Surf Fishing: Surf Perch 101

Learn the basics of surf fishing – starting first with Surf Perch!

Introduction to Surf Fishing

Surf fishing may seem uncomplicated since you’re seemingly just casting off the beach, but it actually is pretty complex and nuanced to do well. You need to learn how to read the surf – where there might be structure underneath and troughs where fish congregate, and whether conditions are ideal for fishing (i.e. wave height, water clarity, tides, temperature and wind).

The easiest way to learn how to surf fish is to go for surf perch. Our favorite, most accessible area in the LA area to go for surf perch is at Emma Woods State Beach. Not only is it a beautiful beach with limited people, but it’s also a hot spot for surf perch!

Target Species – Barred Surf Perch (BSPs)

BSPs can be caught from San Diego all the way up to the Pacific North West and can get up to 16+ inches. They are the most commonly caught specifies of surf perch up and down the Pacific coast and prefer to inhabit beaches with long rolling waves. Once you hook into one, odds are there are a lot more around as they tend to travel is large schools.

Base Supplies Needed for Surf Fishing

• Long lightweight rod – A lighter rod is ideal since surf perch are relatively small. The lighter the rod, the more sensitive it is to any bites and also the more fun it is to reel in. The longer the rod, the farther you cast. You want your bait as far away as possible so you cover the most amount of water.
• Spinner reel – I recommend spooling it with braid so that it’s more sensitive to to the light fish bites. However, make sure to add a mono top shot so that you don’t waste the precious (i.e. more expensive) braid in case you get stuck on a rock.
• Terminal Tackle
  • Egg sinkers 1/2 to 1 oz
  • Red bead
  • Barrel swivel
  • 12 to 24 inches of 6-8lb fluorocarbon (low visibility abrasion resistant fishing line)
  • Size 6 hooks (I use Owner mosquito)
• Bait
  • Gulp Sandworms are the most reliable bait to catch surf perch. These plastic baits mimic sandworms and are known to surf anglers as “fish crack”. They are best for specifically targeting surf perch.
  • Sand crabs can be found in soft sand along the coast. These are our preferred bait as many surf species love to chomp on this abundant fish food source.
  • Bloodworms or lugworms can be found at most tackle stores in little bait fridges. They have great scent and are a fish favorite, the downside is that they’re a bit delicate on the hook. Similar to sand crabs, they can also catch a wide variety of species.

Nice To Have Supplies for Surf Fishing

• Sand Crab rake – The most irresistible bait to surf perch, as well as other kinds of surf fish is the sand crab. A juicy sand crab is what all surf fish are on the lookout for since sand crabs in the sand wash out naturally with each wave. You can dig for sand crabs with your hands, but a rake designed to filter out the sand easily is most efficient.
• Waders – Depending on how you feel about the cold Pacific waters, waders may make surf fishing much more pleasant. The further out you get into the surf, the less distance you need to get with your casting. I personally am naturally less sensitive to the cold and do not yet own waders. I’ve survived surf fishing even in the winter by wearing a fishing skirt and surfing booties. On the other hand, my brother swears by the waders I gifted him one Christmas. And even then, he still complains about how cold it is!

When and Where to Surf Fish for Surf Perch

There are many factors that go into ideal surf fishing conditions. It definitely takes time to learn how to read the surf!

• Surf height – Surf fishing is best when the water is relatively flat and there are low currents. Low surf means it’s easier to get out there to cast out and feel the line.
• Wind speed – If it’s super windy, forget it! Not only is it miserable out of the water, but it will be impossible to feel your line for the few fish that decide to be out feeding.
• Temperature – Warmer waters relative to prior days tend to bring fish out to feed. That being said, recent rain is no good because the runoff makes the water murky. Clarity of water is ideal since it makes your bait more visible.
• Structure – Quite simply, structure refers to underwater rocks and reefs that create a concentrated ecosystem for fish to thrive. Fish like to hang out and feed in areas with structure since that’s naturally where there’s more happening in terms of food. It often is an area where the water is deeper, making it a safer spot for fish to hang as well as ambush prey.
• Tide – Changing tides are better conditions since the change brings in new feeding conditions and new fish as well as natural bait that they feed on. High tide allows you to cast to structures that you previously spotted at low tide.
• Seaweed – This is hard to predict until you get there and cast out. Nothing is more annoying than casting out and hauling in a bunch of seaweed. The solution is to simply walk further down the beach until seaweed no longer becomes an issue.
• Time of Day – Sunrise and sunset are the best times to fish, but the other factors override in terms of importance.

