Only a few more days to wait. The 2025 rockfish season opens Tuesday. This first month of rockfishing will be limited to the deep waters only. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife prohibits any RCG take “shoreward of the 50 fathom (300 feet) Rockfish Conservation Area boundary line, which is a series of connected way points defined in Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart C).

So, what’s the easiest way to get out on the water to look for your next limit of rockfish? Well, if your brother-in-law doesn’t have a boat, or your neighbor hasn’t invited you as yet, just look up the charter fishing outfits around the bay. Buy a ticket, hop aboard and do what the deckhand tells you. You’re almost guaranteed success.

We have a few big charter boats operating on Monterey Bay, including Stagnaro’s Sportfishing in Santa Cruz, with two boats that can handle 30 or more anglers. In Monterey, Chris’ Fishing Trips runs two big boats as well. J & M Sport Fishing launches from the old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, and has three fishing vessels that can accommodate from 25 to 40 anglers each. An advantage of these larger charter boats is they are very stable when the seas get bouncy, and they’re able to travel long distances comfortably to find the best fishing.

A number of private charters are available as well. Taking four to six anglers out on smaller craft, these “six-pack” boats offer a more personal experience for their anglers. Many prefer the six-pack option in order to fish solely with their family and friends. It’s a bit more expensive, but very much worth it. In Santa Cruz, the leading six packs are Go Fish Santa Cruz, with Skipper JT Thomas at the helm and Rodney Armstrong’s Santa Cruz Coastal Fishing. Both provide top equipment, bait and tackle as well as decades of experience and expertise to get you on the fish and on the way to quick limits.

On May 1, the deep water areas shut down, and inshore fishing opens up out to the 20-fathom line. Many of the deepwater species such as vermilion and canaries can still be found in the shallower waters, as well as lingcod and halibut.

For shallow water fishing the skiff rentals at Santa Cruz and Capitola Wharves are a very economical option for the “do it yourselfers” who have got the experience to seek and secure these inshore species.

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