Half Moon Bay Fishing Report and Whale Watching

Very little news on the salmon front this past week. There have been just a few private boats out trying and most are seeing goose eggs for their efforts. We should still see a couple of passing schools off HMB but it takes anglers on the water to find em.
Rockfishing remains good but everyone is working for their limits. Peggy Beckett at Huck Finn Sport Fishing said the New Gravy was out on Wednesday 7-14 with 17 anglers for 120 rockfish and a ling cod fishing off of the Ritz Carleton Hotel in 30 to 90 feet of water. They will be taking coastal rockfishing trips throughout the weekend. The weather looks to be good at least in the nearshore areas as the fog has pushed back into the coast.

Out of the Huck Finn Sport Center the New Gravy will be running salmon and rockfish trips and Dennis Baxter on the New Captain Pete has returned to Pillar Point for the salmon season. The Huck Finn Center will have room daily for both rockfish and salmon trips on their five independently run boats. Readers can make reservations or get updated fishing reports by calling 650 726-7133 or click on the box to the left.

It's that time of year that we stow the keyboard and get serious about fishing. We are packing up the kids, extended family and friends and headed north to our vacation home on the Kenai peninsula for the next two weeks. This is our annual family trip that we look forward to all year in a place where they still value salmon and manage their fisheries for sustainability. (Cal fisheries managers could learn a lot by visiting) We will be targeting sockeye and kings in the local rivers, chasing halibut and lings in the salt, clamming along the local beaches and not typing reports (we have a no computer rule when in Alaska). We still have one week available in the cabin this season, August 22-29th and we are taking bookings for 2011.
Reports and updates will resume here on July 31st. In the time being please contact our sponsors or visit their websites for current reports, information and bookings. Many of them do have updated fishing reports.
Until then... good fishing!
Mike Aughney

Peggy Beckett at Huck Finn Sport Fishing said rockfishing remains the top story in the area with party and private boats enjoying the gorgeous weather conditions working the local reefs as far south as Pigeon Point this past weekend. On Sunday 7-11 Dennis on New Captain Pete put in ¾ limits of a mixed grade of rockfish on today to go with corresponding pairs of lings and cabezon working various rocks from Pescadero to the Lighthouse. Most of the boats have been focusing in the shallow to deep waters near Pescadero for limits with Captain Kelly on the New Gravy finding 21 limits or rockfish, 2 cabezon, and 3 lings to 8-pounds off of Pescadero on Saturday, and the Connie O putting in 4 limits and an 8-pound ling for a small charter in the same area off Pescadero. The weather was flat and foggy and looks to remain so a few more days.

Peggy Beckett at Huck Finn Sport Fishing said the ocean was flat calm and beautiful on Thursday 7-8, but there was a bit of southerly yesterday when Captain Kelly Sponsellar on the New Gravy put in 5 limits of a mixed grade of rockfish in addition to a solitary ling. The fish weren’t really willing to bite, and she had to work a number of spots in order to put together limits. They were only able to pull 3 or 4 off of each rock before having to move on. The New Gravy has room on a rockfish trip tomorrow, but all the boats are full on Saturday with the next openings on the Ankeny Street, New Gravy and New Captain Pete on Sunday for rockfish. Peggy had heard the reports of the albacore counts off of the Davidson Seamount, and the Connie O out of her shop will be running for the tuna once they get just a little bit closer. This boat is available on Wednesdays or on weekends. There should be a few skiffs running out of the harbor over the weekend. In fact, a private boater scouted the Guide and Pioneer Canyon yesterday, but he found no longfins in the area but there are good reports 95 miles out of Santa Cruz.
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TUNA, TUNA, TUNA
Tom on the FishON was chasing rockfish off Santa Cruz on Wednesday 7-7 and received some great reports from private boats well offshore. Tom said there were four private boats working temps breaks 90 miles out or at 36.30 and 123.37. Talking with one boat (with the electronics to be heard from that far out) Tom said the four boats all had around 30 fish each and at least one bluefin. Tom said they were all trolling and it sounded like a mix grade of fish. Once the boats get in range Tom said he would pass along any additional info. 90 miles is a bit too far for the majority of anglers but if they come inside of 60 and the weather holds both Tom and Brad with Ultimate Charters plan of going. There have also been some huge counts reported off the southern Oregon coast and it looks like the longfins have arrived

Reminder: Salmon Fishing is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the remainder of the season, and the size limit for salmon is 24-inches.
New regulations for the MLPAs are now in effect from Pt Arena to Pigeon Point. Anglers need to know which areas are affected and the regulations and the boundaries of the different zones. Please use this link and be sure to print a map for these areas to carry with you.

Upcoming Events:
USAFishing supports the many fishery and wildlife organizations that benefit anglers and hunters throughout Northern California. Does your organization have an upcoming event? Contact us at fishsite@aol.com and we will gladly post your group's information on our reports pages.

California Waterfowl 2010 Dinners and Youth Events Calendar

Party Boat Contacts:
The Huck Finn Sportfishing Center is taking reservations for rockfish and ling trips 650 726-7133

New Captain Pete Sportfishing with captain Dennis Baxter is now taking reservations for charters (650) 726-6224

Great Links:
Fishermen, check out DF&Gs easy-to-use California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations Map. Simply click the marine location where you plan to fish, and you will access a list of Sport Fishing Regulations for that area.

Reports resume in July of 2009 or when the longfins return.