Local anglers are looking forward to the upcoming salmon season, which opens April7 this year. In the meantime, a variety of species is available in our local waters.

One hundred anglers gathered early Saturday morning, to vie for this year's Sand Crab Classic Perch Tournament trophies. Sponsored by The Let's Go Fishing Radio Show, Penn Reels, Berkley Gulp baits and a host of local and national companies, proceeds from the tournament go to support efforts of the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project. Anglers in the Derby reported fishing was a bit slow, most likely due to the calm ocean conditions on Saturday. Surfperch seem to bite best when we have good wave action creating structure on the beaches.

Despite the generally slow fishing, a number of very large surfperch were brought in for measure at the Derby. This year's 1st place winner was David Hernandez with a 14" barred surfperch. Gualberto Ponce ran a close second with his fish that measured 13 7/8". The Youth Division trophy was captured by Kris Patterson for the second year in a row. His big perch measured 13 9/16".

Todd Fraser at Bayside Marine reports the mackerel that were swarming on bait balls near the Soquel Hole seemed to have disappeared this week. "The macks have moved out, but the anchovies are still there. I've been getting a lot of salmon reports from that area." Any salmon incidentally caught before April 7 must be released of course, but it bodes well for the opener that the hordes of bait are staying put and attracting the salmon schools. Fraser adds that fishing for Dungeness crab has been pretty good this week. He recommends setting the pots out in 180-220 feet of water from natural Bridges to Davenport.

It is still very early in the year for halibut, but at least one has been caught already. Ed Burrell from Capitola Boat and Bait reports an angler in that area brought in a legal flatty fishing near Capitola Reef last week. This early in the season, the halibut are just starting to move in to the shallows, so we would recommend 60-80 feet of water for the flatties.