Surf fishing for Barred Perch

Santa cruz has excellent perch fishing, along with all of montery bay.

Here is how I do it.

6'6" spinning rod, med heavy extra fast tip
6# test
Carolina rig with weight tuned to surf conditions.
4# leader about 3-5' long again depending on surf conditions
#6 or #8 octopus hook (red)
2" grub in the MORF color

Chuck it out and bring in slowly.

MolBasser

Joel,

I use a 10' 1/2" ft. ultra light rod made by South Bend (Trophy Tamer)
 rated at 2-8lbs. line and 1/4-3/8oz. wt.

Reel is a cheap Shimano 4000 loaded with 8lbs. Ultragreen Maxima line

A #8 baitholder Gamakatsu, Mustad or Eagle Claw bronze hook. I prefer these brands because I find them sharper, thinner in diameter, and slightly longer shank than others. Makes threading the Kalins 1-1/2" Motor oil Gold flake easy without ripping the grub.

8-10 ft leader (8lbs. test Maxima) and 1/4-3/8 oz. sliding egg sinker.

And during the calmer days I switch to my even lighter rod.

A 11-1/2 Ft. ultra, ultra light Cabela's Fish Eagle II. Rated at 2-4lbs. Test line.

I'll be headed down to  Monterey to see my new born niece who's birthday was today 10/27/05 and going to hit my favorite beach to see if the big Bard Perch are gathering!!! Company Welcome.

I use a 10' 1/2" ft. ultra light rod made by South Bend (Trophy Tamer)
rated at 2-8lbs. line and 1/4-3/8oz. wt.

Alex - I sold you that rod. Remember?

dudes,

hammer site (www.swimbait.com) has article about nose hooking rather than threading the grub. less spin.  I think I saw it there, but maybe I found it when searching for MORF to find out it meant Motor Oil Red Fleck,  . I don't have the link handy in anycase. He was a so-cal surf fisherman.

I haven't tried it, but I will. maybe a little more action on the grub, more slightly larger fish?

Cool... thanks!  I'll give it a try next time.
Here's a quick link directly to the page without the frame:
http://swimbait.com/techniques/perch_01.htm

So is that what they call it. Hammer hooking! That's how i first started hooking my grubs way back then. I lost  a lot of grubs hooking them like that. At least the traditional way, as they call it, I could catch my limit with just one grubby. But to each his own and the traditional way for me is just that.

I use a 10' 1/2" ft. ultra light rod made by South Bend (Trophy Tamer)
rated at 2-8lbs. line and 1/4-3/8oz. wt.

Alex - I sold you that rod. Remember?

No Joel- you didn't sell me that rod. I got that from K-mart!

How's the perchin' going? Any tips?

I'm going to go pitch some grubs this morning.  High tide is at 11.  Probably capitola if the weeds aren't too bad.  I'll post a report later.

Allen

I got a few 1 lbers today. Using the MORF grub with sand shrimp oil. Worked nice! I like this little setup now with an egg sinker and a #4 hook instead of the surf fishing setups i been using. You definitely have to hit in the areas where the sand is stirring it seems.

NICE!

I tried at Capitola.  Conditions were too perfect, I guess.  Small swell, clear water......no hits

where did you end up fishing?

Allen

Marina State. Not the best but it worked.

Yeah, it al;ways pats to get out of town.  Those beaches are a lot more consistent for sure.  I also want to try some of the North coast Spots.  I've heard that area just North of Greyhound Rock produces some big perch.

having said that, the family took a hike at Ano yesterday and I brought my rod for a few casts......Nothing. Great to get hip deep and cast, though, never wasted time when you're fishing!

Allen