Santa Cruz Fishing Report

Report Updated Feb 4, 2012

SMALL GAME ON TAP

According to our pal Allen Bushnell (co-host of The Let’s Go Fishing Radio Show, Thursdays 8-9pm on KSCO 1080 AM), the usual big winter swells are keeping many anglers at the dock. When conditions permit, sand dabs are available by the bucket load and the Dungeness crab are still plentiful. Best bet for sand dabs locally is to fish 120-200 feet of water, any sandy area can provide sand dab action. Dungeness have been trapped in as shallow as 100 feet of water, but the best hunting remains in the deeper areas-at least 140 feet, on out to 220 or 230 feet of water.

Don’t have a boat and want to go fishing? No problem. Head down to the Capitola Wharf, where the perch bite is coming on. Ed Burrell reports some good perch fishing off the wharf, with big black perch, walleyes and barred surfperch being caught daily by the diligent anglers. Most find success by using shrimp bits on sabiki rigs, or other multiple small hook leaders. The center portion of the wharf has been producing best lately, though most barred perch are caught just behind the surfline.

Ron Martin from Aptos found the bigger barred perch while surfcasting the beaches south of Rio Del Mar on Wednesday. “It was slow this morning, I only fished a couple of hours. I caught one fish about a pound on a grub. It was a pretty low tide with a swell and a lot of push.” Martin has been frequenting those beaches and finding fewer, but ‘bigger variety’ fish. Now that the Pajaro River has been opened to the sea, don’t be surprised if roving striped bass hit your bait or lure in that area as well.

Bushnell can be heard with the fish report on KSCO 1080AM Friday mornings at 6:45.

Are you a professional guide or charter skipper? We’re looking for a couple quality individuals to partner up with. Send us a email if you’d like to be considered for the program.

Local Radio Report

Let’s Go Fishing Radio Show
Capt. Mike Baxter is a local legend in these parts (our words, not his) and he and trusty co-host Allen Bushnell break down all the local bites for ya…as well as plenty of inland stuff from steelies to kokanee…every Thursday from 7-8 PM on AM 1080. Check it out…these guys are dialed in!

DFG Fishing Regulations

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About Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is best known for its surf, but it’s also got a lot of cool saltwater fishing opportunities — from albacore and the occasional bluefin tuna on the outside to salmon and rockfish (when in season) to inshore stuff like halibut and white seabass. And let’s not forget the surf fishing…you can catch summer stripers off the sand, along with year-round surf perch and even the occasional halibut.

Light Tackle Surf Perch Fishing
Shallow Water Rockfishing