Any advice on fishing in Monterey?

[Aaron&Julie]

We’re planning on being up in Monterey this Wednesday thru Friday and would like to try a ½ day sportfishing trip ($60 range) so we can bring home some good eats for the freezer.
As far as we can see our choices seem to be either Randy’s or Chris’s landing in Monterey, or Tom’s at Moss Landing. All seem to be fishing for rockcod, although daily internet fishing reports seem to be hard to come by. If the salmon start hitting that would be great.
Does anyone have any good advice or insight into current fishing conditions? If fishing for cod, how much lead, how heavy of line? If salmon, what gear is best? Are there any other landings in the area that fish ½ day open party boat?
Thanks in advance.

[daniel-neill]

I know there are a few posters from around the San Francisco and Morro Bay area. I think anything north of LA is North....

[Long]

Try calling the landing, it's their job to know the bite. Salmon is a pick bite from Monterey and Moss, but it has to break open some day. Rockfish out of Monterey should be good if the weather lets you get around the corner and down a bit.

For rockfish gear, you won't be fishing any deeper than 240', so you shouldn't need a lot of weight if you are using spectra. For gear, I prefer plastics and long jigs on heavy baitcasting gear.

Let me know if you need more info.

[M_Man]

There's plenty of fishing reports on Coastside Fishing Club | It's been pretty windy this week, so not alot of fishermen out.

Thursdays on SF Gate: San Francisco Chronicle is Brian Hoffman's Fishing Report on the Outdoor Page.
Bayside Marine, Santa Cruz, California updates their fishing report daily, they're at the Santa Cruz Harbor. I think the Santa Cruz Paper has a fishing report too.

In Santa Cruz (the North end of Monterey Bay ~45miles up HWY 1) they're catching some salmon. Stagnaro's is the Landing's name- if memory serves.

Further North ~100miles you'll find Half Moon Bay/Pillar Point/Princeton There's sevreral Charters available HuliCat did a Salmon/Dungeness Crab Combo today for limits. Huli Cat. Sport Fishing, Charter Boat, Salmon Fishing, Rock FIshing, and Albacore Fishing

Also in HMB is Welcome to Huck Finn Sportfishing they've got Party Boats and Six packs.

[Marcus]

The bite doesn't seem all that great out of Monterey right now. Head up to halfmoon bay and get on the Queen of Hearts, great boat. It's a really nice drive also. If you are going to fish Monterey I would suggest Chris' Sportfishing. That's the only place I would go when I lived in Norcal.

For gear bring a 15 set up for mooching and rockfish. Bring a 20-30lb set up for use with the cannonballs. If you are going to be doing rockfish then I would suggest something with all spectra.

You can also go to F.S.F and get the reports from those guys. Good website.

[vagabundo]

testing avatar (fat kid loves cake)
take 1

[Marcus]

Originally Posted by vagabundo

testing avatar (fat kid loves cake)
take 1

Why are you testing it here? There is a forum for testing avatars.

[la vida]

Bring A fricking jacket its cold up there!!!!!!!!

[J Graham]

Got some good looks at the Bluefin at the aquarium.
I would start there. Looked like squid worked well.

[Aaron&Julie]

Thanks, everyone for your helpful advice.
The aquarium is definitely on the agenda.

[WIDEOPENBITE]

If you are going to eat on Fisherman's Wharf, I recommend the cioppino at Abolonetti's.

Word of advice, don't let that little monkey come near Julie. He is a skirt lifting little perv. You'll understand when you get there. BTW, what are those little monkeys with the Shriner's hat and the vest called, anyway?

[Tree Doc]

Quit going to the damned aquarium. Every frikin' dime you spend there is essentially going to the fight to keep you from fishing!

The Packard Foundation just bought the Ocean up here on the Central Coast and they're taking more of Nor Cal next. You So Cal folks are right in line!