To: Pier Fishing In California Message Board
From: cjk9013
Subject: Rigging Plastics for Surfperch
Can someone successful at fishing for perch with plastics describe your set up? I have tried plastics on several occasions and have yet to even experience a strike. My rig: basically a light trout rod/reel with four pound test; sliding sinker, red bead, swivel, at least 2ft leader, plastic w/ #6 hook. Is this correct? Please describe yours in detail (sinker weight, leader length, hook size, etc.)? I have also used attractants on the plastics (sprays, smelly jelly, etc.).
Thanks.
Name: mola joe
Sounds like you’re doing everything right. First question has to be, are you fishing in an area that has fish. Best perch fisherman in the world can’t catch fish if there's no fish to catch. Some beaches are much better than others. Are you fishing on the right tides? Perch like moving water. Time your fishing so you're on the beach a couple hours before the high. Did you fish all last year and didn’t do well, or have you made a couple trips in the past month and haven't done well. This time of year can be tough in some areas. Hooks are more of personal issue. I hate using short shank hooks when grub fishing, but many use a regular baitholder style hook and have no problems catching fish. I go with this style on my 3 inch grubs (see link)and smaller good quality Aberdeen style on my 2 inch grubs. I like the hook to ride far back in the worm. When bigger perch are feeding, the least of your problems is your hook. Perch are aggressive fish and swallow grubs with ease. A lot of people comment on getting lots of hits but never hooking them. These are usually the little 3 to 6 inch small perch that pretty much live in the break year around. If you want to catch these little guys if nothing else is around, just scale down your grub to the 1/2 or max 1-inch size and use a tiny hook. As far as weight, conditions mean everything. You may find yourself in trouble using a little trout rod on the days you need to get some distance when the fish are holding outside. Trout rods are fine when things are calm and fish are in tight, which is not always the case this time of year. I use 3/4 ounce on a 9 1/2 foot rod in tough conditions, and drop down to 1/2 or 1/4 when fishing starts to peak in this area. In rough water, shorten your leader, when calm, I sometimes go as long as 6 feet on the leader. Leadheads in the 1/4 to 1/2 ounce size are also a great choice when fishing heats up. Just make sure you're using the kind with a thin wire hook when perch fishing. It's much easier to hook fish when you're not dealing with a leader.
Name: cjk9013
Yes there were fish around; when I changed baits, I immediately started catching perch. Conditions were good: couple hours prior to sundown and high tide. After reading your post, I've decided that I haven't given it enough time/tries. Thanks for your response.
Name: quietman
I'm using a 7’ ultra light rod with 2 pound test. This rig is normally used for tossing tiny jigs at trout, and is REALLY fun to fish the ocean with. I've caught lots of mackerel, monster Jacksmelt, bay bass, a steelhead, and PERCH in the surf on this rod, FUN! The set-up is a Carolina rig. First put on a bullet weight, for long casts. I’m using 3/8 oz., I will go much lighter when the surf calms down. Next put a small bead on the line to protect the knot, I don’t because I don’t have any beads, so don’t sweat this step. Next tie a snap-swivel on. Under the Swivel is the leader, I just use more 2 pound test. I'm using about three feet of leader. I then tie on an OWNER DROP SHOT HOOK, I think size 1 or 2 (tossed the package). This is probably the smartest thing I figured out. These hooks are fine, fine wire, scary sharp, and what the pro bass guys use to make $$$. The hook works wonderfully for rigging a 1.5” grub. After rigging the head of the grub on the kink of the hook, push the point all the way through near the tail, then just *barely* tuck the tip under the skin of the grub to make it weedless. Soak the grub with attractant and you are good to go. I am using anchovy smelly jelly, and am going to try shrimp next time.
Wade out as far as you dare, toss and keep the line tight for a slow retrieve, set the hook on the taps or if you are lucky on the HIT.
