Fishing in our area this week ranged from relaxed and easy rockfish pickings near the beach, to fast and furious offshore tuna battles. It's all exciting and fun, and provides plenty of excellent table fare.

We continue to have an exceptional year for rockfish. Since the beginning of the season, limits are the rule, and this week's reports were more of the same. Rockfish have moved out to deeper water, and the bite has shifted somewhat uphill. The north coast spots have plenty of big fish willing to bite on shrimp fly jigs, swimbaits, and irons. Rocky areas and reef from 60 to 120 feet of water are providing best right now.

In Captiola, Ed Burrell reports decent rockfishing especially for those who are going deep, near the Mile Reef or the SC3 buoy. He also reports an occasional halibut this week, and TONS of bait. "The area right around the marina is full of life, This week we saw jack smelt, lizard fish, octopus, anchovies and a few small squids, even had a humpback whale within a hundred feet of the boats."

On Saturday Captain Jimmy Charters worked the West Cliff reefs and on up to Wlder's Ranch. "What a great day of fishing! Six anglers and limits of blacks, blues, vermillion and yellowtail rockfish," Jim Rubin enthused.

Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine is keeping his eye on the harbor salmon bite. "Salmon are still on the bite in the back of the harbor. On Saturday, the harbor salmon went on the bite near the west side jetty. There were some anglers who had their limit early using the pink Mad River Worms."

The warm tuna waters are out there, but quite a ways from the Santa Cruz Harbor. Boats from Half Moon Bay and San Francisco are traveling about 40 miles to the tuna grounds when conditions permit, and racking up some impressive scores. Tom Joseph from Fish On Sportfishing took four anglers on the Sara Bella up past the Farralones last Thursday. "We had lots and lots of jumpers, and bait jumping but they were not on the jig bite today. Our party boated 19 fish to 30 pounds."

Jay Yokomizo on the New Huck Finn headed out Sunday about 20 miles west of Fanny Shoals. With 13 anglers aboard, Yokomizo quickly put the boat on fish, coming home with 109 Albacore Tuna. One of the anglers described the action. "We caught our first fish as soon as we put the troll rods out. The troll fish came in ones and twos, and baitstop fish in ones and twos until we brought the schol up and had a four-hour bait stop. It was non-stop constant multiple hookups. A new fish came over the rail every few minutes. While Yokomizo runs albacore charter trips only, a few outfits have open boats including the New Captain Pete in Half Moon Bay, and the Salty Lady or New Salmon Queen from San Fancisco Bay.

Pictured Above: The New Huck Finn out of Emeryville shows us just how good albacore fishing can be this year. 109 tuna for 13 anglers.