Weather and sea conditions have not been ideal, but Monterey Bay anglers continue to enjoy fair to decent fishing in most locations around the Bay. The best 'sure thing' fishing has been rockfish and lingcod. This year's RCG (rockfish cabezon and greenling) season opened earlier than usual, in April rather than May. Water temperatures are lower than normal for this time of year on the shallower reefs and the rockfish bite is steady, but slower than most would prefer. Consistent large groundswell action also has a tendency to keep the fish hunkered down, making hookups that much more difficult. Despite those factors, most boats are hooking enough at least for dinner, with some boats bringing in half-limits and others full limits for a morning excursion. Randy's Sportfishing in Monterey boasted full limits on their weekend trips. Skipper Brian Cutting took the Chubasco off Pt. Joe and towards Carmel Bay to find the fish, mostly schoolie-type blue and yellowtail rockfish, with a few vermilion in the mix. Chris' Sportfishing also recorded limits of rockfish every day since the weekend, with 17 lingcod on Monday's trip as well.

On the Santa Cruz side of the Bay, the story is much the same but with fewer of the schoolie rockfish and more of the larger bottom fish. Stagnaro's Velocity worked local reefs on the Saturday twilight trip and returned with better than half-limits for 30 anglers aboard. Most of those fish caught were big bolina, with a smattering of gopher rockfish, vermillion and lingcod.

Salmon fishing is pretty much the same all over. There are fish in the Bay, but finding them and then getting them to bite is a challenge. WE have not seen a significant gathering of salmon as yet this season. Mainly due to the scarcity of large bait balls. Soldier's Club below Moss Landing was producing fairly well early in the week. As that bite died out, more fish were caught close to the Soquel Hole. Water temps are cool on the inside, so it's well worth it to look for baitballs or troll in shallower water, like the flats inside of Pajaro and Soquel holes. Some private boats have done just this, and found limits of fish this week.

Finally, for some weekend fun with the kids, it's a great time to hit the Capitola Wharf with your spinning rods. Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait reports fast action on big sardines and speedy mackerel off the wharf. The Cement Ship in Aptos is another good spot to have some fishing fun, as well as the Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey, which has lots of sardines and bigger macks providing lots of action for the pier anglers.

Bushnell also operates Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing Guide Service. Please send your reports, pictures or questions to scruzfishing@yahoo.com