Surf Perch????

[PA BEN]

What’s the best bait and rig to use for surf perch?  I’m camping at a friend’s property and I hear surf perch fishing is good there but no one fishes for them. Any help would be nice. Thanks

[JKEEN33]

Surf pole and razor clams is what I use.

[JimmyHoffa]

Also, have heard clams (especially razors) are good bait for them.  If no clams, squid should be okay.

[awallfishnhunt]

sand shrimp

[Heartsblood]

Clam necks

http://www.sschapterpsa.com/ramblings/Surf_fishing.htm

[OlyEightySix]

Those little crabs under rocks at the beach(ghost crabs?)...tube (piling) worms is what I've had the best luck.

[TONTO]

  Simple rig, 3-5oz lead,depending on surf condition, can be pyramid, sand claw,or cannon ball your choice. Come up about a foot and tie a dropper loop, come up about another foot and tie another dropped loop. Atatch a pretied size 2 baitholder leader to each dropper. An 8, 10,12 foot rod, whatever ya got, don't have to cast a mile your just aiming for the first set of breakers, about 8-10 foot of water. Finding the fish is realy more important than what you are feeding them, they will take just about anything. Simple night crawler works well, kelpworm/sandworm maybe better but just because it holds up better in the saltwater ,imo. They will also take sand shrimp or clam necks or about anything else that looks edible, baby crabs sand flea...etc. I have even caught many using surf pearch skin. After filletting a fish just cut the left over skin in a frog shape and weave it up the hook. If you aren't catching fish move, learn to read the surf and try to find low points. Look for places where the surf doesn't roll up one the beach as far or doesn't brake as high this will give you an idea of where the deeper water may lie possibly holding fish. Again if you aren't catching fish move, you may not have to move far, but the fish school and when you find em you'll know it and be getting em two at a time.

[RadSav]

Grew up on the coast fishing for these little fighters.  They are one heck of a lot of fun to catch.  Good eaters too! 

Tonto has this one down!!!  I would just emphasize the "kelpworm/sandworm" for bait.  Best I have ever used and they are free with a little work rolling rocks.

Only thing I do different is I place a medium to large sized corky above the hooks on the main line.  About 3' above the weight.  This keeps the bait from falling to the bottom.  Perch are not bottom feeders.  They snag what the surf kicks up to their level.  The corky should help put whatever bait your using right in their face.  Fish On!

[rasbo]

I used  to use spark plugs for weight...pile worms .boy its been awhile for me that sounds like something to do again...

[Skyvalhunter]

The end of a razor clam neck but make sure you cut it off before it is put in hot water to clean.

[wildmanoutdoors]

I second the corkie! I also start with the dirty spots in the surf. Thats usually a bloom.

[PA BEN]

The area I will be fishing has two small rivers dumping in. Does this fresh water keep the perch away? Or do you fish close to the mouth?

[BigGoonTuna]

perch will come up into the lower reaches of rivers, so i don't think it keeps them away...

my rig consists of a pyramid sinker, and 2 hooks above it.  most times i use raw prawns for bait, they seem to like them better than clam necks.