The 2025 rockfish season opener can only be described as “anti-climactic.” Weather and sea conditions effectively kept all the boats inside at the docks on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Chris’ Sportfishing in Monterey sent out both the Caroline and Check Mate on Thursday, but fish counts were not in yet at the time of this reporting.

The rolling rainstorms from last week may be over, but some mixed up weather conditions still remain. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had a small craft advisory posted through Thursday night at least. The big swell is dropping but waves were still metering at 6-7 feet as of noon on Thursday. Winds were light in the early morning. Wind was from the south, which always makes things a bit messy on the bay, especially over a west or northwest swell. Winds rose to nearly 20 knots by afternoon on Thursday. Because the open fishing area this month is restricted to waters beyond the 300-foot line, that means boats are much farther offshore away from the protected embrace of the Monterey Bay. Typically, when conditions are uncomfortable on the inside, they are often downright nasty on the outside.

Longtime private boat angler Leroy Cross spent Thursday prepping his boat, Triple Cross, for its first foray to the deepwater rockfish reefs. “Saturday,” he predicted, when asked when everyone is going to be able to get out for some fishing, finally.

Saturday’s conditions are forecast to be much more on the comfy side of things. Waves should be three feet from the west, and winds will be a gentle three knots offshore in the early morning before switching to west winds and building up to around 10 knots in the afternoon. We can expect most of the charter operations to be fishing by Saturday as well as a flotilla of private boats from our harbors and visitors with their trailers boats. Monterey and Moss Landing Harbors are free and clear for entrance and exits. Santa Cruz Harbor is still dredging at the jetty entrance, with shoaling warning still in place. The current entrance sounding at Santa Cruz indicates a stable channel dead center of the jaws with 12-20 foot depths as of Wednesday.

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