Perch at the Eel

  I went out to the mouth a little early this season for some redtail and was pleasantly surprised, caught 8 nice ones. Now I know it was from a kayak but I paddled across the estuary to the beach so does that count for a little? The national liars service said 2ft or less with 4ft @ 11 secs. HAHAHAHA! They are sooo silly. It wasnt funny. Anyways, deep fried perch for tacos is the bomb! Along with deep fried squash, sweet potatoes, shrimp, and the Buick for dessert. Thank you fish gods - I love my backyard!
Here are couple of pics.

You better watch out for Abking your in his hood!!! ... Thanks for the report....NICE LOOKING SLABS!!!

Dang!!! that's looks good!!! I am heading to Salmon Creek this Sunday to try my luck for perch!!! Thanks for sharing. 



Kiel

I have yet to try perch tacos. But any fish deep fried and crispy must be good. Just wondering what red tails like to eat? Were they caught while bait soaking?, casting grubs? or flies?

That looks sooo goood.... nice job...!

Gue

Great report, Dom.  Way to get it done and have some fun.   

You better watch out for Abking your in his hood!!! ...

Don't worry, Andy, I called for the first-hand report before it hit the presses here.  Anything this guy does is fully sanctioned by his elder yakfishing enthusiast in town!     I just gotta get good at showing up at his place around chow time.   

Hey Sc X-Factor, I usually throw chunks of shrimp at them on a surf rig with 2-3 oz depending on current. When they are thick I love to use a 1 oz kastmaster, just toss it parallel to the beach and med slow retrieve and whamo! One of their favorite foods are sandcrabs but I have seen small crab legs in their stomachs too. The flesh is really delicate, over cooking will make it kinda mushy, so I soak the fillets in brine for a little bit to firm them up and draw out any blood that might be left. I always bleed them in a bucket of sea water as I catch them, the meat comes out snow white. The Eureka Fly Shop custom ties a sandcrab fly, but any bright steelie fly (streamer) works good too. Just lay the fly on the wave as it recedes and strip it back slow.
  Fishing for perch at the mouth can get insane april thru june. My buddies and I have had 60+ fish days, with some fish over 3lbs. If you dont know how to get down to the mouth and want to go, drop me an email. That goes for everyone!

Here is a bloody bucket.

Gotta love a bloody bucket!   

Fantastic report Domenic!
Gives me some motivation to pound the sand for perch this wknd. I need to get some practice for the big perch tourney coming up in Feb.

Nice work! those are some good sized perch, and good tips for prepping to eat.   

Looks like a good alternate these days, with dry river beds and all.... thanks for the post.

Dang!!! that's looks good!!! I am heading to Salmon Creek this Sunday to try my luck for perch!!! Thanks for sharing. 



Kiel

What's up Bro? I did not see any hookup on the board. Where is Salmon Creek? I need to dust off my perch gear. I can't even remember when I used it last.

Just wondering what red tails like to eat? Were they caught while bait soaking?, casting grubs? or flies?

When its sandcrab season they are all over the surf. They love sandcrabs. I like the most popular motor oil grub when baitcasting and sandcrab pattern when fly-fishing the surf. I just wonder how much the bag is limit this season.  Not too long ago I hooked a 25# striper while fishing for surf perch with plastic grub on 10# test line. It took me about 30 minutes to land it. Nerve-wrecking fun!