It's hard to believe we are already near the end of October. Weather and ocean conditions get unpredictable this time of year, but there is plenty of fishing season left. This week was very fishable along the inshore waters for a good variety of species, and the albacore hunters found some limited success as well.

We have been reporting an awesome white sea bass bite for a couple months now. The big croakers are feeding on spawning squid, and have provided some outstanding action for Monterey Bay anglers. Lately the bite has centered mostly off Pajaro, though sea bass continue to be reported caught in Monterey near Lover's Point. This past week, an increasing number of bass were caught along the North Coast, as far as Martins Beach near Half Moon Bay.

It is a "hit or miss" proposition, according to Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine. One day they bite and the next they do not. But, if you get a white sea bass on it is guaranteed to be a big one. Fish in the 30, 40 and 50-pound range have become "ho-hum" news, lately. No one was yawning last Friday, though when local Justin Barry, fishing with Kevin Seeger, returned to Bayside and weighed in his 79-pound, 4-ounce monster caught that day near Pajaro.

The "hook and line" white sea bass California State record has been held by David Sternberg for a 78-pound croaker caught in Monterey in 2002. Barry's catch last week was weighed on a certified scale, and the paperwork is already in to the Department of Fish and Game. We should see his name as the record holder within a couple months.

Albacore fishing remains frustrating for the local tuna-trackers. The warm water current was only 30 miles from Santa Cruz two weeks ago, but a big swell and stormy weather pushed things around offshore. The best albacore bite this week has been near the Pioneer Sea Mount, over 70 miles from the Santa Cruz Harbor. On Monday, Ken Stagnaro took the Velocity out to that area. He found the warm water, and it was holding fish, but the bite was slow. "Though the fish were excellent grade, we did not get a lot of opportunities," Stagnaro says. Stagnaro's Sportfishing will run more tuna trips when the fish get a bit closer to home port.

Captain Jimmy Charters has been sticking closer to home, concentrating on rockfish and lings from our local reefs. "It's still full-limit fishing, and right out front" Jim Rubin was happy to report. The Becky Ann has been working reefs including South rock, Natural Bridges and Wilder's Ranch for a good mix of quality blues, blacks, vermillion, olives and the occasional lingcod. Halibut are still in the mix as well, according to both Todd Fraser and Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait. Fraser fielded reports of flatties caught near Natural Bridges as well as further up the coast. Burrell weighed in at least one halibut this week in Capitola, caught on live mackerel near the SC3 buoy.

Bushnell can also be heard Friday mornings at 6:45 on KSCO radio 1080 AM. Send your photos, comments or questions to scruzfishing@yahoo.com

Fishing for White Sea Bass is so good, even Allen Bushnell managed to catch one this week. Allen Bushnell on the maiden voyage of the Bladerunner, 53 pound white sea bass on whole squid.
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