Surf perch and striper fishing at ocean beach

Tried my luck with a buddy today at ocean beach. Fished two hours before and after high tide at 1430.  I threw Carolina rigged grubs, mussels and sand crabs and didn't get a single bite in 4+ hours.  Anyone else having more luck fishing the surf?  People watching was fun but a fish would have been more fun...

i do noticed if you don't know where the holes are, you will not catch many, if any. once you find that spot, mark it and the fish will always be there. ocean beach is a long stretch of beach. a lot of walking that's for sure. i used to just go out there with my binocular and just look up and down the beach and see where the fish are caught and take note.

They are easy once you figure out the pattern. Have you read alien's article "Introduction to Surf Perching" yet? You can't just toss bait out there at random and expect fish to bite.

Yea, I read through his and JD's guide to get an idea.  Then I just scanned the beach for fishermen, figuring they would have a better idea, but we didn't see any fish being caught... Walked up and down the beach fan casting for a bit before we just stayed put and changed to bait rigs with heavier weights.

Just keep going out . like all of us your paying your dues and it's just as simple as  putting your time in  ..And then there's days they just don't bite

+1, takes many visits to learn a spot, a lifetime actually...

i do noticed if you don't know where the holes are, you will not catch many, if any. once you find that spot, mark it and the fish will always be there.

Huh? This isn't true at all. Anybody that's ever put the time in knows that the hole you fish today might not even be there tomorrow. Let alone the fish that were in that hole.

i used to just go out there with my binocular and just look up and down the beach and see where the fish are caught and take note.

Of course, why put in the time yourself when you can just leech off of other people's hard work!

Just keep going out . like all of us your paying your dues and it's just as simple as  putting your time in  ..And then there's days they just don't bite

+1, takes many visits to learn a spot, a lifetime actually...

Look for clues and you might find them and start catching! But you know thats why they call it Fishing!

Little tip I like...look for that sideways water

Tried my luck with a buddy today at ocean beach. Fished two hours before and after high tide at 1430.  I threw Carolina rigged grubs, mussels and sand crabs and didn't get a single bite in 4+ hours.  Anyone else having more luck fishing the surf?  People watching was fun but a fish would have been more fun...

Ocean beach is very challenging. I've perched there a few times only caught one 12 " striper. Try Muir or Stinson instead. There are big stripers that make runs there , but it seems you have to be in a special fraternity to catch them.

i do noticed if you don't know where the holes are, you will not catch many, if any. once you find that spot, mark it and the fish will always be there.

Huh? This isn't true at all. Anybody that's ever put the time in knows that the hole you fish today might not even be there tomorrow. Let alone the fish that were in that hole.

i used to just go out there with my binocular and just look up and down the beach and see where the fish are caught and take note.

Of course, why put in the time yourself when you can just leech off of other people's hard work!

 i used to catch ton of rainbow perch at pillar point on a specific area of the jetty. next time i went back there were 4 people and who knows how many after that. someone is always watching, too busy to noticed. that's why honey hole gone if too many people. unless you fish 24/7 you won't know.

Thanks for sharing this info


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