We’ve barely had a break from big waves, and here they come again. A weekend swell from the west is forecast measuring 13-15 feet, and will be dropping to 7-9 feet by next Tuesday. Great news for the surfers, as the Maverick’s contest is scheduled for this weekend.

And, it’s not bad news for us surfcasters either. When the waves get that big they are breaking pretty far off the beach. The heavy currents created by a large swell can enhance existing structure. Feeding perch can often be found on the very inside, in back of the shorebreak. Look for areas of green water just behind the waves breaking on the beach. Be prepared for heavy littoral (or sideways) currents. Using a bit more weight on your line helps, as does using bigger bait in these conditions.

If you can find a well-defined rip current, work the edges or the mushrooming head of the rip if possible. Those areas are like the Perch Diner on a Saturday night. Heavier currents also favor catches of bigger fish. When the water is moving swiftly, sometimes the big fish are the only ones who can hang in those areas.

We’ve had a fairly good season so far for perching. From the beaches in Monterey and circling the Bay to Santa Cruz, anglers have had a steady bite most days on barred surf perch. The beaches towards the middle of the bay contain the best-defined structure and seem to kick out the bigger fish. But, even a trip to our local tourist beaches in Santa Cruz can result in limit-style fishing on the right day.

This week we received a number of reports from La Selva Beach down to Marina Beach, including one hefty limit taken near Pajaro. A number of BSP’s in the 15-inch range have been caught this week but no 16-inchers are reported yet. Rumor has it a couple of our semi-pro anglers are in diligent perch pursuit, casting from mid-county beaches and enjoying fresh strawberries while waiting for the big bite.

No good news from Santa Cruz harbor as yet. The successive swells have kept the Harbor entrance shoaled. A few boats have squeaked in and out on high tides, but the latest sounding map indicates a maximum depth of four feet in the entrance channel. Harbor officials are considering emergency deployment of an outside contractor for excavator/crane assisted dredging to supplement our own 16-inch Seabright and eight-inch Squirt dredges.