Monterey Bay

Shallow Water Rockfish Bite On Local Reefs

MONTEREY – Anglers boarding party boats out of Monterey are catching limits of rockfish on most trips in shallow water reefs off the Monterey County Coast, along with a few lingcod.

The 9 anglers aboard the Checkmate landed limits of rockfish (90) and 3 lingcod aboard the Checkmate on their latest venture om the ocean. The 14 anglers bagged 105 rockfish and 12 lingcod on a previous trip aboard the Checkmate.

The anglers have been fishing in less than fathoms of water with shrimp flies, bars, jigs, swimbaits and Point Wilson Darts. Blues, blacks and vermilions are making up most of the rockfish bag limits. reported Steve Semler at Chris’ Fishing Trips.

The rockfish season will continue to run through Dec. 30, 2025. Here are the depth restrictions now in place:

May 1 – Sept. 30: 20 fathoms inshore fishery

Oct 1 – Oct. 31: 50 fathoms offshore only fishery

Nov. 1 – Nov. 30: 20 fathoms inshore only fishery

Dec. 1 – Dec. 31: 50 fathoms offshore only fishery

Salmon fishing in 2025 will be available on June 7-8. July 5-6, July 31-August 3 and August 25-31 or whenever the statewide quota of 7,000 fish is filled. The June 7-8 and July 5-6 trips are already sold out.

Rockfish action is also going strong off Santa Cruz when the weather allows boats to get out. “The inshore rock fishing was good near Natural Bridges and Wilder Beach,” reported Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine in Santa. “The halibut fishing is still getting better with the warming water temperatures. The halibut are being caught near the Mile Buoy and below Capitola on live bait and lures. The wind was calm in the morning and the swell is small.”

Stagnaro’s Fishing Trips is now booking 4.5 hour nearshore rockcod trips on weekdays and 6 hour rockfish trips on Saturdays and Sundays. Their latest 4.5-hour rockfish trip yielded 44 rockfish and 9 lingcod for 14 anglers.

•    Dan Bacher