Photo Captions: (1) Local beaches were crowded with contestants on Saturday
(2) First Place winner Dave McGuire caught this big black perch using mussels at an undisclosed location.
(3) Raachel Reed with a beautiful striped perch is looking for a threepeat next year. She took the women's trophy in 2009 as well.

Over 300 dedicated surfcasters gathered at Portuguese Hall in Santa Cruz last weekend to celebrate what is becoming the premiere saltwater fishing derby in Northern California, The Sand Crab Classic Surf Perch Derby. Ironically, this huge contest targets one of the smallest game fish available to us, the surf and sea perch. This was the sixth year for the Sand Crab Classic whose popularity has grown so much that a bigger hall was needed to accommodate all the entrants who chose to pursue the feisty little gamefish.

Mike Baxter and myself initiated the derby in 2005 as an offshoot of The Let's Go Fishing Radio Show. We wanted to provide a bit of action for local anglers during slow winter months, while raising funds for The Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project; our favorite non- profit. Since then, dozens of individuals and local or national business concerns have participated with us by providing raffle prizes and other support for the annual derby. This year Moore and Sons once again donated a brand new outboard motor for silent auction, Live Oak Cafe handled the logistics of feeding the large crowd, and local Ron Martin donated a hand-wrapped Calstar casting rod as first prize. The 2010 Sand Crab Classic hosted entrants from as far away as Crescent City, Sacramento and Fresno.

According to many competitors, fishing was a bit tough this year. The perch are arriving late. Many showed up to the banquet having caught no fish whatsoever. As usual, a select few of our savvy anglers either knew exactly where to go, or of course got really lucky. First place trophy went to Dave McGuire from Santa Cruz, for a two- pound four-ounce black perch he caught using mussels for bait. Second in the Senior Division was Tom Larimer. Larimer has participated in the derby every year, and he finally placed with two- pound black caught in Carmel on a bloodworm. Third in the Seniors was Matthew Jiminez, who also took the Youth Division with a stunning one-pound 14-ounce black perch, also caught in Carmel with bloodworms as bait. Rachel Reed of Santa Cruz captured the Women's division trophy again this year with her beautiful striped perch, caught near Monterey on mussels.

All participants left the Portuguese Hall with a perch derby t-shirt, and many carried away rods, reels, clothing, tackle boxes and other prizes won in the popular raffle. Special thanks also go to Todd Fraser of Bayside Marine and Mark Dingler from The Angler's Choice Tackle Shop, for hosting sign up stations again this year.