Barred Surf Perch, Aptos, 12/8 (x-post from Hookups)

Spent about 45 minutes at the beach between visiting the office and the gym (around 1:30PM).  Fished MORF rigged carolina on a light 8.5-foot pole with a tiny spinning reel.  This is a new setup I put together earlier this week and it is very nice and sensitive.

Anyway, caught a few just North/West of the concrete ship (Seacliff state beach, Aptos).  The one above was the largest but they were still fun on a rig rated for 4-6lbs.  Hooray!  First BSP of the new season for me!

For those of you who don't know but, like I do, live near a lot of state beaches, the state offers an annual parking pass which can save you $$.  It really makes a difference to me since now I can drop down to any one of the many Monterey Bay beaches for no incremental cash.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1049 

Rite On BigRed!!!

Can't wait for Saturday to try it out. It's been a long time since I fished the ship. Whats the park entrance fee now days?

Nice one joel!

Capitola on sunday had nothin' for me..... Might try tomorow afternoon down there at the ship.  What reel are you using, I'm thinking I need to downsize a bit on  a new perch setup.

Allen

I think it's $6 a day parking fee...   with me having visited 8 or 9 times since I got the pass last month, I've worked off $56 of the cost.  I'm sure I'll have stopped by parks at LEAST three times as much by next November so the annual pass is a real deal for me.

And the reel I'm using is a cheapo Shimano Sienna 2000 with 6# mono.  The rod is a Calypso and is rated at 8-10#.

 

joel, nice fish. any idea how heavy that one is? it looks pretty big for a BSP.

did you release it or eat it?. I've never tried surf perch.  I doubt it's something I'd eat very often,
but I'd like to try a few. I caught some last spring but released them all.