I've caught six now in two one-hour trips, in poor conditions with zero experience, so I think this works well. You can also put a sand crab or bloodworm on the hook with no other changes, if they are available. My friend does that, tosses the grub while keeping an eye out for sand crabs.
Good luck! Quietman
Name: cjk9013
Thanks for your response. What you show in your photo is basically what I have been using except with the bead. I have decided that I just haven't given it enough of a chance. Perhaps I am too quick to give up on the plastics and start using other baits.
Name: sk8nmike5000
When you use this rig do you cast it out and give it a slow retrieve, twitch it in, or do you just let the waves give it its motion?
thanks
Name: keith00
From what I’ve read from the other posts and your replies, sounds like your doing everything right and received good suggestions/tips. Have your tried switching plastics/grubs after about a dozen or so casts, or maybe changing sizes ofplastics/grubs your using??
Good luck, Rain, Sleet or Snow I'll wet my line and go fishing....
Keith
Name: donblaze420
Ever try a single swivel rather than a Snap-swivel to cut down on bulkiness and less weeds? I use the same setup with a regular swivel and a much, much longer leader. The long leader ensures that if I ever have any knots in my line I can just cut off some of the leader and cut down on Dry time (time the line is not in the water). Just an observation. Good fishing to ya!
Name: Hyok
I used to use this setup, but I got tire of the grub wrapping itself around the sinker. I use a hi/lo rig with a #4 hooks attached directly to the dropper loop. I keep the line tight and let the currents roll the rig around. The advantage of the hi/lo rig is that you can try a couple of colors. I suppose the dropper loop might scare the perch, but it’s been my experience that perch are so aggressive that they don't care. Another thing I do is tie on a swimbait at the end instead of a sinker. Just in case there is a halibut around.
Name: catfish
Use smaller grubs. Like Mola said, the smaller perch will be able to eat your smaller grubs (1.5” or smaller). Make sure that you use a small hook too. I use a size 8 Owner mosquito hook for grubs this size. The smaller perch are always around and will help you get a feel for fishing plastics for perch. Hopefully that’ll increase your confidence and will lead to trying different baits and rigs that may produce larger fish. Don’t be surprised though when you catch a large fish on the small grubs too. I’ve heard of people catching legal halibuts on tiny grubs. Good luck!
Tom
From: cjk9013
Subject: Rigging Plastics for Surfperch
Can someone successful at fishing for perch with plastics describe your set up? I have tried plastics on several occasions and have yet to even experience a strike. My rig: basically a light trout rod/reel with four pound test; sliding sinker, red bead, swivel, at least 2ft leader, plastic w/ #6 hook. Is this correct? Please describe yours in detail (sinker weight, leader length, hook size, etc.)? I have also used attractants on the plastics (sprays, smelly jelly, etc.).
Thanks.
Name: mola joe
Sounds like you’re doing everything right. First question has to be, are you fishing in an area that has fish. Best perch fisherman in the world can’t catch fish if there's no fish to catch. Some beaches are much better than others. Are you fishing on the right tides? Perch like moving water. Time your fishing so you're on the beach a couple hours before the high. Did you fish all last year and didn’t do well, or have you made a couple trips in the past month and haven't done well. This time of year can be tough in some areas. Hooks are more of personal issue. I hate using short shank hooks when grub fishing, but many use a regular baitholder style hook and have no problems catching fish. I go with this style on my 3 inch grubs (see link)and smaller good quality Aberdeen style on my 2 inch grubs. I like the hook to ride far back in the worm. When bigger perch are feeding, the least of your problems is your hook. Perch are aggressive fish and swallow grubs with ease. A lot of people comment on getting lots of hits but never hooking them. These are usually the little 3 to 6 inch small perch that pretty much live in the break year around. If you want to catch these little guys if nothing else is around, just scale down your grub to the 1/2 or max 1-inch size and use a tiny hook. As far as weight, conditions mean everything. You may find yourself in trouble using a little trout rod on the days you need to get some distance when the fish are holding outside. Trout rods are fine when things are calm and fish are in tight, which is not always the case this time of year. I use 3/4 ounce on a 9 1/2 foot rod in tough conditions, and drop down to 1/2 or 1/4 when fishing starts to peak in this area. In rough water, shorten your leader, when calm, I sometimes go as long as 6 feet on the leader. Leadheads in the 1/4 to 1/2 ounce size are also a great choice when fishing heats up. Just make sure you're using the kind with a thin wire hook when perch fishing. It's much easier to hook fish when you're not dealing with a leader.
