Happily, many local anglers are also surfers. The large swell from last week turned into a giant swell this week, which kept many boats tied to the dock and their skippers riding smaller more maneuverable craft along our reefs and beaches. When we can get out, the wintertime fishing is in full swing right now.

The preferred saltwater targets during these moths are Dungeness crab and sanddabs. Captain Jimmy Charters has been running very successful "Crab 'n 'Dab" trips on the Becky Anne. Skipper Jim Rubin found full limits of Dungeness for four clients on Saturday, and followed up with 400 sanddabs for the boat. Rubin has been fishing the 'dabs near the Pajaro Hole in 250 feet of water. These fish are small but tasty, even considered a delicacy in the finer restaurants. On Thursday, Rubin had five clients. Again, they brought home six crabs each, and caught a total of 150 sanddabs. "The big swell slowed fishing a bit, but the dabs were large, most weighing a pound or more," Rubin said. He will be running the combo trips for the foreseeable future, and is already taking bookings for salmon season, which should open in April.

Not to be outdone, Ken Stagnaro on the Velocity reported 540 sanddabs caught on last Saturday's trip. Stagnaro fishes near the edge of the Soquel Hole, a little closer to the Harbor than Rubin's spot. With a light load of only 15 anglers aboard the 60-foot Velocity, there was plenty of elbowroom as the anglers averaged 36 fish each for the short Saturday morning trip. Stagnaro's Charters will be heading out again on February 11, and there is plenty of room on the boat.

Ed Burrell from Capitola Boat and Bait chimed in with bigger flatfish news this week. Miguel Canelo, one of his regular skiff renters managed to land a 21-pound halibut using frozen anchovies as bait. He was fishing in 70 feet of water off 26th Avenue beach when he got the big bite. Burrell weighed in another halibut a few days earlier, caught in that same general area. It is early in the year for big flatties, but we don't second-guess Mother Nature. Might be worth a morning of drifts or maybe bounce-ball trolling in those flat sandy areas from the Santa Cruz Harbor towards Pleasure Point for any additional early arrivals.

Miguel Canelo, pictured, hoists an early-season halibut, caught last weekend ion Capitola using an anchovy for bait.