6 Steps to Surf Fish for Surf Perch

1. Rig Up
   • Carolina rig – We recommend rigging up a Carolina rig for the most presentable bait. An ideal Carolina rig for surf perch is an 1/2 oz to 1 oz egg sinker and bead before a swivel, attached to a 12-24 inch fluorocarbon leader with a size 6 hook. Use a longer leader and lighter sinkers if waters are calm, whereas use a shorter leader and heavier sinkers (not too heavy, you want the bait to look natural in the wash of the surf) if the current is stronger to reduce tangles and keep your rig in contact with the bottom and the angler.
   • Fish finder rig – When the current is very strong, we recommend using a fish finder rig with a 1-2 oz pyramid sinker. This is rig which uses a small plastic tubular piece, which helps prevents tangles and keeps the bait presentable.
2. Add Bait
   • Gulp sandworms – This is the most reliable bait, ready to have on hand. For small surf perch, we recommend splitting it in half. Hook it through the thicker end so that the worm is straight and the hook just protrudes slightly from the middle.
   • Live sandcrabs – If you see Vs in the sand when the water retreats, there’s a good chance that there are live sandcrabs! Use your hands or a rake to dig them up. To hook the sandcrab, hook it through the back exoskeleton so that the sandcrab is still alive and wriggles.
3. Cast Out
   • First, try to get as far into the surf as much as you can bear the cold! This is where wearing the waders helps.
   • To cast out, let the line down 2 ft or so and swing the rod back behind you.
   • Wait for the leader to swing further back with momentum before catapulting the rod and leader forward.
   • Once it lands in the water, wait a couple seconds for the bait to fall to the bottom before reeling in a bit to keep the line taught. Don’t worry if you don’t cast very far, it just takes practice. Also, anglers are often surprised at how close in surf perch are – if you cast too far you can outcast your targeted fish!
   • Protip: Since I don’t have waders, I then step back a couple steps to keep the line taut and hop onto a rock to avoid the cold!
4. Hook the Fish and Reel It In
   • When surf fish bite, it feels like a sudden tap. Yank up the pole a bit to hook it before reeling it in! It takes a little bit practice to distinguish between the current and tapping on the ground so don’t give up if you don’t get it at first.
   • Make sure that you keep the pole up and bent to keep the tension on the line so that the fish remained hooked.
   • One nuance of landing the fish in the surf is to be mindful of the waves crashing on the beach in while keeping the tension. Use the momentum of the waves to help you bring the fish in, don’t try to winch in the fish until right before next wave pushes your fish towards you. At the beginning, it can be easy (and frustrating) to lose the fish after you’ve already seen its white belly jumping in the surf!
5. Rinse and Repeat
   • If you don’t get any bites after several minutes, just reel up and walk down the beach to cast out!
   • Surf fishing is an active sport and you can’t just keep casting in the same area. Some trips, you might not catch anything. Other trips, the bite is hot!
   • Once you cast into a honey hole and catch a fish, oftentimes there are many more fish to be caught in the same area so just keep aiming for the same spot!

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Surf Fishing Recap

While surf fishing is more complex than it looks, it’s one of the most accessible and relaxing ways to fish. Just get your rod and head on out to the beach and give it a try!

Ps. If you’re looking for double the fun, we actually like to go surf fishing in the late afternoon through dusk and then set up for some crabbing after a pit stop at In N’ Out!