surf perch

[highmuley]

I want to get into surf perch fishin. I fish between westport and grayland. Does anyone know when the best time to chase these tasty beasts is? I hear augest is good. Also, does anyone have any rigging suggestions? Thanks

[hornhunter1987]

i fish them alot at ocean shores and west port. i get the wire leaders that have two 4 inch wires off the sides to tie a short leader to. pyramid sinker on the bottom and some chunks of shrimp for bait and you got fish. fish the incoming tide. as far as time of the year ive done pretty good at all times. if you get on the beach at low tide look for any depressions or holes in the beach and mark it with a gps or by logs or buildings. fish it when the waters up.  thats where the fish will school up at. i keep the very end of my razor clam necks and use those for bait to. also had good luck with shrimp smelly jelly. good luck

[Kola16]

About 11 years ago, I caught one by casting from shore using a worm on the bottom. That was on Camano Island. That is it for me 

[mossyoak arrow slinger]

Fish in the incoming tide and look for the sand bars. Those perch will come in and feed over the clam beds. I only use clam necks and do very well through the year

[oldcamper]

Interesting, any photo's of the rig you use??

[david0]

My girlfriend got this one a couple years ago. I can't remember what it weighed but I think it was about a 1/2 pound shy of a state record.

[BigGoonTuna]

my rigging is fairly simple.  i make a 20lb leader with 2 dropper loops about 18" apart, and attach a snap at the bottom for a weight.  then i tie on 2 short(6-8") leaders, one to each loop.  i use heavy line(15-20lb test) with the leaders to keep them from tangling, and a #2 or 4 steelhead type hook.  i rarely use more than 1oz of lead, i like a pyramid sinker.

the rest is just experimentation and luck.  i've fished all tide phases with good luck, the weather is the biggest factor(the calmer the better obviously).  i've done really well with raw prawn meat, it holds up and the perch like it.  i do most of my perch fishing from march - may, mainly because that's when i'm not on the rivers.

[johng]

That is one phat Surf Perch!  SWEET!!!

[Fishaholic]

okay i perch fish all the time
i use 2/0 hooks with fresh sand shrimps
i use 10lb test with a 24 in leader and 15lb main line

if your out in westport go the marina and there will be a store there. there is a ship wreck memorial there and there is a finger jetty there fish off thatand cast at the next finger jetty. i catch stripped barrelled and surf perch along with sea bass and all sorts of bottom fish. shrimp and clam necks are best

[oldcamper]

   I have been wanting to start surf fishing also, thanks for the great info. 

[ouchfoss]

There is a couple different spots I know of at Kalaloch that are pretty productive. For whatever reason its like this time of year is when you get the large ones. One day last year I got 5 that were over 3 lbs as well as a dozen that werent much smaller. Seems like the incoming tide about 2 hours before high tide is when the bite starts happening which can last to 2 hours after high tide as well. Fishing after that almost seems like a complete waste of time. As far as what to use, it all depends on what the beach. If its a deep area where you dont have to cast a mile then using a big silver salmon spinner works damn good. If its the typical shallow beach then clam necks work good just for the fact they almost never fall off your hook. Sand shrimp works well too but to me it seems too much of a PITA to use because how often you have to rebait the hook.  Rubber jigs actually do pretty well also if they minnow like.

[dayn]

I went out about august 12th off of grayland(grayland store approach), found a good trough at just before low tide, I used a carolina rigging, 1oz slip sinker, then a small bead to a barrel swivel, then about a 3 foot leader, tied on a #4 hook and baited with Berkley gulp sandworm in camo color, caught the smalls and the sculpins for a lil bit, then the fatties moved in and it was a blast, I love that one ounce water with my steelhead rod (recharge your bait with shrimp oil periodically)

Going back out during fall clam to do a double duty.....

[dayn]

Dont cast too far out, they are in close(the 1st 4 or 5 breakers closer to shore), wear your neoprenes so you can get up close, I cast at 2 O clock and do a slow retrieve like I'm fishing a river for steelhead or salmon, your rigging will work its way south along the beach, keep your rod up and slow retrieve keeping the slack out of the line.

[dayn]

David, that is a huge perch, I think she's a keeper (Your girlfriend )