The latest storm to roll through our area wasn't quite as serious as forecast, but managed to dump a fairly good amount of rain to the watershed. This of course, is good for steelhead fishing. It remains to be seen how the incipient halibut bite might manifest, but at least one diligent angler was in the right place at the right time before the storm hit. Steelhead season ends on Monday March 7. Local streams and creeks can be fished Saturday, Sunday and also Monday, because it is closing day. The number of migrating steelhead coming into our system seems to be dropping over the past two weeks. Most of the males are already upstream. The weekend should feature some new chrome females, as well as "downstreamer" trout that are returning to the ocean, having successfully spawned. Remember, it's single barbless hooks only, and all fish must be released. Be gentle with these fish as they are a local treasure that is becoming scarcer each year. Timing is everything, at least for Capitola local Myron Larson. He set out in one of the Capitola Boat and Bait skiffs on Monday, before the storm hit. Using a whole squid pinned on a halibut rig, Larson pulled in an 18-pound flattie from an area about one mile off the Capitola Wharf. Once the ocean settles down, and the water clears a bit, we should see additional halibut caught from the 50-70 foot depths, and gradually shallower as we move through March.

Next weekend is the Seventh Annual Sandcrab Classic Perch Derby. There is still some room for entries, if they can be mailed in early next week. We've seen some gigantic perch caught over the past few weeks, both from the north and south sides of Monterey Bay. Proceeds from the derby benefit the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project, and the fishing is only surpassed by the BBQ, raffle and awards ceremony. Entries are available at Bayside Marine tackle shop at the Santa Cruz Harbor, or online at www.theletsgofishingradioshow.com Catch Bushnell's live fishing report on KSCO 1080AM Friday mornings at 6:45am. Send comments, questions and photos to scruzfishing@yahoo.com