Perch Anglers Scatter Throughout Monterey Bay For Sand Crab Classic   By: Dan Bacher March 13, 2006 More Articles by Dan

Surfperch fishing on the beaches, wharves and rocks of Monterey Bay has become increasingly popular in the past several years, due to the loss of angling opportunities resulting from rockfish and lingcod closures during the winter and spring months. The rising use of light plastic grubs and other lures on light spinning gear has also contributed to this unique sport’s popularity.

To highlight the opportunities that perch fishing provides in the Monterey Bay area, Mike Baxter, charter boat captain and host of the “Let's Go Fishing Radio Show,” came up with the idea of sponsoring an annual tournament, the “Sand Crab Classic,” to benefit the fishery restoration programs of the Monterey Bay and Trout Project.

Last year’s event was a huge success, drawing 155 anglers from throughout northern California to catch lots of surfperch. This year the classic was limited to 100 anglers only – and the derby filled up a month before the event.

Anglers competing in the Second Annual “Sand Crab Classic” Perch Tournament out of Santa Cruz on February 9 couldn’t have found more different fishing conditions this year than they encountered during last year’s derby. Whereas last year high winds, rain and muddy water conditions forced most anglers to fish off protected areas like the Santa Cruz and Capitola wharves, this year anglers encountered unusually warm, sunny weather and flat calm seas.

As a consequence, few anglers fished the wharves and concentrated on the beaches between Capitola and Monterey. Some anglers traveled north along the scenic Santa Cruz County coast to fish at spots like Natural Bridges and Four Mile Beach.

Perch fishing was better in last year’s event, in spite of stormy weather. I saw nine varieties of perch weighed in last year, whereas I only saw four varieties of surfperch this tournament. The vast majority were barred perch, although a few silver, walleye and rainbow perch were taken.

Another difference this year was that participants were competing for the longest single fish - rather than the longest combined inches of a five fish limit like last year. This change encouraged catch and release, as well as made measuring the fish easier, according to Baxter, the derby coordinator.

Ron Honda of San Jose took first place in the derby with a 15-1/16 inch barred perch caught on shrimp south of Capitola. He won a trophy and a Fenwick rod/Abu Garcia reel combination for his catch. It was the second derby he had ever entered and the first event he ever won.

The fishing was slow for the first few hours that Honda fished. “I was getting nibbles, but the fish were stealing my bait,” said Honda. “Then finally on the outgoing tide about 10:30 a.m. the fish finally started to bite.”

The angler caught four perch to take home, including one other large barred perch measuring just under 15 inches long. He was the first angler to weigh fish in – and was surprised that his larger fish was a contender.

“He was convinced that his fish wasn’t a contender, but I urged him to get it measured,” commented Steve Carson of Penn Fishing University and Berkley Gulp Saltwater, who was on hand to help with the event and to advise novice anglers on perch fishing techniques.

Reid Anderson of Santa Cruz took second place in the event’s adult division with a 14-7/8 inch barred perch. He enticed the fish while casting his homemade paddle tailed motor oil grub near the mouth of the Pajaro River.

“Anderson had been pre-fishing the derby for six weeks,” said Baxter, at the Santa Cruz Yacht Club overlooking the Santa Cruz Harbor. “He reported nailing a 16-1/4 inch perch earlier this week.”

Alex Velasco and Cy Roberts both tied for third place, since they each caught a 14 inch barred perch. After flipping a coin, Roberts took home the third place trophy.

Velasco and his fishing partner, Bill Pennington, experienced excellent perch action off Marina Beach. “We caught a total of 15 perch,” he stated. “We kept our two biggest fish and released the smaller fish.”

Gary Larson landed the largest fish taken on a Berkley product during the event, a 12/3/4 inch barred perch, while fishing a Berkley Gulp Sand Worm. He took home a tackle box full of Berkley products.

Kris Patterson topped the kid’s division of the event with a 14-1/4 inch barred perch, winning a trophy and a Fenwick rod/Abu Garcia Cardinal reel combo. He was fishing a mussel off the East Cliffs area when he hooked his fish.

Another notable catch: Mike Barbaccia of San Jose brought in 4 rainbow perch to 13 inches. He fooled all of his fish using pileworms and shrimp off Monterey at Cannery Row.

The derby officially began at 8 am after anglers convened at the Conference Room at Santa Cruz Harbor to get their official derby t-shirts and to review the event’s rules with Baxter.

I went over to the Santa Cruz Wharf, expecting to see some anglers entered in the tournament trying their luck there, since fishing for big perch was red hot off the pier during last year’s derby. I saw black, barred, silver, walleye, shiner, rainbow and rubberlipped perch landed off the wharf last year. Although I talked to a dozen anglers up and down the wharf, not one of them was entered in the event.

I then planned to drive down to Sunset and Manresa beaches to get some photos of anglers fishing, but I decided to stop on the way at Twin Lakes Beach. I saw a half dozen anglers fishing there; the most successful was Tom Larimer of Watsonville, who had just nailed a fat barred perch, as well as releasing several others.

Meanwhile, another angler, Todd Schallenberger nailed a quality barred perch. After I took photos of their fish, I decided to give it a try myself. Since both anglers had caught the fish on pileworms, I told them I was going to walk back up to Bayside Marine to buy some pileworms.

“We bought a bunch of pileworms, so there’s no need to buy any,” said Larimer. “I’ll rig you up.”

After he rigged up a double hook set up with a pyramid sinker, I made a few casts into the surf just past the breakers and soon hooked several perch, keeping two fat barred perch for the table. However, I wanted to get back before the “measure in” started at the Santa Cruz Yacht Club, so I had to stop fishing, in spite of having a blast hooking perch.

I drove over to the Yacht Club prior to the “measure in” to get a parking spot. I reached into the cab of the truck for my camera bag – and I started to panic.

I drove quickly back to the beach where I found his fishing partner. “Tom found your camera bag on the beach and is bringing it back to the yacht club,” his fishing partner said. I was relieved. A disaster was averted – thanks to a Good Samaritan named Tom Larimer!

The Let's Go Fishing Radio Show, Shamrock Charters, Bayside Marine, Berkley Gulp Saltwater, West Marine, PPD Multimedia, Pro-Cure, Outdoor World, Raymarine and other businesses sponsored the event. The tournament raised over $ 1,500 for the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project.

For more information about next year’s “Sand Crab Classic,” go to www.theletsgofishingradioshow.com or call Shamrock Charters, (831) 476-2648; Bayside Marine, (831) 475-2173; or Mike Baxter, (831) 588-9577.

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