Reports From The Water

Monterey Bay Fishing Report | May 8, 2026

Report by Jeff P. Jeff P. of Linksup Boards ran this early-season Monterey Bay Chinook trip using the Catch America Optimizer. What is working right now King salmon are biting the west edge of the SoCal hole on Monterey Bay in early May. The winning setup was a single Optimizer Size 4 spoon run at 180 feet on the downrigger, trolled about 2.5 mph. The flasher came off and the bare spoon did the work. Water was warm and clear with no anchovy bait, so a bright natural spoon shined. What is biting in Monterey Bay right now?King (Chinook) salmon are the target on the west edge of the SoCal hole. It is early in the season and the bite is slow, with hundreds of boats going empty. Jeff P. still boxed a Chinook on his first troll of the year using the Optimizer Size 4. How deep were the salmon in Monterey Bay?The fish came at 180 feet on the downrigger wire, right at the tip of the SoCal hole. Jeff sent the spoon down 180 feet and hooked up not long after crossing into the hole. Bait was scarce, so covering that deep zone was key. What lure caught the Monterey Bay Chinook?A Catch America Optimizer Size 4 spoon with a single barbless hook. Jeff started behind a chartreuse flasher with no action, then removed the flasher. The bare spoon, described as blinding bright, drew the strike in warm clear water with no anchovies around. What trolling speed worked for Monterey Bay salmon?About 2.5 miles per hour on the downrigger at 180 feet. This is a fast-troll spoon presentation. Jeff let the natural shine and shimmer of the Optimizer do the job rather than relying on an attractor flasher. What was the guide's outlook for Monterey Bay?Jeff expects the salmon to move closer to shore as the season builds and plans to keep running the Optimizer for the rest of the year. This was his first salmon trip, first troll, and first Chinook of the season. Exact water temperature was not specified in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Jeff P.): We just got one salmon in the box and we are real lucky because there's hundreds of people that have zero. And we did it with the Optimizer at 180 feet on the downrigger going about two and a half miles an hour. This water is warm and clear. There's no bait, there's no anchovies. So we're just running the straight Catch America. It didn't take long after I took off that big flasher. Monterey Bay May 8, 2026 FAQ How deep were the salmon caught in Monterey Bay in May 2026?At 180 feet on the downrigger, right at the tip of the SoCal hole. What spoon works for Monterey Bay Chinook?The Optimizer Size 4 with a single barbless hook, run bare without a flasher. Do you need a flasher for Monterey Bay salmon?Not on this trip. Jeff removed the chartreuse flasher and the bare Optimizer spoon triggered the bite in clear water. What trolling speed for Monterey Bay salmon?About 2.5 miles per hour, a fast-troll spoon presentation. Why was the bite slow in Monterey Bay?It was early season with warm, clear water and no anchovy bait, so most of the fleet was not catching. Jeff still landed one. Who caught this Monterey Bay report?Jeff P. of Linksup Boards, fishing with Catch America gear. Shop the Tackle Optimizer Size 4 Trolling Spoon Shop Trolling Spoons