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THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!!
The entrant list topped 100 anglers last year. This year we opened the Derby up to everyone, which meant finding a different venue for the BBQ and awards ceremony, as the Yacht Club allows only 100. We were a bit over that number this year. We chose the Portuguesse Hall in Santa Cruz, which accomodated our 275 entrants this year with ease.
Check
out our photo GALLERY
for more pictures from the 2010 Sand Crab Classic Perch
Tournament
Steve Carson is our Master of Ceremonies, and wrote this feature article for Western Outdoor News"
WON ON THE SPOT: Santa Cruz Sandcrab Classic a success
Allen's Report in the Sentinel
Allen Bushnell, Fish Rap: Another year, another derby, a whole lot of surf perch
By Allen Bushnell -
Posted: 03/26/2010 01:30:35 AM PDT
Fish Rap
More than 300 dedicated surfcasters gathered at Portuguese Hall in Santa Cruz last weekend to celebrate what is becoming the premiere saltwater fishing derby in Northern California: The Sand Crab Classic Surf Perch Derby.
Ironically, this huge contest targets one of the smallest game fish available to us: the surf and sea perch.
This was the sixth year of the Sand Crab Classic, the popularity of which has grown so much that a bigger hall was needed to accommodate all the entrants who chose to pursue the feisty little gamefish.
Mike Baxter and myself initiated the derby in 2005 as an offshoot of the Let's Go Fishing Radio Show.
We wanted to provide a bit of action for local anglers during slow winter months while raising funds for the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project, which happens to be our favorite nonprofit.
The 2010 Sand Crab Classic hosted entrants from as far away as Crescent City, Sacramento and Fresno, and according to many competitors, fishing was a bit tough this year.
The perch are arriving late, so many anglers showed up to the banquet having caught no fish whatsoever.
However, as usual, a select few of our savvy anglers either knew exactly where to go, or -- of course -- got really lucky.
The first-place trophy went to Dave McGuire from Santa Cruz for a 2-pound, 4-ounce black perch he caught using mussels for bait.
Tom Larimer, who has participated in the derby every year and finally placed with 2-pound black caught in Carmel on a bloodworm. He was second in the senior division.
Matthew Jiminez was third in the senior division and he also triumphed in the youth division with a stunning 1-pound, 14-ounce black perch, which he caught in Carmel with bloodworms as bait.
Santa Cruz's Rachel Reed captured the women's division trophy for the second year running -- this time with a beautiful striped perch, caught near Monterey on mussels.
Many participants left the Portuguese Hall carrying derby T-shirts, rods, reels and tackle boxes.
Allen Bushnell's live fishing report can be heard on KSCO 1080 AM at 6:45 a.m. Fridays. Send comments, questions and photos to scruzfishing@yahoo.com.
Results and report for previous Derbies:
The 5t Annual Sand Crab Classic click HERE
The 4th Annual Sand Crab Classic click HERE
The 3d annual Sand Crab Classic click HERE
Contact us for more info: scruzfishing@yahoo.com |
