Sand Crab Classic Perch Derby Yields Big Perch, Family Fun in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA − Three hundred anglers and 40 volunteers enjoyed a day with sunny weather and calm seas during the 19th Annual Sand Crab Classic Perch Tournament held out of the IDES Hall on March 9.
Anglers fished the beaches and rocks from Big Sur to Half Moon Bay, but the majority of anglers fished the waters of Monterey Bay for the abundant barred perch.
The event was a benefit for the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project, whose mission is to recover the native salmon and steelhead populations of the Monterey Bay region.
“The reason we started the derby in 2005 was to get people together during a slow time of year for fishing,” said Mike Baxter, co-founder of the Sand Crab Classic with Allen Bushnell. “As a result, we made money and gave it to a good cause, the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project.
“We saw more children, women and families in this year’s event. The trophies, food and t-shirts are nothing more than an incentive to get people together to share a fun-filled day of fishing and festivities. It’s all about getting humans together to share time together.”
Todd Schallenberger won the grandmaster trophy in the Sand Crab Classic with his 15-3/4 inch, 2 lb. 11 oz. pile perch. He won a giant trophy and a Lamiglas GSB rod for his efforts.
In the men’s barred perch division, Dave Ressa of Los Gatos won first place with a fish measuring 15 inches and weighing 2 pounds, 8 ounces. “I hooked the fish while fishing sand crabs off Seascape,” said Ressa.
Mike Ham placed second with a barred perch measuring 14-1/2 inches and weighing 2 pounds, 5 ounces. Gota Tait placed third with a barred perch measuring 14-1/4 inches and weighing 2 pounds, 1 ounce.
Nayeli Cruz won first place in the women’s barred perch division with a fish measuring 14-1/2 inches long and weighing 2 pounds, 1 ounce. Christina Zepeda placed second with a 13 inch, 1 lb. 4 oz fish. Flor Padua placed third with a 12-1/2 inch, 1 lb. 4 oz. fish.
Thomas Wesphal won first place in the junior barred perch division with a 12-1/2 inch, 12 oz. fish. His brother, Lucas Wesphal, placed second with a 13-1/4 inch, 1 lb. 12 oz. fish. “We caught our fish with Paddle Tail Sandworms off Sand Dollar Beach,” said Thomas Wesphal.
Reiden Jurregui placed third in the junior barred perch division with a 13 inch, 1 lb. 2 oz. fish.
Nico Albertson won first place in the men’s non-barred perch division with a 1 lb. 10 oz. striped perch measuring 14 inches. Donald Corella placed second with a 13-1/2 inch perch weighing 1 pound. 11 ounces. Ian Hubbard placed third with a 12-3/4 inch, 1 lb. 10 oz. striped perch.
More: Bacher: Salmon fishing closures or restrictions are likely this year
Olivia Schallenberger won first place in the women’s other perch division with a 13-3/8 inch, 1 lb. 12 oz. gold rubberlip perch. Samara Cortazzo placed second with a 12-1/2 inch, 1 lb. 9 oz. striped perch. Jennifer Valentin placed third with a 12-1/2 inch, 1 lb. 7 oz. perch.
Camille Cortazzo won first place in the junior other perch division with an 11-1/2 inch striped perch weighing 2 pounds, 6 ounces. Anthony V. placed second with a 10 inch rubberlip perch weighing 12 ounces.
The “most exotic” division winners were: (1) Nick Brenson with a 20 inch, 5 lb. cabezon; (2) Callen Olsen with a leopard shark; and (3) Jake D. with a leopard shark.
The winners all received trophies. As usual, the Sand Crab Classic in Santa Cruz was a fun grassroots community event featuring many raffle prizes, delicious food and lots of good times. Information: https://www.sandcrabclassic.com/index.php.
PFMC adopts three alternatives for very limited or closed salmon seasons
In another disastrous year for salmon fisheries in California, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) at its meeting in Fresno on March 11 adopted three alternatives for 2024 ocean salmon fisheries off California, including two options for an extremely limited season and one for a complete closure.
“California fisheries offer very limited opportunity in 2024 due to the low forecasts for Klamath River and Sacramento River fall Chinook, and constraints surrounding California Coastal Chinook,” according to the PFMC. “Two alternatives for both commercial and sport fisheries offer limited opportunity coastwide, with the third alternative proposed being closed in all areas."
The three alternatives for ocean recreational salmon fishing seasons for the Fort Bragg, San Francisco and Monterey regions are the following:
Alternative One features five potential short periods of fishing: June 5-9, July 3-7, August 1-6, September 1-3, 27-29; and October 18-20.
In-season action may be taken to close open days when the total harvest is approaching a statewide harvest guideline of 10,000 Chinook during June through August, and 5,000 Chinook during September through October, according to the PFMC.
Fishing will be open seven days per week. All salmon, except coho, may be possessed with a bag limit of two salmon per day There will be a Chinook minimum size limit of 20 inches total length.
In 2025, the season opens April 5 for all salmon, except coho, two salmon per day. This opening could be modified following Council review at its April 2025 meeting
Alternative Two features a season of July 4-7 and August 1-4, 7, and 29-31. In-season action may be taken to close open days when total harvest is approaching a statewide harvest guideline of 6,500 Chinook.
The bag limits, days open and the Chinook minimum size will be the same as Alternative One. In 2025, the season will open under the same guidelines as Alternative One.
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Alternative Three will be a total season closure.
The Council will make a final decision on salmon seasons at its next meeting on April 6-11. Detailed information about season starting dates, areas open and catch limits for the three alternatives are available on the Council’s website at www.pcouncil.org.
“Meeting our conservation and management objectives continues to be the highest priority for the Council,” said Council Chair, Brad Pettinger. “Balancing those objectives while providing meaningful commercial and recreational seasons remains a challenge in 2024.”
“This season is emblematic of poor water policies that have come from the Newsom administration and California water agencies,” said Scott Artis, Executive Director of the Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA). “This is more of the same stuff that we’ve been seeing to beat down salmon families.”
“It’s not surprising that we are looking at a potentially restricted or closed salmon season this year due to disastrously low return levels that have been caused by low water flows at hot temperatures that kill salmon on Central Valley rivers. Plus right now, we’re seeing the effects of Delta pumps and water on endangered steelhead and salmon,” said Artis.
“These water policies have created a mess for our fisheries and have harmed tens of thousands of salmon families,” noted Artis. “So we’re in an unfortunate situation where salmon are losing, people are losing, the fishing industry is losing and the Bay Delta Estuary and Central Valley rivers are losing. And the economy is losing.”
“If the fish are losing and people are losing, it’s no surprise that the salmon fishing season will be restricted or closed this year. It’s simply heartbreaking,” he concluded. “The only winner is Governor Newsom and his unsustainable agricultural industrial partners.”
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Sand Crab Classic Perch Derby Yields Big Perch, Family Fun
