perching south of moss landing 2007/12/02

I went exploring with my family down there and took a rod and reel and one grub. It was not a real fishing outing, but I did have some casts.

the rod I brought (mushy 8' fiberglass cheapie with baitcaster) did not allow a long enough cast at low tide without wading and I was not wading equipped.

But I saw medium size perch caught on mussells by a couple guys with long distance surf casters and saw the tell-tale signs of perch: surf scoters, harbour seals, and even an osprey dive bombing the surf (!!).  A day before I saw a merlin or kestrel terrorizing the starling flocks near pleasure point, a real raptor weekend I guess.

water is very clear down there with no signs of the red tide.

If you fish down there at anything other than high tide, best to bring wetsuit or chest waders and a long rod to fire your grub out there. or a kayak... 

J

J - I haven't done any perch fishing in years - we used to get big rubber lips under the old Hwy 1 bridge at Moss Landing - I don't remember the time of year tho. Anyway, I'm getting more interested in fishing the surf for perch & stripers and I'm wondering what the season is for surf-perch? I've heard that spring & fall are prime times but it seems that they're available all year. I'm in the Monterey area often and want to start working the beaches around there but I'd like to get as much info as I can about timing and what to expect. Any info is greatly appreciated. Tom

thanks for the intel.

threw a grub at sunset beach, Watsonville for about an hour on Thursday, no hits but the water was clear.  This year has been rather skimpy on the perch for me.  Then today I was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium during the day for the first time in years and noticed the bird/surf exhibit had kingfish, smelt and other perches but no barred perch in the exhibit.  I wonder if they are having a harder time finding them too?

Pelican, perch can generally be found year round, and while opinions vary, late winter and spring seem to be favorite times for many.  A carolina rig with a motor oil or rootbeer grub is popular.

For some great info on perching check out http://zenflyfishing.com

Z

I got some last year at Muir and stinson, even a few stripers too, one came home for supper.

Then today I was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium during the day for the first time in years and noticed the bird/surf exhibit had kingfish, smelt and other perches but no barred perch in the exhibit. 

Last time I was there about month ago, they had a whole school of BSP.

Tom,
The other guy's advice and pointers are good. 
small perch, at any rate, can be found year-round but the bigger ones (females loaded with live young unfortunately) are mostly a late winter to early summer thing as far as I can tell.

catching big ones with a grub while keeping dry takes some skill or luck. catching dinks while wading waist deep and fan casting all around you is pretty easy and just takes perseverence.  fishing at higher tides is usually easier because you don't have to cast very far and the fish can be right against the shore. but wading is often easier at low tide.

in the last couple weeks it has been mainly medium-small fish on grubs at higher tides for me. nothing special, but fun.

J

Thanks for the report, J. Always a good read.
The surf perch bite should pick up next week after the storm rips through. Hopefully it will bring out the slabs. Haven't seen (or heard of) many big perch being caught.
PK

Fish Flogger is an admin for a local surf fishing board and there is some really good info on there. And one of the members there has his own website dedicated to surf perch fishing too. Lots of good info.

For some great info on perching check out http://zenflyfishing.com

Z

good read thanks!!!

once i can get some distance out of my fly rod i plan on giving it a try!!!
and even if u dont fly fish good info on barred vs. walley pearch

http://fishingboard.gruk.net/index.php

FF