Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: GrampasGuns on February 13, 2016, 01:33:25 PM

Title: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: GrampasGuns on February 13, 2016, 01:33:25 PM: I have all the tackle and appropriate gear, but I have never fished for Surf perch. What is the best rig? Seeing alot of Carolina rigs, but wanted to hear from some WA fellas on their set up. Heading down to do some clamming and wanted to try my hand at perch on the incoming tide.

Thanks for any advice!!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: Encore 280 on February 13, 2016, 01:51:05 PM: Just about anything you want to use will work. They're fun on light gear. An 8' trout rod will work or you can use a 10-15' surf rod. If you're not getting bites or catching anything within 20 minutes then move and keep doing that until you find 'em. Look for other guys and watch and see how they're doing. Just be really careful in the surf. Jack's in Ocean Park has good prices on surf gear.
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: GrampasGuns on February 13, 2016, 02:04:28 PM: Awesome thank you, I'm gonna be trying down at long beach. Is running 2 hooks better or more Hassel with tangles? Appreciate the response thank you

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: Big6bull on February 13, 2016, 02:29:10 PM: I use to run three then went to two now just a single. Feel it's easier. If you find a group you will do fine with one hook. Clam necks stay on the best for long casting.
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: sled on February 13, 2016, 02:36:23 PM: Gulp sand worms out fished clam necks for me.
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: Encore 280 on February 13, 2016, 02:45:24 PM: I've always used two hooks about 18''-2' apart. When ya get into the fish sometimes you can double and that's a blast! I've also heard the Gulp sand worms work good but have necks on hand just in case. One of the locals down there showed me his set up and he uses a crappie rig that has the little red beads. When they're hungry I don't think it matters much. You don't want the line on your hooks to be too long maybe 6 inches or so. I usually use 3-4 ounces of weight and some guys use less so your bait moves along the bottom.
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: Da stump on February 13, 2016, 04:08:03 PM: if you check out the beaches at low tide and look for any irregularities that may shelter the fish a bit from the current that would be a good place to try
:)
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: lokidog on February 13, 2016, 11:23:16 PM: Quote from: Da stump on February 13, 2016, 04:08:03 PM
if you check out the beaches at low tide and look for any irregularities that may shelter the fish a bit from the current that would be a good place to try
:)

I've heard that, but on my two trips perch fishing, I was never able to detect any "irregularities". First time I got into fish right away, second time I got nothing. I think the moving until hitting fish suggestion is best. I hung a pyramid sinker off the end and then put on two sideways 'T' shaped wires (designed for multirigging for crappie) about 18 and 30 inches up. I really liked my 10 1/2 foot rod for casting compared to the 8 1/2 footer on the first trip.
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: Encore 280 on February 14, 2016, 11:53:02 AM: Google or Bing "Long Beach Surf Perch" lotta good stuff there. You may even want to do the derby when it comes up.
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: jackmaster on February 14, 2016, 12:03:09 PM: If you can get a mess of pile worms, they work the best, we use to just use a good ole bobber, big bobber and 15 pound test on a heavy casting rod, worked awesome and we didn't have to use the big sticks everyone else was using and we seemed to great.'
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: Encore 280 on February 14, 2016, 12:27:20 PM: I've often thought about flipp'n a bobber out there and see what happens. Be fun to watch it disappear! :yike:
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: lokidog on February 14, 2016, 07:01:33 PM: The surf's always been too high to do that when I've been there.
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: GrampasGuns on February 15, 2016, 01:20:21 PM: Well, way way to windy to feel a bite on the line it seemed. Also, first time in my whole life I've struck out on razor clams. Didn't see a single clam get pulled up today on long beach. Totally confused

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: Encore 280 on February 15, 2016, 01:29:06 PM: Correct me if I'm wrong but it doesn't look like there's any minus tides until next week and I don't believe you can dig before noon yet. :dunno:
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: MuckDuck on February 20, 2016, 07:03:36 PM: Quote from: GrampasGuns on February 15, 2016, 01:20:21 PM
Well, way way to windy to feel a bite on the line it seemed. Also, first time in my whole life I've struck out on razor clams. Didn't see a single clam get pulled up today on long beach. Totally confused

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

We went clamming on feb 5 didn't see any clams dug but wether was NASTY and tide wasn't a minus. Next day it was and we got limits in 15 minutes once the tide went out far enough. They were a bit small overall. First time at long beach and only my second year clamming. I've tried surf perch but only after getting my clams, which is on low tide and I guess not the right time to try.
So this time I saved and froze my clam neck tips after cleaning so I can have some bait for incoming tide next trip south. Hoping to get my first surf perch!
Title: Re: Best rig for Surf Perch?
Post by: bigjohn98591 on February 25, 2016, 01:19:50 PM: Quote from: lokidog on February 13, 2016, 11:23:16 PM

I've heard that, but on my two trips perch fishing, I was never able to detect any "irregularities". First time I got into fish right away, second time I got nothing. I think the moving until hitting fish suggestion is best. I hung a pyramid sinker off the end and then put on two sideways 'T' shaped wires (designed for multirigging for crappie) about 18 and 30 inches up. I really liked my 10 1/2 foot rod for casting compared to the 8 1/2 footer on the first trip.
[/quote]

This is what I use for rigging, hasn't let me down yet.