Recreational anglers around the bay are on the hunt for wintertime flatfish these days. Species available are sand dabs, Petrale and sand sole and an occasional bonus halibut.

Those hunting for Dungeness crab got a boost recently when the CDFW approved the resuming of long-soak crab pots again. Reports from private crabbers suggest things are a bit slow. This is not surprising with the commotion of double-digit series of swells we’ve received over the past four weeks.

Charter operations are ready to ferry sport anglers out for some food and fun. Chris’ Fishing Trips in Monterey counted “lots of sand dabs,” and up to 10 Petrale sole for a light load of 10 anglers last weekend on the Caroline.

Stagnaro’s Sport Fishing up in Santa Cruz had similar results. Owner Ken Stagnaro reported on Friday, “Our first sand dab trip of the season yielded about 21 ‘dabs per person!” That’s plenty for dinner for the family and enough to share with the neighbors as well!”

We have had two years in a row now without a recreational or commercial salmon season. The decision for a 2025 season will not be confirmed until March (state regulations) and April (federal regs).

A true crusader for preservation of our salmon populations in California, and protection of the fragile Sacramento River systems, Dan Bacher, had this to say on the topic, “A record high number of fall-run Chinook salmon have returned to the California’s Mokelumne River to date, while an alarmingly low number of Chinooks have come back to the Upper Sacramento River’s Coleman National Fish Hatchery on Battle Creek. A low return of adults to Battle Creek has resulted in only 5.5 million eggs being collected this fall. As a result, the hatchery management requested and received millions of salmon eggs from multiple hatcheries operated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, including the Mokelumne River, Nimbus, and Feather River hatcheries.

At this time, it is impossible to predict whether or not we’ll be able to resume fishing the salt for king salmon in our area come spring. Historically, salmon season is the biggest draw for both recreational and commercial anglers in Monterey Bay. The season, with its influx of anglers, also contributes mightily to ancillary economics in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, with restaurants, hotels, fuel sales, and a host of other retail entities that benefit from the hundreds or thousands of visitors who come along for the season.

We will have to wait and see. We may have a “regular” season, a closed season or a hybrid season with restrictions on fishing windows or size and bag limits.

Allen Bushnell also operates Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing Guide Service. Please send your reports, pictures or questions to scruzfishing@yahoo.com