Deep Reef was the hot spot for all of the Half Moon Bay boats over the weekend. Trolling anchovies and hoochies has been the top set-up. The New Captain Pete scored full limits of kings for 22 anglers on Saturday. The Ankeney Street found similar action with limits around to 20 pounds for their 13 passengers and the Queen of Hearts faired equally well with full limits to 18 pounds.

Captain Smitty from Riptide Sportfishing, also out of Half Moon Bay, confirmed the incredible salmon action. "We ran just outside the Half Moon Bay weather buoy. There really wasn't much bait around, but I was graphing fish, so we decided to stay and it's a good thing we did," he said. "These fish travel in groups and we found ourselves very busy with multiple hook-ups coming every time the lines were in the water."

According to Smitty, the average size of the fish was in the 12 to 14 pound class with a handful of larger and smaller fish mixed in catches. "Out passengers continued to pull in fish after fish, keeping myself and my deckhand, Heather, occupied until we had our limits of salmon by 9:50 am," he added.

It was basically the same story for boats running out of Emeryville and Berkeley. While these boats have to make a considerable run to get to the fishing grounds, it's well worth the time and effort when they are rewarded with limits of bright kings. "Conditions were excellent on Saturday and all of our boats that ran south for salmon came in with limits," exclaimed Frank Salazar of Emeryville Sportfishing. "In fact, we did just as well on Sunday even though conditions were much worse because of an approaching storm front."

A total of four boats made the run south from Emeryville on Saturday. The C-Gull II managed to bag limits to 18 pounds for their 18 passengers. The New Huck Finn also had limits to 18 pounds for 24 anglers. The New Salmon Queen was right on track with full limits to 25 pounds for 27 anglers and the Captain Hook capped off a perfect day with full limits to 18 pounds for 24 anglers.

Out of Berkeley Marina Sportfishing, five boats made the run on Sunday and every one of the boats returned with happy customers carrying full limits of king salmon. The Drifter was the first boat to return and they had a total of 20 salmon to 22 pounds for 10 anglers. The El Dorado I came in next with 32 salmon to 15 pounds for 16 anglers. The New Easy Rider bagged a total of 34 salmon to 15 pounds for 17 anglers and the New El Dorado III had an impressive 72 salmon to 20 pounds for 36 fishermen.

At press time, it appears the majority of the fish are still holding in the same general area and limits are the rule as long as Mother Nature decides to cooperate. Keep in mind that the bite has been moving up and down the coast, so it would be wise to keep your options open up to the last minute. Try calling several landings in Monterey, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Bodega Bay or Fort Bragg to determine where the fish are and take it from there.

For more Salmon information and charters: click here.