Allen Bushnell

Columnist at Santa Cruz Sentinel

Blogger at Freelance

Chief-Editor at kayakfishingmagazine.net

Featured in: Favicon

santacruzsentinel.com Favicon

montereyherald.com Favicon

sanluisobispo.com Favicon

fresnobee.com Favicon

modbee.com Favicon

mercedsunstar.com

Articles

Anglers enjoying ‘wide open’ results | Fish Rap

1 week ago | santacruzsentinel.com | Allen Bushnell

Monterey Bay area anglers enjoyed the shot at king salmon last weekend. Limits were fairly common and the fish were of high quality, mostly in the teens with some fish over 20 pounds. Saturday was called “wide open” by many, but the bite withered on Sunday. Luckily, rockfish is still going strong out to 120 feet of water. Charter boats were getting half to full limits of cod and one to 10 lingcod per outing last week, and the bite is improving as conditions improve.
Anglers take advantage of ‘limited opening’ for ocean salmon | Fish Rap

2 weeks ago | sanluisobispo.com | Allen Bushnell

Open ocean salmon fishing last weekend generated quite a bit of anticipation and excitement. As expected, there were hundreds of boats fishing for kings on Monterey Bay for the "limited opening" on Saturday and Sunday. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife scheduled four open periods for this summer, with a numerical limit of 7,000 fish for all openings. Depending on your point of view, this could be good news or bad news.
Anglers take advantage of ‘limited opening’ for ocean salmon | Fish Rap

2 weeks ago | modbee.com | Allen Bushnell

Open ocean salmon fishing last weekend generated quite a bit of anticipation and excitement. As expected, there were hundreds of boats fishing for kings on Monterey Bay for the "limited opening" on Saturday and Sunday. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife scheduled four open periods for this summer, with a numerical limit of 7,000 fish for all openings. Depending on your point of view, this could be good news or bad news.
Anglers take advantage of ‘limited opening’ for ocean salmon | Fish Rap

2 weeks ago | santacruzsentinel.com | Allen Bushnell

Open ocean salmon fishing last weekend generated quite a bit of anticipation and excitement. As expected, there were hundreds of boats fishing for kings on Monterey Bay for the “limited opening” on Saturday and Sunday. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife scheduled four open periods for this summer, with a numerical limit of 7,000 fish for all openings. Depending on your point of view, this could be good news or bad news.
Monterey Bay mayhem: First of ‘limited windows’ in canceled salmon season is this weekend | Fish Rap

3 weeks ago | santacruzsentinel.com | Allen Bushnell

Anglers along the Northern California coast are poised and ready to hit their favorite ocean salmon spots this weekend. Though 2025 is the third straight year without a salmon season, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is throwing a bone to hungry sport fishers, saying, “Limited windows for recreational fishing will be allowed on specific dates to ensure minimal impact on the salmon population.”The “limited windows” include Saturday and Sunday, July 5-6, July 31 through Aug.
Wind continues to affect angler outings | Fish Rap

4 weeks ago | sanluisobispo.com | Allen Bushnell

Weather continues to be a limiting fishing factor for anglers on Monterey Bay. Daily high winds have cut some trips short, though limits of rockfish were not uncommon for the folks who got out early and fished the right spots. For rock cod anglers, the adage is true on both ends of the bay, "The farther you go, the bigger the fish and quicker the limits." Problem is, when the wind comes up, the ocean gets choppy, making longer trips slower, more uncomfortable and sometimes even dangerous.
Wind continues to affect angler outings | Fish Rap

4 weeks ago | santacruzsentinel.com | Allen Bushnell

Weather continues to be a limiting fishing factor for anglers on Monterey Bay. Daily high winds have cut some trips short, though limits of rockfish were not uncommon for the folks who got out early and fished the right spots. For rock cod anglers, the adage is true on both ends of the bay, “The farther you go, the bigger the fish and quicker the limits.” Problem is, when the wind comes up, the ocean gets choppy, making longer trips slower, more uncomfortable and sometimes even dangerous.
Mornings providing favorable conditions for anglers | Fish Rap

1 month ago | sanluisobispo.com | Allen Bushnell

Nearshore rockfish are providing limits for local anglers in Monterey. The rocky coast and reefs between Point Pinos and Carmel has been very productive for reds, yellows, blue and black rockfish, plus the occasional lingcod. Shell beds and flat sandy stretches from Del Monte Beach up past Sand City is halibut country now for anglers fishing 30-70 feet of water. Nearby squid spawns hold the possibility of white sea bass, though no one has reported a sea bass catch yet.
Mornings providing favorable conditions for anglers | Fish Rap

1 month ago | santacruzsentinel.com | Allen Bushnell

Nearshore rockfish are providing limits for local anglers in Monterey. The rocky coast and reefs between Point Pinos and Carmel has been very productive for reds, yellows, blue and black rockfish, plus the occasional lingcod. Originally Published: May 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM PDT
Warmer water providing opportunity for some unusual catches | Fish Rap

1 month ago | sanluisobispo.com | Allen Bushnell

Ocean water temperature is averaging between three and four degrees warmer than usual, all around the Monterey Bay. This is great news for anglers as summertime conditions typically foster the maximum opportunity for fishing a wide variety of ‘normal' species in our area. Warmer water can also provide for some unusual catches, such as the big calico bass caught by Santa Cruz's Erik Andreassen on Tuesday.