Has anyone heard anything about them yet? Last year the first reports I have logged are from the 3rd and 4th week of May and were saying the Monterey Marina area had a few. Nico, when was your first successful trip last year? Was it New Brighton or somewhere else?

Tight lines,
Wade

Tight lines,
Wade

My first trip last year was June 28 at New Brighton. The bite was in full swing by that time.

Nico

Wade:

Don't bother for them yet out of New Brighton. Really sketchy bite. I fished out of the tandem 'yak last saturday during some really fishy looking weather. Calm seas (1-3' swell x 12 sec) up to 3/4 mile from shore. Got pretty near the 1 mile buoy, where there were tons of boats and skiffs. Nothing doing for many people. Surprisingly the Capitola Reef was pretty barren as well. Only managed to pick up one dink rock cod on a threaded 'chovie. Tried some fishtraps and scampis. There are a few people meeting up next wednesday it seems to try santa cruz if anyone is interested.

I'm just waiting for some better action. I'll be heading to Kern River for some trout later next week. Gotta get some Sierra action before my summer internship . . .

I think was about 3 - 4 weeks ago now but I did really well in and near the kelp beds near capitola for the flatties. I am hearing that a couple are being caught while fishing for lings up above natural bridges. I am very eager to get back in to the bite as soon as I can.

-Brian

...was pretty good and pretty bad to me Sun AM. At 730 I kicked to the outside edge of the kelp throwing swimbaits as I went. As soon as I got to the outside edge and started casting into the wind I got a 23" Lingcod (released), 5 casts later I got a 25" lingcod (released), and 2 cast after that I got a 18" bluecod (kept).
After that the wind came up and I couldn't seem to hold a position to fish, the level wind on my Abu 6500 died, and I didn't get any more fish for a while.
While I'm working on the level wind I feel the tiniest tug on the line, set the hook and hand-line up a 10" squid. I'm thinking "Live Squid I'll get something big on that" so I put him on my heavy rod(30#) and send him to the bottom. I towed him around for over an hour while I was trying to fix the level wind for ZZZZip! He final wrapped me up and do you know how hard it is to break 30# in a float tube?!!!
After that I put the baitcasters back in the car and grabbed my 10# spinning rod. With the spinning rod and a 4" Blu/silver/clear flake FT on a 1/2ov head I got 5 more cod (yellows and a Gopher). Then I started to bring up another and when it was still 6' down this 3'+ Ling comes up, grabs it and heads right back down. My rod snapped before I even thought of reacting, then I took 2 cranks on the reel and the line popped. WOW!!!!!

Tight lines,
Wade

Tight lines,
Wade

Good stuff, Wade. What beach? I'm guessing Del Monte offramp from HWY? And did you ever get in on the sharks for your OK relatives?

It was right there at the breakwater and N. to the Aquarium, where all the scuba classes are held. When the divers were within 100' I didn't get bit, otherwise it was good, especially on the outside edge of the kelp.

Tight lines,
Wade

Tight lines,
Wade