Despite last week's forecast, our local weather hasn't been the best. Surfcasters have been in search mode, steelheaders are occasionally enjoying good even great fishing on our local streams and nearby, the San Francisco Bay is kicking out good numbers of big dinosaur sturgeon.

We received few reports this week from the dedicated perch anglers who walk the beaches looking for feeding schools of fish. Structure is still being formed by waves and tide and we'll see the action heat up soon. The best reports have come from beaches below Rio Del Mar, and past Moss landing for perch in the 10-14 ???inch range.

Now that the harbor mouth is open and navigable, it might be a good time to take the boat out for sandabs. These small sole-type fish congregate on flat sandy areas in 100-200 feet of water off Santa Cruz, and are very easy to catch. Multiple hook-ups are the rule with sandabs. Please try to take only what you will use. Chris' Sportfishing sent one boat out on Sunday from Monterey Harbor with eight anglers aboard. They returned with 20 sandabs and 40 mackerel each. Plenty for dinner plus some good bait to freeze for rockfish season.

Meanwhile, just over the hill, sturgeon fever has hit the San Francisco Bay. Recent rains have generated good muddy water, and herring are spawning in spots all over the Bay. These perfect conditions have resulted in decent sturgeon bites in a number of areas. The Dumbarton Bridge, the Martinez area and the Napa River all reported good catches of numerous dinos last week. The hot spots for the week include the Oakland Airport area (which is getting crowded with boats) and San Pablo Bay near China Camp. One intrepid pair of kayak anglers, a father and son team, hooked four and landed three legal sturgeon on consecutive days last week in the Rat Rock area.