Salmon season has closed in our local waters, the albacore tuna decided not to show up, and the halibut and white sea bass fishing is tough.
The bread-and-butter of the Monterey Bay at this time is rockfish and ling cod.
If I had to pick one fish that we catch in the bay to eat year-round, it would be rockfish. Rockfish is light, mild, and can be cooked many ways.
The season is set to stay open until the end of December this year, so we have many fishing days left. The legal limit is 10, and you can also keep two ling cod on top of the daily limit of rockfish.
The regulations for rockfish are referred to as “RCG complex” — this stands for rockfish, cabezon, and greenling, as these fish have additional regulations.
Cabezon must be 15 inches and only three may be part of the 10 fish limit; greenling must be 12 inches, and bocaccio limit is three fish out of the 10 retained.
Our boundary is defined as the Central Management Area and is bordered by Pigeon Point to the north and, on the southern end, Point Conception.
The depth must be less than 40 fathoms (240 feet of water) and only two hooks may be used.
With the onslaught of large winter swells starting already, the rockfish may be in deeper water.
The ideal conditions for local rockfish are calm, clear, warm waters. If there is a presence of bait fish, like squid, in the area, that can be a bonus and draw more fish to the reef. Local spots continue to produce such as, South Rock and Natural Bridges.
As you head up the coast, Four-Mile and Davenport will produce a larger grade with the possibility of more ling cod in the mix.
The gem of the coast is New Year’s Island (Ano Nuevo). Fishing in this area can be excellent with a large grade of cod, blue and black rockfish that will charge the boat.
At times, the blue and black rockfish school up and get frisky — they will come right to the surface in a frenzy, and you can actually see them attack the baits.
Ling cod here favor the sharp ledges that New Year’s has. With each drift across a ledge, you have a chance at a snag or a nice ling.
As swells grow, fish move to deeper water. If it’s calm, head back inshore to safe spots outside the kelp beds to fish rockfish.
I like to use shrimp flies with 6-ounce weights, metal jigs, and a three-way rig to fish whole baits for ling cod.
On the fundraising frontier, I am happy to announce the 37th Annual Albacore Dinner at the Castroville Recreation Center.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8,and is a primary fundraising event for Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project.
The food is delicious, the prizes are fantastic, and it’s a whole lot of fun for the entire family.
I hope to see you fishing soon.
– 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 [email protected]. He also hosts a fishing show on radio station KSCO (1080) from 8:06 to 9 p.m. Thursdays April through the end of August.
