January 2018 is gone now. If you have not sent in your steelhead or north coast salmon report cards to the Department of Fish and Wildlife yet, you can still do so. The report cards are “due” each year by January 31, but the DFW will accept them after that date with no foul. NOT sending them in can result in future penalties for the license holder. Plus, it’s good for these delicate fisheries to help provide as much realistic information as possible to promote sensible management decisions in the future.

Speaking of steelhead, the local creeks and coastal streams are open, technically, for steelhead fishing. Reports indicate very few adult fish are traveling upstream at this point due to the low water conditions. This may be a season where the ocean-going trout zip upstream in groups only during the occasional big rain and high-water event. Die-hard steelhead anglers would do best to travel north with hopes of action.

Reports from other northern California rivers are promising. Steelhead catches were reported on the Eel, Mad and Trinity Rivers this past week. The Russian River also had a couple good days of fishing for both bank anglers as well as those fishing from drift boats.

In Monterey Bay, Dungeness crab remains on the menu though crab numbers are lower than were counted earlier in the season. The crab are dispersing as the season proceeds. Still, crabbers are pulling tasty Dungies from pots laid off The North Coast of Santa Cruz, near the Soquel Canyon edges, straight out of Moss Landing and from the the flat areas off the rocky headlands of Point Pinos. Crabbers are capturing fewer crabs per pot, and many are somewhat “soft” as they go through the molting process.

Surfcasters are just beginning to hit their stride along the beautiful beaches ringing Monterey Bay. From Davenport Landing down to Carmel Bay, surfperch are on the bite. Last week’s flurry of striped bass has slowed down, with just a few small bass reported caught by surfcasters below Moss Landing this week. The barred surfperch however are increasing in number and size at most of the “regular” surfcasting sports around the Bay.

After a big swell like we had last week, it sometimes takes a few days for the nearshore water to clear of sea grass and kelp. Beaches near Santa Cruz were mostly clean by mid-week and some impressive catches were recorded. Peter Kellison from Aptos found success at his favorite local beach. Kellison reported, “One end of the beach was nothing but seaweed and junk so I moved down to find clean water.” Apparently that was the right move because Kellison found an epic sunrise barred surfperch bite. "It was on fire this morning! No stripers but lots of big slab perch." Kellison relied on GULP! Camo Sandworms in the 2-inch size to get the job done.