H. Holguin toppped the week's catches aboard the Admiral with a 38 pound longfin. Calvin Walker of Fresno won the jackpot aboard the Princess by capturing a 37 pound albacore.

The week's 603 daily rockcod passengers landed 214 lingcod, 1,229 red rockcod, 1,139 rockcod, 2,496 assorted rockfish, 1 sheephead, 2 cabezon and 4 whitefish. Ernie Glynn of Santa Maria caught the week's largest lingcod, a 20 pounder, on the Fiesta. Wendy Miller of Atascadero captured the jackpot aboard the Pathfinder with an 18 pound sheephead.

Monterey
The albacore tuna bite out of Monterey busted loose over the August 23-24 weekend.

"The 7 anglers aboard the Chubasco on Friday, August 22 landed 65 albacore," said Chrissie Chonacki of Randy's Fishing Trips. "On Sunday, the 16 anglers aboard the boat landed 65 albacore. The fish averaged 20 to 30 pounds." Rockfish action is also holding solid. "Our trips on the Chubasco and Sur Randy on Saturday produced limits of shallow water rockfish," she said.

"The tuna fishing is absolutely fantastic right now," confirmed Chris' Arcoleo of Chris' Fishing Trips. "Our boats fished 20 miles out through the week and each trip produced 8 to 9 fish a rod, with fish averaging 15 to 20 pounds. The fish hit both live bait and trolled lures."

Rockfishing has also been very consistent targeting the shallow water near Point Sur. "We're catching mixed limits of blue and yellowtail rockfish, along with 15 to 20 lingcod per trip," said Arcoleo. "The fish are hitting bars and shrimp flies."

"My three clients fished 38 to 40 miles out from Santa Cruz, just southeast of the Monterey Weather Buoy, and hammered the tuna all day," reported Captain Darrell Erickson of Seaduction Sportfishing. "We lost one monster bluefin that hit a trolled 9" mackerel on the outrigger, but we managed to boat 43 tuna in the 25 pound range while trolling various lures."

According to Erickson, the fish hit Cedar Plugs, feathers and Zucchini Clones. "I'm setting up a trip with some friends so we can target the bluefin and hopefully put a few in the box," added Erickson.

Captain Norm Chapin of Hook'Em Up Sportfishing had three days of solid albacore fishing between 16 and 24 miles out, landing 10 to 20 fish for two anglers each trip. "The fish were hungry and hit anything we threw at them," said Chapin. "Root beer brown plugs, Mexican Flags, and black and purple plugs all produced fish."

The best day Chapin had was with "two fishing machines" who filled in for a cancellation. "We only had one single hook-up that day," he explained. "Everything else was a double, triple, or four at a time. We even had five on the line and got all of the fish on board."

Santa Cruz
The albacore fishing is wide-open off the Santa Cruz coast, according to Mike Baxter, captain of the Wild Wave out of Shamrock Charters.

"I only say that when it is full speed fishing, as fast as you can catch them and as many as you care to keep," said Baxter. "Our charter ended up with 182 albacore to 35 pounds on Friday and 173 albacore to 42 pounds on Saturday. On Sunday, we came back with 178 albacore for 24 passengers." Both days they fished 20 miles out and had a 20 pound average. "It is the best albacore fishing I have ever seen in this area," said Baxter.

On Monday, private boaters were finding excellent albacore action as close as 12 miles from shore. Anglers are fooling the tuna with live bait, jigs and trolled tuna lures.

The Sea Stag III has also been experiencing great albacore fishing. "On August 22, our 12 fisherman caught 71 albacore ranging in size from 5 to 30 pounds on the Sea Stag III,"said Ken Stagnaro of Sea Stag Sportfishing. "Fifty percent of the tuna were caught on live bait. We fished 25 miles south west of Santa Cruz and enjoyed great weather."

The Sea Stag III has caught limits of assorted rockfish and some nice-sized lingcod this past week, added Stagnaro.

Joe Stoops of Chartle Sportfishing confirmed the sizzling albacore action. "We experienced another excellent day on the tuna grounds on August 23," he stated. "Despite having to jig up our live bait, we still hit the tuna within an hour of port. Our 4 anglers boated 23 albacore to 35 pounds on an equal mix of bait and troll fish. The winds picked up, but the fishing was still awesome."

Though most anglers are concentrating on the hot tuna fishing, halibut fishing is also going strong inside Monterey Bay. Joshu Groswirth landed a 27 pound halibut while drifting a dead anchovy off Capitola on August 23, according to Anna Christian at Capitola Boat & Bait.

