Crab season is starting soon, rockfish are still on the bite and the 35th annual Albacore Feed is Nov. 10. The days may be getting shorter, but there are tons of fun fishing options to be had.
Saturday, Nov. 3, starts the ocean Dungeness crab season, and anglers are excited. If the season is anything like the past few, it should be great.
Most people expect it to be a bit slower than the past few years, but the ocean should yield plenty of crabs for sport anglers.
The limit on private boats will remain the same, 10 per angler, and they must be 5.75 inches across the shell.
Most anglers find early-season crabs in Monterey Bay in 180 to 280 feet of water. While crabbing in Half Moon Bay, anglers catch early-season crabs in shallow water from 60 to 160 feet deep. Traps or crab pots should be well rigged and legal, while using quality bait to draw crabs in.
The season for sport anglers will remain open until June 30.
“We have been getting limits of nice black rockfish and a dozen lingcod on most recent trips,” reported Ken Stagnaro aboard the Velocity out of Stagnaro Charters.
Stagnaro added that the groups he had taken out seemed smaller this fall, and there has was plenty of room on deck. He may not be doing “crab combo” trips this fall.
Jim Rubin, aboard the Becky Ann, will be running crab combo trips that include rockfish fishing until the end of December. After rockfish season closes, Jim will do combo trips for crabs and sand dabs or giant squid.
Get the crab cookers ready and invite some friends or family over for fresh crabs.
Nov. 10 marks the 35th annual Albacore Dinner hosted by Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project. This is a fun family event with tons of prizes and excellent food.
The albacore is donated by local fishermen and is prepared with a delicious, rich garlic sauce.
Ticket are $17, and the event is from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Castroville Recreation Center, 11621 Crane St., in Castroville. I have tickets, or they can be purchased at the door.
I hope you have time to enjoy some fun fall fishing adventures.
– Mike Baxter has fished in the Monterey Bay Area since he was a boy and has been a licensed charter boat captain for more than 20 years. Contact him at
ca************@ya***.com
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