Salmon and halibut bust wide open off Santa Cruz

Just wanted to drop a quick Santa Cruz report in between trips.
Lots of big salmon being caught throughout the Monterey Bay from 90 ft of water all the way out to 300. Fish ranging in size from 15-25 lbs, and smacking the small flasher/apex rig.  It was off the hook.  Got around 6 shakers before finally catching my limit, then went inside to catch a 19 lb halibut off Lighthouse pt. Lots of big flatiies throughout the bay area, from Davenport down through La Selva and the Pajarro Pipeline. Occasional seabass being reported from 4 mile down through La Selva beach. Squid spawn in 30-60 ft out in front of the Santa Cruz harbor and down off Capitola. A few seabass have been caught and a buddy of mine saw one while free diving off Cowells.
In this area, halibut tend to be ambush feeders, hangin out off to the sides of the rocks waiting to nail bait baitfish as they collects on top. Try the shallows on the out and inside of the kelp beds.  A favorite spot of mine is the kelp in between Cowells and the lighthouse. It is interspersed with a lot  of good sand pockets. Same with the kelp and sand beds out in front of the white house on the ocean side of West Cliff, then down off cow pie kelp in front of Natural Bridges. Ed from the kelp stalkers shot a 26 and 17 lber in 10 ft of water off Swift St.  
Summertime here and its goin off.
Good luck
 Brendan    

Brendan -

Were you out there today?

bluekayak

Sweet.

Thanks for the report.

MolBasser

You guys are absolutely killing me.  Is anyone going to fish Santa Cruz Sat or Sun?
Dave

We are beotch!