Weather and sea conditions were variable last week, but allowed for plenty of fishing time. Seas were not so sloppy so as to prevent the crabbers from pulling pots, but a few days were somewhat slow for rockfishing.


Other days were very good for bottom fishing however. Chris's Fishing Trip in Monterey is putting out "cookie cutter" reports. Chris Arcaleo has outstanding habitat to work with, going round the Point Pinos corner towards Carmel and Big Sur. On Arcaleo sent out two boats, the Caroline and Check Mate. Both came home with limits of Dungeness crab, limits of lingcod and half-limits of rockfish. With relatively light loads, Chris' Fishing Trips is providing plenty of elbowroom, and lots of good eating for their weekday clients. They will be running crab combo trips through the end of December.


Capitola Boat and Bait reports decent fishing for rockfish with a few rental skiff limits for anglers who worked the nearby reefs. Owner Frank Eely is excited about big black perch caught recently near Surfer's Reef by anglers using shrimp bits for bait. Fishing from the Capitola Wharf remains steady for jack smelt and perch, mostly walleyes and barred surfperch.


Todd Fraser at Bayside marine weighed in a few white sea bass caught near Five-Mile Beach this week, and cites Four-Mile and South rock reefs as most productive for rockfish lately. Fraser also mentions a good barred perch bite right at Seventh Avenue Beach, a report that was confirmed by surfcaster Craig Pappas.


Pappas and his partner worked the West end of Seventh Avenue Beach last Saturday with outstanding results. Papas wrote "Fished yesterday from about 10:00am-1: 30pm. Some rain and then the sun came out. Tried perch grubs but only a few grabs. No fish. Switched to sand crabs and that was the ticket. Sliding egg weight, 18-20 inch leader with #4 octopus hook. The big barred surfperch was 15 1/2 inches and about 2.5 lbs. My buddy caught it; I thought he had a small striper at first. All the fish were in the white water, two to four feet deep."


Other reports from the long beaches closer to Moss Landing indicate a decent perch bite is developing in those areas as well. Alex Viera from Seaside worked the beach north of Marina on Tuesday; in an area he calls "The Long Walk." Viera topped out with a two-pound barred surfperch around sunset. "Got to the trail head around 3pm to an out going tide fished for about 1hr and found the honey hole.


Send your reports and fishing photos to Bushnell at scruzfishing@yahoo.com.