On their latest trip, J&M Sportfishing in Monterey reported 10 clients aboard the Chubasco caught 127 sanddabs plus 60 Dungeness crab on a 1/2 day twilight trip. ‘Dabs are there to be had in the hundreds. Plenty of bait in the area bodes well for the immediate future. Mackerel, anchovies, some sardines and a few herring are maintaining presence in the area. Halibut anglers are enjoying an early influx of flatties near Monterey, with the best success reported from Pacific Grove and Lover’s Point areas. The DelMonte shell beds are also holding halibut and a few were reported caught near the “Hotel” area.

Halibut take top honors near Santa Cruz as well. It’s early season for the big flatfish in Monterey Bay, but no one is complaining. Mostly males are have been moving shoreward for the past month. Anglers have reported catches this week as deep as 100 feet and shallow as 50. Best locations seem to be the SC-3 buoy near Capitola, the Mile Buoy area, including outside Steamer Lane. A few flatties were also reported caught from the wild north coast area, outside the kelp line in 70-80 feet of water. As in Monterey, the fish caught are mostly smaller males, though plenty have been logged in the 15 to 25-pound class. Tons of bait and water temps running about three degrees above normal may be the reason for this early influx.

Monterey Bay was hit or miss for surfcasting this week. The fish are congregating, you just have to be at the right place at the right time. Outgoing high tides have been working best for biters. Tons of sandcrabs are available all around the bay, though switching to grubs or other soft artificials can sometimes make the difference. Pete Lane won the Sand Crab Classic Derby last week after changing out to a six-inch GULP! bloodworm that attracted his biggest fish of the day.

If a little travel works for you, heading north or south might prove productive. Just outside the Golden Gate, Dungeness crab snaring went bonkers last week, with limits reported by many snare slingers. The Dungeness are crawling close to shore through the Devil’s Slide area, into Pacifica, along the beaches near structure in Half Moon Bay and off the wild beaches down to the San Mateo county line. Perch fishing is good in all those same areas, with barred perch at the top of the list, and redtails well represented. Vince Chiafalo from Battlestar Baits reported in from the San Luis Obispo area saying, “BIG surfperch are chewing from Oceano Dunes to Guadalupe. It’s a wide open bite. Grubs and  jerkbaits are getting hit hard. The perch are likely pushing north into Pismo for spawn.”