A sellout crowd of 300 anglers participated in the 2015 Sand Crab Classic Perch Tournament, the biggest turnout in 11 years. This derby is getting bigger and better every year, and qualifies as the largest surfcasting tournament on the west coast. As usual, all proceeds beyond derby costs go to the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project to support MBSTP education, hatchery and habitat restoration efforts.

Anglers fished from Pacifica down to Carmel. Despite a recent slowdown for surfcasting perch, a number of impressive fish were weighed in. Top honors this year went to Grand Master Joe Voss. Voss came all the way from Ventura in his first try at the Derby. He arrived Friday and scouted locations Friday night. Voss found a couple good holes at Salinas River State Beach to which he returned before sunrise Saturday. Using bloodworms, he nailed a 15 1/2" Barred Surf Perch which proved to be the biggest fish for this year's Derby. He left Saturday night for his home down south. He'll be back.

Other winners included Grace Volz, who captured the Grand Master Trophy last year, coming in #1 for Women's Barred Surf Perch with a fat 10 1/2-inch BSP. AJ Foster won first place in the Seaperch Division with a 15-inch striped perch. Michael Calura took the Men's Barred Perch category with a fish measuring 15 ?? inches. The Women's Seaperch trophy was captured by Judy Foster with a striped perch nearly 14 inches long. In the Junior Divisions, Caleb Arroyo won the sea perch trophy with a 13-5/8 inch striped perch and Madison Jauregi captured the Junior Barred Perch trophy with her 12 ??-inch fish.

Second and third-place trophies and prizes were awarded in all categories. Full results and photos of all trophy winners can be viewed at www.sandcrabclassic.com.

Now it's time to tune up our tackle and spruce up the boats, as the beginning of April this year features twin openings of both salmon and rockfish seasons. Next week's report will discuss details and strategies for pursuing both these popular species in the Monterey Bay.


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