Anglers from Santa Cruz and other key locations in the Monterey Bay enjoyed consistent fishing last week for a wide variety of species. For a lucky few, the week provided trophy catches that will not soon be forgotten.

Market squid schools are still popping up here and there in the Bay. And, when you find the squid you are very likely to find white sea bass these days. It's been another banner year for the sea bass. While they may be fewer and farther between right now, the average size of the bass is increasing. The key, as always, is to be in the right place at the right time.

Ed Burrell from Capitola Boat and Bait found himself in that enviable position on Tuesday. Fishing "somewhere near Moss Landing, in the fog," Burrell zeroed in on a good school of squid and was immediately hooked up on multiple rods. He missed a couple fish, but when the fracas concluded, Burrell had three giant white sea bass on the deck of his boat. "This was my personal best, ever, for sea bass," he recounted. Burrell's trophies weighed in at 55, 64, and 66 pounds respectively.

In addition to the central Monterey Bay location, we received additional reports last week of squid and sea bass near Four-Mile Beach, and also close to Monterey. According to the reports, a good number of barracuda and Humboldt squid are mixed in with the bass. Catching Humboldt squid in shallow water is somewhat unusual, but they are a smaller variety. Larger squid, in the 40-50-pound range and more deserving of the "Giant Humboldt Squid" label are being caught in the deeper water, and will likely stick around through the winter to provide big game action as fishing slows for more desirable species.

Let's not forget the inshore fishing, which is still going strong. Rockfishing remains very productive for boats working local reefs near Capitola, Santa Cruz and off the North Coast. Jim Rubin on the Becky Ann tallied limits of fish for both trips this week. He reports a good mix of blacks, blues, reds, coppers, widows and ling cod for all his clients this week. Stagnaro's Sportfishing filled all client gunnysacks with limits this week as well, mostly big yellows, vermilions and lingcod.

Dungeness crab season opens this weekend, November 3 for recreational anglers. Regulations seem to be identical to last year, but always check the Department of Fish and Game regulations booklet before setting out your crab pots. The sport limit remains at 10 crab per angler, or six if fishing on a commercial sport passenger vessel. The minimum size remains at 5  ? inches across for private vessels, and six inches from the charter boats.