"Winds can be our best friend or our worst enemy, depending on the force, direction and duration of the wind blowing through," explained Burrell. "The coast needs a steady northwest wind in order to bring the bait closer to the coast, but too much wind can keep charter and private boats at the docks due to harsh sea conditions. We need the winds to keep the water cool enough to keep the fish around and biting, but if the water gets too cold, it could make the salmon become lethargic and less aggressive to feed."

Burrell has heard several reports from boaters who have seen lots of sardines and anchovies stacking up just outside the marina. There is also a squid spawn going on outside the bay for several weeks, which is a good indication to us that there will be plenty of bait around Santa Cruz and the surrounding area.

"There are also reports coming back from anglers drifting bait for halibut and striped bass around Monterey and accidentally hooking salmon," noted Burrell. A local fisherman was trolling hoochies behind a flasher for halibut when he released a 12 pound salmon. The anglers also reported graphing a few salmon near Pajaro where there were balls of bait holding in about 80 feet of water.

"As soon as salmon opens on Saturday, we will be running the Makaira for mooching trips from Monterey to Half Moon Bay," reported Tim Zoliniak from Santa Cruz Sportfishing. "The type of rods anglers want to bring with them are 7'6" to 9' medium action rods equipped with a bait casting reel with 15 to 20 pound test line. We prefer to use sliding sinkers, or cannon ball weights, in 4, 6, or 8 ounce with a six foot leader and the required circle hooks."

Be sure to check your ocean sport fishing regulations booklet before going fishing to check on hook and other restrictions.

According to Grandpa from Shamrock Charters in Santa Cruz, there are balls of bait being graphed by anglers fishing in Monterey Bay around the Soldiers Club and Soquel Hole. "Although we are unsure about the numbers of salmon in the area, we are hearing reports of a few white seas bass being caught, along with the occasional salmon being released," noted Grandpa. "As always, we won't know how the fishing will be actually get out and do it on March 30."

"There have been several reports coming back from Gary Brooks of Reel Sport Fishing, who has found numerous schools of bait and is also seeing birds feeding while fishing for sanddabs," reported Todd Fraser from Bayside Marine in Santa Cruz. Brooks managed to release 4 salmon while bait fishing for sanddabs from 50 to 120 feet deep.

"We definitely know that the salmon are moving into the area, as we are graphing fish during our whale watching trips towards Moss Landing," forecasted Angelo Shake from Monterey Sportfishing. "Sanddab anglers have also been hooking the occasional salmon incidentally."

Shake noted that the most productive months for salmon fishing in past years have often been April and May, when the water temperatures often warm up and move the fish closer to the wharf.

"Finding bait scattered throughout the Monterey Bay has been fairly easy to do on our sand dab trips to Soldiers Club," explained Chris Arcoleo from Chris' Fishing Trips. During a sanddab fishing charter on Saturday, March 23, anglers caught and released 6 salmon weighing 10 to 12 pounds.

"The salmon are stacking up around the bait balls and the opener is looking very promising near Moss Landing," con Jim Rasler from Sams Fishing Fleet in Monterey.