Local anglers made the most of the closing weekend for rockfish, with good scores from local reefs as well as the usual North Coast hot spots. At least one boat got an additional (and welcome) surprise. Stagnaro's Sportfishing ran the 60-foot flagship Velocity to the local reefs off West Cliff both Friday and Saturday for outstanding results. On Friday, skipper Ken Stagnaro reported, "Today's half day trip turned out rather well. We fished the local reefs here in Santa Cruz, at approximately 100-foot depths. Average catch was 8 fish per person, lots of reds, including a couple of nice BIG reds." Stagnaro will offer sand dab fishing over the winter. The dabs are numerous and tasty, and the trips short and economical. Gerry Brookes from Reel Sportfishing his last rockfish/crab combo trip of the year on Sunday. By his account, fishing was pretty good. "Not a bad day. Started of with limits of crab for 6. Then found some nice blue and red rock cod, and topped of the day with a nice 46lb White Seabass. The weather held off nicely." Brookes concentrated on the area between Natural Bridges and Davenport. The seabass was icing on the cake for Brookes and company. There are still a few around, both in Monterey and on this side of the bay.

Skipper Jim Rubin has his crab pots north of town as well, and reports similar success on the Dungeness for the weekend. "We had good fishing and great weather. The crabs are big, solid and meaty. We got limits for all five clients and two crew, plus limits of big blacks, blues and vermillion rockfish." Both Rubin and Brookes will continue crab combo trips, pairing off the Dungies with sand dabs or giant Humboldt squid over the winter. Closer to home, Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait reported decent fishing from the rental skiffs. Over the weekend boats that worked the kelp beds seemed to fare best. Anglers caught limits of rockfish, cabezone and even a couple monkey-faced eels. On Thursday one ambitious skiff reported pulling nine Dungeness crab from one pot in from 90 feet of water, but all were undersized and none were kept. From the Capitola Wharf, anglers continue to catch walleye and a few redtail perch, and at least one sand sole was brought in over the rail as well, according to Burrell. Bushnell can also be heard with a live fishing report Friday mornings at 6:45am on KSCO radio 1080 AM. Send your photos, comments or questions to scruzfishing@yahoo.com.

Caption: Last licks on the rockfish. This Capitola fisherman ended his season with a nice vermillion caught near the Mile Buoy.