No one did much fishing this past week in the Monterey Bay area. Conditions were just too rough, even for most surfcasters. If the wind and swells remain moderate, fishing for tasty sanddabs and sole is still very productive. Dungeness crab season will remain open until June 30.

The extent and shape of salmon season is still to be finally determined, as ABC organizations continue their studies and talks. No one is very optimistic about having any sort of significant salmon season for the California saltwater. Best case scenario so far is a proposal to have a few “windows” of salmon fishing, each lasting for a week or so. Rockfish season, however, is a definite green light in our area.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife chart for RCG Complex fishing resembles a checkerboard this year with multiple swapping of depth and species restrictions. In short, April 1-30 we are allowed to fish for shelf and slope rockfish species. All fishing is limited to the deeper water outside the 50-fathom line. These shelf fish include bocaccio, canary, chilipepper, dusky, flag, green blotched, greenstriped, harlequin, honeycomb, Mexican, pink, redstripe, rose thorn, rosy, short belly, silver-gray, speckled, squarest, starry, stripe tail, tiger, vermilion, widow and yellowtail rockfishes. Slope rockfish encompass the Aurora, bank, blackgill, darkblotched, redbanded, rougheye, sharpchin, shortraker, split nose, and yellow mouth rockfishes, as well as Pacific ocean perch.

May 1 through Sept. 30 allows fishing for inshore species. Take is prohibited seaward of the 20-fathom line. Nearshore species include black, black and yellow, blue, brown, calico, china, copper, gopher, grass, kelp, tree fish and olive rockfish. From April through December we enjoy a good representation of California halibut in the shallower waters, the 120-foot boundary does not apply to the halibut.

Oct. 1-31 is limited to offshore fishing only. Nov. 1-30 we can only fish the inshore areas. Dec.1-30 only offshore fishing will be allowed.

It is now mandatory that any vessel targeting rockfish must possess a descending device onboard thereat or other floating device in the ocean. This is particularly important when fishing the deep waters outside of 300 feet. Also a complete ban on the take of bronze spotted, quillback, yelloweye rockfish and cow cod remains in effect. Fishing for these species is closed year-round, at all depths.

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