Local anglers are finding a surprising variety of fish to target lately with perch, mackerel and striped bass at the top of the list.

Surfcasters have been working the beaches for barred surfperch and other perch varieties. Perch anglers are gearing up for the 3d Annual Sandcrab Classic Perch Derby scheduled for this Saturday, March 3. The beaches from Rio Del Mar to Moss Landing have been producing well for barred surf perch, and other varieties are beginning to appear off our beaches. Ed Burrell from Capitola Boat and Bait reports one angler caught a number of 15-16 inch black perch this week, though the exact location for the big blacks is not being revealed. Burrell adds that fishing from the Capitola Wharf is getting better as well. Anglers on the wharf caught barred surfperch, shovelnose and guitar skates, a starry flounder and even a rare turbot this week.

Bayside Marine owner Todd Fraser motored out to the tip of the Soquel Hole this week on an exploratory trip. He found big schools of mackerel in the area and caught 200 using Ahi Sabikis. The mackerel are feeding on plentiful bait in the area, which bodes well for salmon season, which opens on April 7 this year. Fraser has received numerous reports of surfcasting anglers targeting striped bass from the Manresa Beach area. The anglers are catching stripers from six-12 pounds using pencil-poppers, Kastmasters or power grubs.