Local anglers are excited about the Ninth Annual Sand Crab Classic Perch Tournament being held this Saturday. Surfcasting from the beaches is still the best bet for local perch action.The beaches from Santa Cruz to Moss Landing and even around the Bay towards Monterey are hosting an increasing number of surfcasters. Reports indicate these anglers are having a blast catching barred and calico surfperch weighing up to two pounds.

Most surfcasters use a 7 or 8-foot rod rigged with a sliding sinker above a three-foot leader. Using light gear increases the chances of a strike, and makes the fight more exciting. Four or six-pound test leader material is plenty for these fish that rarely exceed two pounds. The preferred lures are root beer or motor-oil colored grubs, though many anglers are finding huge success using GULP sandworms.

If you are getting hits but no hookups with the full six-inch sandworms, try using half or even a third of the worm to increase your catch rate. Using a live sandcrab instead of a lure almost guarantees success in catching these lively fish. Retrieving the lure slowly will entice hits as the bait or lure waves in the current.

For those who prefer a more relaxed approach to surf fishing, a pyramid sinker below two dropper loops and baited with a sandcrab, pileworm, shrimp, clam or mussel is another proven method of catching surfperch. This is a great way to surf fish, casting out as far as you can, and putting the fishing rod in a pole holder. Watch the rod tip for nibbles and bites.

A critical aspect of this type of fishing is to locate the correct spot to fish. Surfcasters walk the beaches, looking for deep spots and rip currents that indicate good feeding spots for the perch. These fish tend to school up, so when you catch one fish, stay in that spot for a while and you will likely catch more.

Rocky headlands and points at both ends of Monterey Bay hold some larger variety of surfperch. Blacks, rainbow and striped perch can be found along the cliffs and boulders of our North Coast beaches, or the Carmel headlands. Artificials can certainly work for these perch, though many anglers prefer to fish bait in those areas. Bring plenty of extra tackle, getting snagged is part of the game when fishing the rocks.