10/07 Surf Perching Monterey Beaches

Took a walk on the beach today to try out my new 12 1/2 ft. ultra light 4-8lbs rated.

I started out grubbing with a 1 1/2" Kaylin gold flake.  And hooked into a 12" Bard perch on the first cast. The tide was allready -up so i swithched to a 3" Kaylin red flake and started to hook into BIGER FISH here's a pic of the fish.

It's getting to be that time again for the big Bard perch all the fish caught were Male. Soon the big mamas will start to show up

Thanks for the report. Nice to know they are starting to show up. Soon enough kayaking the ocean (particularly the beaches) will mostly close out as the storm season rolls in and we'll have freshwater lakes and rivers or the surf from shore. I have a nice 9' Steelhead rod I set up just for 'Perchin' and I'll use my 9-weight fly rod as well if I want to give them a better chance for sport (plan to use grubs on both).

I think the limit is 5.  Maybe, you forgot to say you were fishing with others or maybe the limit has changed?

Ken kickfish

DFG regs state:

Surfperch

Outside San Francisco and San Pablo Bays:

The recreational fishery for surfperch (family Embiotocidae) is open year-round. The daily bag and possession limit is 20 fish in combination of all species (except shiner surfperch), with not more than 10 fish of any one species. Shiner surfperch (Cymatogaster aggregata) have a separate bag and possession limit of 20 fish. Redtail surfperch (Amphistichus rhodoterus) have a minimum size limit of 10 1/2 inches total length.

The limit was 5 last year....I'm pretty sure...

Nice that it is up.

MolBasser

Hey Alien!

Any large birds on your stringer this trip? 

Eugene

Thanks Bill for clearing that up for me. I wouldn't want anybody  thinking I make a practice at taking more than my limit


--e2g no large birds this time but there were litrally thousands of birds around

alien,  where'd you get that rod? can it throw a 1.5oz sinker?

has anybody tried smoking these things (in a smoker). I like the taste, but they were a little mushy, maybe I didn't ice them quickly enough.

J

Hey J,

Picked it up at Melcoton's and it has backbone. I was throwing 3/4oz. with 8lbs test. I'm sure it could handle 1.5ozzz

I never had to go beyond the 3/4oz.


If your planning on checking it out its a SHIMANO CONVERGENCE 12 1/2ft power lite, slow action IM6 graphite.

I like it better than my 10 1/2ft.



Have you been perching?

Alien, not since I rented the house in santa cruz in may, but I will surely go again soon enough.

It's a lot of fun for me, and not just on the catching level, I just like the surf and shore and beach.

yeah, I plan on doing a fair bit of perching in the future. May was the first time I tried eating a few.

not being hella-asian, being more hella-white-suburban-punk-caucasian,  the eating part was kind of experimental,
I need to try a few more things there. like I said, taste is good, but texture and bones still an issue.
thinking of smoking them like I have been doing to my blue and black rockfish. I'd like to keep one or two
here and there just to stay in touch with the inner carnivore.

The long rod sound like a good call. always good to have an excuse to go to mel cotton's.

J

Good recipe (easy) is alot of sugar....some soy sauce and a little water.  You can also add some Mirin (Sweet cooking Sake) I use Kikkoman's.  Added some sliced ginger.  All in a stove top pan..can use lid to kept down spatter.  Try to get liquid level to about 1/2".  Taste sauce adjust to taste...too sweet add soy...too sour add some sugar....Start to boil then turn down.  Add the whole perch (scaled & cleaned).  Can do this with fillets...but harder to turn over.  Before putting in the perch....cut vertical  lines down the sides of the body.  Let the sauce into the flesh.  Cook until uncook side starts to curls and then flip.  Good with hot rice..


Ken kickfish

grew up in Watsonville so did a lot of perch fishing.  The only draw back to the ultra lights is that if you hook something really big, its almost impossible in surf conditions to land it.  So when you have the 8 pound test and a striper gets a hold, its just watch the spool spin and hope for the best.  Of course it makes the 99% of the fish you catch a blast.

Eugene

Yup! you know me,Ugen, I like to go lite and when going for perch theres always a chance on hooking a nice size fish, like a striper or even a leapord shark. I like the challenge and give the fish a fighting chance

So, lets hook up and catch some fish!

'alex

I'll be down there once the ocean getsgnarly. I have a mind to try Bean Hollow later in the season. That beach is nice and steep at high tide--ought to be good holes, channels and rips in there for all manner of hungry fish to cruise into. An aquaintance at work claims he's shore fished from the Hollow before--didn't get to ask him for what and how at the time but I will.

let me know when you go and i'll try and join you!