It is hard to find a beach in Santa Barbara where you can't catch perch at one time or another. Hendry's is another great beach for perch (just watch out for all the dogs) and if you don't mind a little drive it is fun down at Santa Claus Lane and La Conchita.

I prefer to use a Carolina rigged, nose hooked 1.5 inch Big Hammer motor oil colored grub for bait. (basically a sliding weight behind a small swivel or bead; attached to a 12-18 inch leader to a hook that penetrates the grub at the seam of the second segment)

One problem you will run across is that at certain times the water is thick with grass. I have got in the habit of checking the surf report online before going out and find that the lower the surf, the less weeds are a problem.

As far as the halibut go, look back through bowlboy's posts. he seems to have it all figured out.