The rivers are muddy, the ocean is lumpy, the winds are howling and the surf is still massive at most spots. Sounds about perfect for surfcasting adventures.

Care must be taken to find and choose the right spot at the right time and tide. With the massive amount of water moving via wave action and side-shore or rip currents, combined with some drastic dunes and troughs near the shorebreak, extra care is necessary to stay out of trouble. Even knee-deep whitewater can knock an angler off their feet. Remember never turn your back on the ocean. Watch the waves outside to know what is heading your way. And, check behind yourself occasionally. If there is a log or boulder on the beach you can end up tripping as you backpedal up the beach incline.

Surf perch reports have been sketchy. A few fish were reported caught near Seacliff and Rio Del Mar, mostly in the ones and twos. One of the great things about surfcasting perch is that it’s so available and gratification can occur quickly when you find the right time and place.

Jay Punkar from Carmel Valley is a relative newcomer to the surfcasting game but enjoyed a great day of fishing from Marina Beach last Tuesday. Punkar reported, “Surf casting is FUN! Fished a few hours in the morning and then a couple hours in the evening in Marina on Sunday. Ended up only catching five. This being only my third time out, I'm still having fun trying to figure everything out. I started the day using a five-inch Gulp! Sandworm and was getting bit like crazy but only landed one. Finally clued in and realized they were nipping at the tail of the longer worm, so I cut it in half and landed another one.”

Open ocean fishing was pretty much shut down all week due to conditions. In Santa Cruz, boats are not going out due to continued shoaling at the harbor entrance. Dredge equipment problems and relentless surf conditions continue to slow the dredging process.

We continue to suffer from an average depth of only three feet across the mouth of harbor. There is also a broad shallow area to the east of the harbor jetties, where the approach channel is normally located.

Monterey Harbor remains open, but sea conditions made fishing there a difficult proposition at best. Chris’ Fishing Trips managed only one outing for the week. Their results were well worth it for 16 anglers aboard the flagship Check Mate as they returned to port with 320 sand dabs and 78 Dungeness crab.