The catfish bite has been very good to excellent this week with the best action at night. Anglers fishing during the day are having the best success fishing from boats in deeper water. Top baits this week are shad, mackerel, the M&M (marshmallow and mealworm) combo, nightcrawlers, and shrimp. The best spots have been La Palma Point, Bubble Hole, the sandy beach, and Chris' Pond.

Scott Zimnicki, Garden Grove, caught the top catfish this week at 9-4 on the M&M combo from Chris' Pond. Top limit was a stringer of cats totaling 35-8 caught by Steve Guerrero, Brea, on the M&M combo at La Palma Point.

Makayia Foster, Placentia, caught three catfish with a 7-8 topping his catch. Jim and James Wilson, Lawndale, caught eight catfish totaling 24-8 with fish to 7-8 on the M&M combo fishing Chris' Pond. Jim Barnett, Palo Verde, caught 12 catfish totaling 21-0 with fish to 4-0 on mackerel off the sandy beach. Melvin Cerance, Los Angeles, caught ten cats totaling 24-8 with fish to 5.8 pounds on the M&M combo at Chris' Pond.

??No sturgeon were landed this week, but anglers are reminded that if they hook and land one of these bruisers, they are catch-and-release only -- but there is a reward for the catch. The $200-value prize package includes two free gate passes ($40 value), a free pontoon boat rental ($85 value), and a top-quality Eagle Claw fishing combo that includes a graphite catfish rod, multi-ball bearing spinning reel, and spool of Lazer line ($75 value).

Anglers also have an opportunity to win a $250 prize package each week with the World Wide Web Cam event. Anglers simply need to bring their stringer of fish to the tackle shop, get their picture taken, and for each fish on their stringer they will receive a raffle ticket. Each week a winner will be drawn and the winner will be announced on http://www.fishingwebcam.com/. The event will last through July 29. As a bonus, anglers get a $7 discount coupon each time they weigh in their catch.

Santa Ana River Lakes is open seven days a week with fishing allowed from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on day passes or from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on an evening pass. Each of these $20 passes has a five-fish limit. The lake's 24-hour passes are available every week on Friday and Saturday nights. These passes have a 15-fish limit and cost $45. Catfish are planted on Tuesday and Friday each week. For Santa Ana River Lakes fishing information, call (714) 632-7830 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.