On August 24, Sean O'Malley nailed two halibut going 30 and 25 pounds fishing whole squid inside the yellow buoy. Dwight and Chuck Lynn teamed up to catch two halibut weighing 12.8 and 8 pounds on whole squid the same day.

"We haven't heard of any white seabass caught since a week ago when an angler nailed a 12 pounder," added Christian. "We're really hoping to see them show again."

Half Moon Bay
Shallow water, light tackle trips along the San Mateo Coast continue to pay off with limits or near-limits of assorted rockcod, along with good numbers of lingcod.

"Most of our trips are producing 3/4 limits to full limits of rockfish and about one fish around on lingcod," said Peggy Beckett at Huck Finn Sportfishing. On Sunday, August 24, the Ankeney Street checked in with 3/4 limit of rockfish and 4 lingcod to 22 pounds taken at Montero by 13 passengers. The New Captain Pete returned with 24 limits of rockcod and 18 lings to 15 pounds, while the Queen of Hearts had 7 rockcod per rod, 17 lingcod and 3 cabezon for 13 anglers.

The New Mary S II fished 22 miles out from the docks to target albacore tuna averaging 20 pounds. The four anglers boated 24 tuna to 30 pounds and picked up 25 assorted rockfish on their way back in.

Captain William Smith of Riptide Sportfishing has experienced similar action targeting rockfish. "Were taking near-limits to limits of rockcod and a handful of lings and cabezon," he said.

"Salmon fishing has been slow, but we're still averaging one fish per rod while fishing along the edge of the bar near the Channel Buoy," noted Smith. "Also, our tuna scores got a jump start this week after the wind started to die off. Most boats that got out caught 20 fish each, with an average of 20 pounds."

San Francisco
Halibut fishing has scarcely missed a beat this summer, with anglers reporting steady action both inside and outside of the Golden Gate.

A trip by Captain Erik Anfinson aboard the Bass Tub on August 23, a charter by Chuck Powell of Antioch, yielded 20 halibut for 21 anglers. "We fished both tides on the north bar of the Golden Gate," said Anfinson. "The halibut ranged from 5 to 20 pounds."

Chris Reilly of Redwood City landed three halibut, his limit, weighing 8 to 18 pounds. Nial Brash bagged two quality halibut, while Chuck Powell landed a keeper halibut.

Although they released several shaker halibut, the anglers didn't hook any striped bass or rockfish. "We concentrated on halibut the whole day and had lots of action," noted Anfinson.

On Anfinson's previous trip, the 12 anglers aboard the Bass Tub landed 12 halibut averaging 12 pounds each while drifting live anchovies off Baker's Beach. "We also landed a smattering of rockfish and three lingcod weighing 8 to 10 pounds," Anfinson added.

Emeryville
Anglers fishing out of Emeryville Sportfishing found excellent action on a variety of halibut, rockfish and lingcod while drifting live bait along the coast this week. Albacore are also on tap for those willing to make the long run offshore.

"We had fantastic fishing on big halibut this week up to 37 pounds," reported Rob Taylor of Emeryville Sportfishing. "Rockfish trips along the coast are coming in with full limits of rockfish and good numbers of lingcod up to 32 pounds."

On Sunday, August 24, the Captain Hook made a run up the Marin coast and brought in 232 rockfish and 58 lingcod to 32 pounds for 29 anglers. The New Huck Finn targeted a combination of halibut and rockfish with a total count of 27 halibut to 16 pounds, 90 rockfish and 4 lingcod for 34 anglers. The New Seeker reported catching 25 halibut to 28 pounds for 20 anglers. The New Salmon Queen made a run for king salmon and only managed a 12 pound salmon and 3 halibut. The Rapid Transit checked in with 14 halibut, 76 rockfish and 3 lingcod for 22 anglers. The Dandy had the top halibut scores of the day with an impressive 18 halibut (full limits) to 22 pounds for 6 anglers.

The C-Gull II ran the only albacore trip of the day and brought in a respectable score of 34 albacore to 30 pounds for 6 anglers. They found most of their action on live bait and Tuna Clones 28 miles south west of the Farallons.

Berkeley
Live bait trips out of Berkeley Marina continue to find excellent action on rockfish and lingcod. Salmon scores averaged 1 to 2 fish per rod early in the week, but dropped off significantly over the weekend.

"The salmon bite was up and down this week, but we still brought in a bunch of quality fish up to 40 pounds," reported Dennis Deaver of the Berkeley Marina Sports Center. "Our Farallon rockfish trips are producing full limits of rockfish and lingcod just about every time they can make it out. We also plan on running albacore trips every day this week weather permitting."

