Last week featured somewhat erratic weather, with wind and rain interrupted with calm glassy days on our local waters. We can expect more of the same as we move through January and into February. Dungeness crab still takes top billing for our local saltwater action. This year's season is shaping up really well, with numerous crabs caught that are big and meaty. The best reports are still coming from the North Coast area, above Natural Bridges and on up to Davenport. Crabs are most abundant in 180-300 feet of water in that area. The danger of large seas, rain and high winds is always a factor in wintertime crabbing, so keep a weather eye out and practice safe boating. Many sport crabbers will pull their pots prior to a big storm. Wind, waves and currents have taken their toll in lost crab traps over the years. Sanddabs are also firmly on the menu this time of year. These small, delicate flatfish congregate in the thousands on flat sandy areas of deeper water. Ken Stagnaro from Stagnaro's Sportfishing hosted 18 anglers on a sandab trip last week. Stagnaro reports the trip "started out slow," but they were rewarded on their last stop of the day. Of the 400 'dabs caught from the Velocity, 300 were pulled in on the last stop. "These were real quality fish," Stagnaro added. "Most were in the 12-13 inch range, and that's big enough to fillet."

Charter boat skippers and fishing retailers are getting used to the new fishing license purchase formats with a bit of grumbling. Selling a license now requires the seller to buy a California Department of Fish and Game computer terminal for all license sales. The system is described a slow and cumbersome. Mike Schell from Bayside Marine advises "Come in and get your license now, while the shop isn't crowded. Each transaction takes some time, and we can't pop out licenses at five in the morning during salmon season like we used to." In balance, the DFG offers fishing license purchases online for anyone with access to a computer. The actual license and any extra report cards are mailed within 15 days to your address, and you can use a printable receipt for most fishing. The receipt, however, is not valid for use as a report card, to the dismay of eager sturgeon and steelhead anglers. Purchase a license from a dealer or a shop if you need those report cards immediately. Bushnell can also be heard Friday mornings at 6:45 on KSCO radio 1080 AM. Send your photos, comments or questions to scruzfishing@yahoo.com