moss Landing’s Kahuna with Captain Brian Cutting at the helm makes frequent trips to the Big Sur area, fishing near Point Sur and Point Lopez. The long ride is worth it, as they routinely bring home limits of big rockfish with a high percentage of vermilion as well as plenty of lingcod. Stagnaro’s Sportfishing from Santa Cruz takes “full-day” trips to the Ano Nuevo/Franklin Point area for similar results.

This week, Stagnaro’s fished locally. Ken Stagnaro reported, “The last two days have produced limits of rock fish for our local reefs. Half-day fishing has been great with mixed bags of fish.” Local Fishing in Monterey remains consistent, with Chris’ Fishing Trips recording daily limits of rockfish, and lingcod counts ranging from one fish to full limits aboard the Check Mate and Caroline. Capitola Boat and Bait reports good rockfishing in that area as well, with rental skiffs bringing in a variety of species.

Capitola is a great spot to target this weekend. From Capitola up to the Mile Buoy is halibut country right now. In addition, an increasing number of white sea bass are being caught in that same area. This week, Local angler Cosgrove Mould brought in a small adult sea bass, measuring 30-inches. Seabass minimum legal length is 28 inches, and the fish likely weighed seven or eight pounds. Good eating! Remember, a Capitola angler brought in a tanker sea bass just last week, weighing 57 pounds. They are out there. Find the squid spawns and there are probably white sea bass nearby. The big seiners working that area the past few weeks aren’t helping much, netting as many squid as they can. Without that commercial presence, we’d likely see more action on these hard-fighting, most delicious fish.

Surfcasters remain happy, with most beaches producing small to medium sized barred surf perch, and the occasional striped bass. As it has been for the past few months, the striper bite gets better the further towards Monterey one fishes. A few striped bass were caught closer to Santa Cruz last week from Rio Del Mar and up to New Brighton Beach, but anglers using swim baits, poppers and live bait.