On Sunday, August 24, the New Golden Eye ran to the Farallon Islands and bagged 390 rockfish, 82 lingcod (full limits) to 30 pounds and 8 halibut for 41 anglers. The Drifter concentrated on halibut along the Marin coast and nailed 29 fish to 37 pounds for 18 people. The Hali also fished along the Marin coast and bagged 1/2 limits of rockfish, 17 lingcod to 22 pounds and 31 halibut to 28 pounds for 33 anglers.

Salmon boats found it tough going on Sunday. The New El Dorado III landed 5 king salmon to 24 pounds and 4 halibut for 27 anglers. The New Easy Rider brought in 6 salmon to 44 pounds for 25 anglers. The El Dorado brought in 12 salmon to 21 pounds for 22 people.

San Rafael
The salmon fishing in San Francisco Bay off California City has "greatly improved," according to Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Live Bait and Tackle.

"Anglers caught a bunch of salmon in the 20 to 30 pound range over the weekend, with the largest in the mid-thirties," said Fraser. "Some anglers reported catching limits. Trollers are using bait at 40 to 60 feet deep; mooching doesn't seem to work well here."

Halibut fishing is also picking up inside San Francisco Bay at Angel Island and Paradise Cay. Anglers are averaging 1 fish per rod, but the quality of the fish is exceptional, with fish in the 20 to 30 pound class common.

"The striped bass fishing has been slow for the past month," added Fraser. "However, we're finally seeing some good striper trolling off the San Quentin flats. The fish range from 14 to 24 inches; about half of the bass are keepers. Anglers are fooling the fish with wormtail jigs."

Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay anglers are enjoying tremendous action on a variety of rockfish and quality lingcod to 25 pounds at press time.

"What can I say about the rockfish and lingcod bite we've got going up here? It's just been phenomenal," exclaimed Rick Powers from Bodega Bay Sportfishing. "We took early limits of rockfish for our 24 passengers this morning and now we're gearing up with hex bars for the lingcod. We've been on our first lingcod spot for about five minutes now and already have 6 big lings in the boat."

According to Powers, the New Sea Angler managed full limits of rockfish and lingcod to 22 pounds for 12 anglers on Friday, August 22. The following day, they scored full limits of rockfish again along with 34 lingcod to 20 pounds for 30 anglers. "We're catching our fish in 60 to 100 feet of water between Salt Point and Fort Ross," he added.

"Just about every trip now is producing full limits of rockfish and lingcod to 25 pounds," confirmed Mike Harbarth of Aggressor Adventures. "Salmon action is still pretty slow around here, but I did get a good albacore report from a buddy who was fishing just outside Cordell in the Bodega Canyon 25 to 30 miles out."

Harbarth has also been fishing the Fort Ross area. "We're using two white flies above a 4 to 8 ounce torpedo sinker," he explained. "The lingcod are averaging 10 to 15 pounds and we're getting 20 pound class fish on most trips."

Fort Bragg
Albacore action continues off the coast of Fort Bragg, but anglers are now running a bit farther to get to the fish. Closer to home, it's been near limits to limits on the shallow water rockfish trips.

"Conditions were ideal for albacore on Saturday and everyone did very well," reported Rick Thornton of Anchor Charters. "Today, the wind is beginning to blow, but we've got 12 nice fish in the boat, all between 20 and 30 pounds." According to Thornton, albacore schools have been spotted as close as twelve miles offshore, but the majority of the fish are closer to 20 miles out.

"The warm water temperatures are holding and we'll be targeting albacore as long as the ocean cooperates," he explained. "We're seeing an excellent grade of fish this week. Most are in the 20 to 30 pound class. We're catching all of our fish on Tuna Clones."

Rockfish trips out of Fort Bragg have also been very productive. "Just about every trip has brought in full limits of rockfish, mostly blacks, blues and a few vermilion and china cod," said Thornton. "Lingcod action has been hit and miss for the past two weeks. One day we'll bring in a nice load of lings to 15 or 20 pounds, then the next day, we'll only catch two or three."

"Our rockfish trips are producing 3/4 to limits of rockfish and we're averaging about 6 quality lingcod most days," reported Randy Thornton of Telstar Charters. "We're also running a few salmon trips and the bite has been fair."

On Saturday, August 23, the Telstar managed 4 salmon on their morning trip and 2 salmon in the afternoon. During the week, they concentrated mainly on rockfish either just north of Fort Bragg or to the south off Mendocino. "The rockfish are a nice mix of blues, blacks, chinas, gophers and reds," said Thornton.