The big west swell we experienced in Monterey Bay last week kept most boats in the harbor and turned off the bite for most legal species. We received few reports from the deepwater rockfishers and Dungeness crabbers.The swell did provide a bonus, however, in creating “structure” that anglers look for while hunting the wily surfperch, a wintertime fishing favorite.

Big waves and strong sideshore currents have the effect of repositioning the concentration of sand that deposits on our beaches over the summer months.  The sand is dredged from some areas, and built up in other areas, creating channels and deep-water “holes” along the surfline.  These are the areas where we find feeding perch.  The deeper water and currents transport sandcrabs, worms and other prey items for the perch to feast on.  Any sandy beach along the Monterey Bay can provide fantastic surfperch fishing.  It is mostly a matter of becoming familiar with the beach conditions that feeding perch.

Most perch anglers use a longer rod for casting.  Spinning or conventional gear are both effective, and rods usually range from eight to 11 feet.  Our local surfperch rarely exceed four pounds, so six to eight pound test is adequate for your leader.  Some anglers will use heavier test, in the 12-17 pound range, hedging their bets in case of a random striped bass or halibut hit.  Generally speaking, lighter line will impart a more natural action and be less visible to the perch.  

Bait anglers can rig with a pyramid sinker at the end of a dropper-loop leader.  They cast out and let the bait sit in the current, often using a sand spike or other form of rod holder stuck in the sand.  Then it is a matter of sipping coffee and watching your rod-tip for the nibble. Many surfcasters prefer to use lures, casting into the deep water holes, or along the seams of rip currents or littoral (sideshore) currents.  Slowly retrieving the lure, they hope to entice a bite from a hungry perch.  Favored lures in the Monterey Bay for perch include motor-oil grubs, or the larger stickbait “Rapala” style lures. Bait fishing is often the most productive. Using a Carolina rig with a sliding egg sinker,  GULP! sandworms, live sandcrabs and cooked or frozen shrimp will entice the bite from hungry surfperch.  

A good number of flycasters are fishing for perch in our area, and they do very well with hand-tied flies or streamers that mimic the perch’s natural prey items.  The most common perch caught along our surfline are the barred surfperch.  These fish may be small but can be very aggressive and put up a tremendous fight, especially on ultra-light gear. 

Fishing from piers can also be productive for perch.  Using the rigs described above, or sabiki rigs tipped with shrimp, a variety of perch are available including walleye, shiner and rubberlip perch.  In rocky areas, such as Monterey’s Coast Guard Jetty or Pacific Grove rocks, Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz or along the North Coast, anglers find wintertime success using shrimp, squid or mussels for the larger black perch and rainbow perch.  All these perch varieties can provide excellent table fare, perfect for pan-frying whole.