Fishing for rockcod and lings continues to improve, and our local halibut hunters are happy this week. The weekend weather forecast looks perfect for ocean fishing.

Jim Rubin from Captain Jimmy Charters had a good day last Sunday. Rubin's five clients aboard the Becky Ann went home with limits of reds, blues and quality olive rockfish weighing up to six pounds each. Rubin was particularly pleased with the lingcod fishing. "We caught four big lings up to about 16 pounds," he reports. Rubin adds the humpbacks are active in the Bay right now. "The whale show was great on the way to our fishing grounds." Stagnaro's Sportfishing reports similar results on the rockfish. Fishing the south side of the bay on Wednesday, Captain Kenny Stagnaro found limits of reds, yellows and blues for the 32 anglers aboard the Velocity. Last Friday, Stagnaro opted for the Davenport area, where he found 140 black and red rockfish for the 19 anglers aboard.

Fishing near Capitola is still a good bet. Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait noticed an increase in the number of lings brought in on the rental skiffs last week. A few halibut were reported on the skiffs as well. Burrell adds that pier anglers on the wharf caught legal halibut and stripers this week.

Bayside Marine at the Santa Cruz Harbor hosted their 1st Annual 4th of July Tournament last weekend. Congratulations go to the big winner this year, Josh Kendall, who took home a new Accurate fishing reel as a reward for a 24-pound halibut. Todd Fraser at Bayside says halibut are hitting from Capitola up to Four Mile Beach, and reminds us that White Sea Bass inhabit the kelp beds right now. Fraser recommends casting FishTraps for the Sea Bass, or flylining live bait.