Santa Cruz Fishing Report

Report Updated Aug. 5, 2010

TIME TO GO FISHING IN SANTA CRUZ!!!

From our man on the scene, Allen Bushnell (listen for him with Capt. Mike Baxter on the Let’s Go Fishing Radio Show every Thursday from 7-8 PM on AM 1080 and every Friday at 6:45am):

If you have ever had any desire whatsoever to go saltwater fishing in the Monterey Bay, now is a very good time to do so. Fishing has been wide open with most of our regular inshore species are on the bite at this time.

Joe and Shane Baxter with some tasty fillets!

Rockfish scores are improving near Capitola, and the West Cliff area. Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait reports most rental skiffs are returning to the Capitola Wharf with nice stringers of brown, grass and gopher rockfish well as the occasional lingcod. A few boats are getting limits of fish, and no one is getting skunked. The skiffs are working the usual areas around the nearby kelp beds and reefs directly offshore from Capitola Wharf. Soquel Point and the Mile buoy are both producing rockies for the anglers making their way to those locations, according to Burrell.

As summer progresses, we usually see an influx of rockfish along West Cliff and at the South Rock area. This year is no exception. Though it is a bit early, the rockfishing has dramatically improved near the Mile Buoy, on South Rock near Lighthouse Point and along the stretch of reefs that parallel West Cliff Drive. Along West Cliff, fish can be found in 60-140 feet of water, though fishing shallow near the kelp can produce as well. Jim Rubin from Captain Jimmy Charters fished locally this week. “We did fantastic on Thursday,” Rubin said. “We pretty much stayed near Natural Bridges in 130 feet of water, and came home with full limits, including 14 Vermillion rockfish up to six pounds each.” Rubin’s secret is no secret at all really. He has been using the classic white shrimp fly jigs tipped with squid for success. “I talked to Kenny Stagnaro, and we’ve been using these jigs for over 30 years, they are just so consistent, especially at this time of year.”

Halibut scores are on the upswing also, pretty much everywhere. Capitola, Soquel Point, the Mile Buoy, West Cliff, Natural Bridges and the other flat sandy areas off the North coast towards Davenport are all producing fine catches of halibut. Many boats are returning to port with limits of the flatfish for their efforts. Live sardines are probably the best bait to use for the flatties, though frozen anchovies, sardines and squid are working very well lately. If you are lucky enough to jig up fresh live squid and are in the right spot, you are nearly guaranteed to catch a halibut. Most of the flatties range fro 6-15 pounds lately, though a few large ones were weighed in the 25-30-pound range. 40-70 feet of water seems to be the most productive depth for fishing halibut lately.

Salmon fishing has been spotty, with a few fish still being caught near the Soquel Hole. Albacore fishing, which looked so promising last week, fizzled due to high winds offshore that kept most boats from the warm water fishing grounds.

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Local Radio Report

Let’s Go Fishing Radio Show
Capt. Mike Baxter is a local legend in these parts (our words, not his) and he and trusty co-host Allen Bushnell break down all the local bites for ya…as well as plenty of inland stuff from steelies to kokanee…every Thursday from 7-8 PM on AM 1080. Check it out…these guys are dialed in!

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About Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is best known for its surf, but it’s also got a lot of cool saltwater fishing opportunities — from albacore and the occasional bluefin tuna on the outside to salmon and rockfish (when in season) to inshore stuff like halibut and white seabass. And let’s not forget the surf fishing…you can catch summer stripers off the sand, along with year-round surf perch and even the occasional halibut.

Light Tackle Surf Perch Fishing
Shallow Water Rockfishing