The Fish Sniffer

(Moss Landing) Boats out of Monterey, Moss Landing and Santa Cruz have focused on rockfish and Humboldt squid lately. The charter boats haven’t headed out for albacore in the past two weeks, due to rough weather and/or lack of interest.

“The albacore are still here,” said Carol Jones of Kahuna Sportfishing. “We didn’t get enough interest for our last two scheduled albacore trips. The weather will be coming up starting Thursday afternoon, so I will post for the possibility for a day next week when I see a break in the weather. We still have good water here so we are hoping to get out soon.”

The Kahuna reported a good day of rockfishing, returning from Point Sur with 14 limits of rockfish on its latest angling adventure.

Chris Arcoleo of Chris’ Fishing Trips in Monterey reported 28 limits of rockfish and 7 lingcod on the Star of Monterey and half limits of rockfish, 6 lings and 35 Humboldt squid for 18 anglers on the Caroline on Sunday, October 28.

On Saturday, the Checkmate checked in with 15 limits and 20 lings and the Star of Monterey had 34 rockfish limits and 6 lingcod.

Arcoleo said anglers are hooking large numbers of Humboldt squid in the 5 to 6 pound squid. “A load   Humboldt squid washed up on the beach at Lover’s Point and off Cannery Row, probably after chasing bait onto shore,” said Arcoleo.

“The white seabass fishing continues to be good at Pajaro in 80-110 feet of water,” reported Todd Fraser of Bayside Marine in Santa Cruz. “The anglers are having luck drifting squid at different depths. The albacore were on the bite at 36'10/122'10 and 36'07/122'11,  but the weather was bumpy.”

Fraser said rockfish and lingcod continue to bite on the local reefs, while  halibut are still being caught up the coast and down near Pajaro.