Manresa State Beach 8/8 8/9

So my friend wants to go surfing  and camping for a couple nights and I don't think I'll be taking the yak as I'm not experienced with surf launching yet, so looks like I'll be surf fishing while she's surfing lol. I've never been to Manresa or surf fished much, can anyone give me some tips on what rigs to use, bait, setup? I have a really big surf rod, maybe 10 footer? I'd like to target perch. Thanks! Also, if anyone is in the area feel free to drop by and say hi!

Steph I used to fish there with a nine foot steelhead rod and 10 pound test. I used 2 inch curly tailed grubs in motor oil red flake with a 5/8 oz egg sinker. A good sized trout rod will work too loaded with eight pound test if you can find holes in between the breakers.  Shrimp is good bait too.

I used to catch a lot of perch back in the day but haven't in a long time. Well since moving down south here I don't do it anymore. I'm land locked in northern Texas. 

The best time for me used to be during the incoming tide. You can see where the holes would form and where the perch would congregate. Also when walking and searching look for areas that hold a lot of sand crabs since they get washed out and perch just sit there and wait for this to happen. I usually dig around for them like we did when we were kids or look for them as they try and rebury themselves

Small cut bait about 12" up from the weight or motor oil/flake colored grubs I've heard work best.  For sure not a place for a kayak though.  Good call on that one. 

someone who fishes manresa often told me all his perch come out of the wash ~ first 20 or so feet of water. no need to cast far to get them.

YOU TUBE !!  They are awesome. Great surf fishing videos.

Alex

The large Surf pole would be great for stripers . A 7 1/2 footer would be good for perch. they are usually just over the first breaker. Hope ta seem some pics

Alex

Steph, dig up some sand crabs, the bigger the better, throw them out on a bat rig and put the rod in a holder and wait. Lots of stripers taken that way.
Throwing lures early and late also gets stripers. You don't have to cast far, look for the troughs.

I took a lot of good information (to me at least) from reading "Lite Tackle Surf Perch" by JD Ritchey. Covers everything said already and very fast read.
Cheers!
Oh and it's about 3$ on kindle or iPad

everything you ever wanted to know . . .

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?page=10

Yup, good info from JD and also Alien!
Here's some basic info from JD too: http://www.fishwithjd.com/2009/06/22/light-tackle-surf-perch/
I'm trying to find a video I made about catching sandcrabs, but can't locate it at the moment.

My daughter just did surf camp there mid-July and when we dropped her off I went down to the beach and couldn't figure out why I had read so many comments about it being a bad launch spot.  Maybe the conditions that day were abnormal, but it looked pretty doable.  Oh yeah, there was also HALF a sea lion on the beach, so maybe that was it.   

Thanks yall! Hope to catxh some Perch and enjoy being out there, yahooo