The Seventh Annual Sand Crab Classic Surfperch Derby is scheduled for this Saturday, March 12. Up to 300 anglers will compete for a variety of prizes including trophies for heaviest fish, biggest barred surfperch as well as women's and youth divisions. Odds-on local favorite for the grand prize is Zack Mitchell from Santa Cruz, who recently set a new California record with a 2-pound 10-ounce black perch. Mitchell may be given a run for his money by newcomer Joseph Holt, however. Holt broke the California record for striped perch on January 20 this year, with a 2-pound 6-ounce catch in Monterey. As experienced anglers know, it's really anyone's game. You gotta be in the right place at the right time.

Jim Rubin from Captain Jimmy Charters fished the edge of the Soquel Hole on Saturday with four clients aboard the Becky Ann. "We had great weather and my four anglers caught 300 sand dabs." Stagnaro's Sportfishing had similar results in the same area Saturday. The Velocity carried 25 customers who brought home 730 sand dabs altogether. "People are learning how fun it is to fish for sanddabs, and how good they are to eat. We are getting a lot of repeat customers this winter," says Skipper Ken Stagnaro.

Both Rubin and Stagnaro are looking forward to a predicted salmon season opener on April 2, and the increasing probability of a somewhat normal salmon season, both in terms of duration and salmon abundance. Stagnaro says: "The general consensus is the (salmon) numbers are there to support a normal season and an April opening. We're just waiting for the government to approve it." More will be revealed at the Pacific Fisheries Management Council meeting scheduled for today, Friday March 11. The word is spreading and anglers are gearing up for one of our favorite local sportfish, King Salmon.

Notable amongst these local anglers is Howard Folger, who bought his fishing license today at Bayside Marine. "He's probably the oldest guy to buy a license in Santa Cruz," according to Todd Fraser at Bayside. Folger is 102 years old, and plans to get out on opening day with his fishing buddy Harold Rinker, who is only 95. Both will be fishing with Bob Niethold, who works at the Sunshine Villa where the veteran anglers reside.

Steelhead season is closed for this year. Ernie Kinzli from Ernie's Casting Pond checked in with a wrap up report for the season. "Overall, the season was considered poor by most of the seasoned anglers. Started off with lots of rain, good for the fish, and then a very dry January. Then a February with lots of rain, and last weekend with beautiful water, but very few fish!! I was lucky again. (On the) last day and the last few hours, I hooked and landed a strong, hatchery 7# buck!