Last Friday featured a fairly ferocious windstorm that kept any sane boaters off the water. Conditions cleared up for the weekend and held steady all week. The best action overall was for  offshore rock cod anglers. A few nice halibut were reported as well.

Reports from Monterey Bay charter operators indicated limits for every outing this week, with some of them coming quickly. Chris’ Fishing Trips in Monterey reported limits of up to 280 rockfish with a bonus of vermilion limits for the Caroline and up to eight lingcod on the Check Mate on Sunday. In Santa Cruz, JT Thomas recorded “early limits of rock fish including green spots, yellow tail and chili peppers. rodney Armstrong, who also runs a six-pack charter from S Dock in Santa Cruz reported on Sunday, saying, “Today was another wide open rock fish bite out on the deep. Come join us before it’s over. Lots of availability for the rest of the month.” When the calendar turns to November, the deepwater closes again, while nearshore waters open for rockfishing until December 1, 2024.

Though it is getting to be later in fall, we still have a good chance at halibut in the nearshore seas. If fall, the flatty bite typically shifts more towards the  north coast for Santa Cruz anglers. This year is no exception. Most halibut were reported caught from the West Cliff area on up the coast to Davenport. Private boater Brian Stocks managed to catch his limit of halibut (two) on Tuesday, fishing 70 feet of water off the bull kelp beds near Davenport. Stocks found success while drifting whole squid in 70 feet of water.

Flatties can still be found around the corner and inside the bay. There’s gotta be some hali’s hanging around near Steamer Lane, the Mile Buoy and off Pleasure Point. Most are probably in deeper water now, 60-70 feet. Live bait is always the best bet, but drifting or trolling frozen bait or lures should work as well. Live bait certainly did the trick for one kayaker who launched from Capitola Wharf on Sunday. Gary Groff got a late start on the morning, hitting the water at 9am. Groff reported to Nor Cal Kayak Anglers, “Small schools of big anchovies about. Grabbed about a dozen before I headed off. In hindsight, wish I grabbed more. Headed S/E to New Brighton. The ocean was alive for sure. Snagged some good sized macks (and a few dreaded kingfish). Every anchovy I sent down got bit. Caught a decent halibut around 10. Took 3 macks home with me for shashimi and a healthy 25 inch ‘butt.”