Surf Perch fishing questions....

[johng]

Howdy all,

So there is a razor clam dig coming up and I was wondering if it would be worthwhile to try my hand at surf fishing for the first time in mid Feb.  Is this a decent time of year to catch surf perch?  Also, what kind of rigs / bait do people use to catch these guys?

It looks like fun (I did watch one you tube video that was pretty good) but was wondering what you all thought on the subject.  Finally, is the Peninsula the only place to catch them or can one catch them say at Edmonds, Camano Island, Port Defiance, Mukliteo, West Seattle etc?

Just trying to find some outdoor stuff to do before spring turkey... (I could go steelhead fishing but that never gets me a fish!!!)     

 

Cheers,

John G.

[gotshot]

I used to catch a lot of stripped pile perch from shore right by the point defiance lighthouse on low tide. I was looking in the regs and it says now you can keep only one of the silvers and one striped. It was pretty fun though. I think to get the true surf perch you have to hit the ocean beaches.

[johng]

Thanks for the info Gotshot!   

[BigGoonTuna]

i don't think you're reading your regs right...limit's 10 for point defiance area(11).  out here it's 12, i know it was 15 the last i checked, but i've never even come close to keeping a limit.  i'm not big on freezing fish so i only bring home what i can eat within a couple days.  2 good sized perch makes more fish and chips than i can eat in one sitting

you'll find the redtails mostly on the coastal beaches, and the pile perch in the sound.

i think it's worth a shot any time that the weather's cooperating.  i usually start fishing for them in april after most of the rivers around me are closed, but i've caught them earlier than that.  if you can figure out where a school is you'll usually catch them.  i like a setup with an ounce or two of lead on the bottom, with a couple of droppers with baited hooks about a foot apart.  i use a medium heavy steelhead rod, but i'm thinking about building a dedicated surf rod.

[johng]

That is some good info as well BigGoonTuna.  I thought mid Feb might be a tad early but if I am out on the Peninsula already why not give it a shot right?  At the very least I do a little recon for later in the year.

Fish n' Chips sound good to me!

[gotshot]

I'll have to check the regs again. I would fish by the lighthouse on low tide with about an ounce of lead on the bottom with one drop about a foot higher and use tiger prawn for bait. At low tide it reveals the clay bannks and I would just drop straight down about ten feet. I used to have a blast. It might be the marine area I am in just north of the narrows bridge.

[gotshot]

In marine area 11 it says surf perch daily limit 10. I don't know if pile perch, and striped perch count as surf perch or they go into other food fish category which is 2 of each species.

[gotshot]

Now after reading the definition of other food fish I am assuming that the perch are are counted as surf perch. I think I may have to go fishing.

[lokidog]

Pretty sure they all fall into the surf perch category as no matter striped, shiner, rubberlip, red tail, rainbow, etc. they are all surf perch.

They are definitely tasty.  One of my favorite fish to eat are the rainbows.  I picked up some crappie fishing rigs that have a little wire 'T' to tie your hooks off to.  This can help prevent tangling.  I wish there were more perch/flounder opportunities around the islands but I cannot seem to get anything figured out.

[gotshot]

Thanks lokidog I believe you are right. I'm not working right now and need something to do to get some exercise and I think this might be it. It is a pretty good hike to the lighthouse.

[lokidog]

Good luck, catch one for me.

Hmmm, maybe I'll head out early to pick my daughter up from school and do a little trolling for balckmouth...

Well, no salmon....   

[gotshot]

 

[Encore 280]

Well, we went down to Ocean Park and got our limits of razors yesterday and saturday. It was blowing like crazy on saturday but we still limited pretty quick and the same for yesterday except without the gale. Went for perch yesterday morning and picked up 5 nice ones, no pics.  Went out this morning before packing up and checking out and got 4 more nice ones. Would liked to have stayed longer but had to get back home. Guess we'll plan a trip for next month and try again.

[C-Money]

Way to go! Nice catch!

[johng]

Nice catch Encore!  Congrats... I couldn't make it out that weekend but glad u did well.  They look tasty.