Albacore Tuna Fishing off Monterey: When They Show, How to Catch Them
Chase hard-fighting albacore tuna off Monterey Bay with this guide to seasonal timing, trolling setups, live bait techni...
Read MoreCalifornia · Central Coast
MONTEREY
FISHING CHARTERS
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Avg Rating
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Fishing Types
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Species
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About
Monterey Fishing
Monterey is one of the most famous fishing ports on the Pacific coast, immortalized by John Steinbeck's Cannery Row. The Monterey Submarine Canyon — deeper than the Grand Canyon — creates upwelling currents that support incredible marine life. Charter trips target rockfish, lingcod, halibut, salmon, and albacore tuna, with whale watching as a bonus.
Fishing Calendar
What's Biting in Monterey?
See which species are available each month, color-coded by activity level.
Color Key
Peak
Good
Fair
Off Season
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Inshore
|
P | G | G | F | F | F | - | - | - | - | G | P |
|
Bottom Fishing
|
F | F | G | G | P | P | P | P | G | G | F | F |
|
Nearshore
|
- | - | G | G | P | P | G | G | G | F | - | - |
|
Nearshore
|
- | - | - | G | P | P | G | G | F | - | - | - |
|
Bottom Fishing
|
- | - | - | - | G | P | G | G | F | - | - | - |
|
Nearshore
|
- | - | - | - | G | P | G | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Deep Sea Fishing
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | G | P | G | - | - | - |
Species Glossary
View Full Species Guide
Monterey Fish Species
7+ species organized by fishing type. Click any species to learn more.
Inshore Species
Fish the bays, flats, and passes close to shore.
Nearshore Species
Target reefs, wrecks, and structure within a few miles of land.
Deep Sea Fishing Species
Head to deep water for big game and bottom species.
Bottom Fishing Species
Charter Guide
Fishing Charter Types in Monterey
Understanding the different charter types will help you book the perfect trip for your group.
INSHORE
Fish the bays, flats, and passes close to shore. Target redfish, speckled trout, flounder and more in calm, protected waters.
View Inshore ChartersNEARSHORE
Fish the reefs, wrecks, and structure 1-9 miles offshore. Target snapper, grouper, cobia and more over natural and artificial reefs.
View Nearshore ChartersDEEP SEA FISHING
Deep sea fishing 20+ miles out. Chase tuna, marlin, mahi mahi, wahoo and other pelagic gamefish in blue water.
View Deep Sea Fishing ChartersTROLLING
Cover water by dragging lures or bait behind a moving boat to target pelagic species.
View Trolling ChartersBOTTOM FISHING
Drop baits to the ocean floor to target snapper, grouper, and other reef dwellers.
View Bottom Fishing ChartersFLY FISHING
Sight-cast with fly rods on the flats for redfish, trout, and tarpon.
View Fly Fishing ChartersSURF FISHING
Fish from the beach or wade into the surf to target pompano, whiting, and redfish.
View Surf Fishing ChartersKAYAK FISHING
Paddle out for a more intimate fishing experience on bays and nearshore waters.
View Kayak Fishing Charters
Fishing Tips & Guides
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Monterey Fishing Blog
Local insights, seasonal reports, and expert tips for fishing in Monterey.
Guest Reviews
4.7
based on 3 reviews
Monterey Fishing Reviews
Solid Kings Off Moss Landing
Trolled the Moss Landing shelf break and picked away at king salmon all morning in the fog. Ended with 8 fish for a 4-person charter — all bright chrome fish between 10 and 18 pounds. Not the fastest bite but steady pulls kept the rods bent all day.
C
Captain Joanne Briggs
July 2025
Chinook Salmon
Canyon Rockfish Were on Fire
Dropped down into Monterey Canyon in 300 feet and absolutely slayed the bocaccio, chilipepper, and vermilion rockfish. Every angler had limits within 90 minutes and the size was incredible — bocaccio to 12 pounds. This canyon never disappoints when the current aligns.
C
Captain Patricia Gomez
September 2025
Bocaccio
Chilipepper Rockfish
Vermilion Rockfish
Albacore Tuna Showed Up Early
The warm water pushed in earlier than expected and we found albacore busting on the surface 25 miles out. Trolled cedar plugs and feather jigs and it was nonstop from 8 AM to noon. Put 35 fish in the hold from 15 to 25 pounds — the freezer is full tonight.
C
Captain Nico Ferraro
August 2025
Albacore Tuna
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