Name: cjk9013
Yes there were fish around; when I changed baits, I immediately started catching perch. Conditions were good: couple hours prior to sundown and high tide. After reading your post, I've decided that I haven't given it enough time/tries. Thanks for your response.
Name: quietman
I'm using a 7’ ultra light rod with 2 pound test. This rig is normally used for tossing tiny jigs at trout, and is REALLY fun to fish the ocean with. I've caught lots of mackerel, monster Jacksmelt, bay bass, a steelhead, and PERCH in the surf on this rod, FUN! The set-up is a Carolina rig. First put on a bullet weight, for long casts. I’m using 3/8 oz., I will go much lighter when the surf calms down. Next put a small bead on the line to protect the knot, I don’t because I don’t have any beads, so don’t sweat this step. Next tie a snap-swivel on. Under the Swivel is the leader, I just use more 2 pound test. I'm using about three feet of leader. I then tie on an OWNER DROP SHOT HOOK, I think size 1 or 2 (tossed the package). This is probably the smartest thing I figured out. These hooks are fine, fine wire, scary sharp, and what the pro bass guys use to make $$$. The hook works wonderfully for rigging a 1.5” grub. After rigging the head of the grub on the kink of the hook, push the point all the way through near the tail, then just *barely* tuck the tip under the skin of the grub to make it weedless. Soak the grub with attractant and you are good to go. I am using anchovy smelly jelly, and am going to try shrimp next time.
Wade out as far as you dare, toss and keep the line tight for a slow retrieve, set the hook on the taps or if you are lucky on the HIT.
I've caught six now in two one-hour trips, in poor conditions with zero experience, so I think this works well. You can also put a sand crab or bloodworm on the hook with no other changes, if they are available. My friend does that, tosses the grub while keeping an eye out for sand crabs.
Good luck! Quietman
Name: cjk9013
Thanks for your response. What you show in your photo is basically what I have been using except with the bead. I have decided that I just haven't given it enough of a chance. Perhaps I am too quick to give up on the plastics and start using other baits.
Name: sk8nmike5000
When you use this rig do you cast it out and give it a slow retrieve, twitch it in, or do you just let the waves give it its motion?
thanks
Name: keith00
From what I’ve read from the other posts and your replies, sounds like your doing everything right and received good suggestions/tips. Have your tried switching plastics/grubs after about a dozen or so casts, or maybe changing sizes ofplastics/grubs your using??
Good luck, Rain, Sleet or Snow I'll wet my line and go fishing....
Keith
Name: donblaze420
Ever try a single swivel rather than a Snap-swivel to cut down on bulkiness and less weeds? I use the same setup with a regular swivel and a much, much longer leader. The long leader ensures that if I ever have any knots in my line I can just cut off some of the leader and cut down on Dry time (time the line is not in the water). Just an observation. Good fishing to ya!
Name: Hyok
I used to use this setup, but I got tire of the grub wrapping itself around the sinker. I use a hi/lo rig with a #4 hooks attached directly to the dropper loop. I keep the line tight and let the currents roll the rig around. The advantage of the hi/lo rig is that you can try a couple of colors. I suppose the dropper loop might scare the perch, but it’s been my experience that perch are so aggressive that they don't care. Another thing I do is tie on a swimbait at the end instead of a sinker. Just in case there is a halibut around.
Name: catfish
Use smaller grubs. Like Mola said, the smaller perch will be able to eat your smaller grubs (1.5” or smaller). Make sure that you use a small hook too. I use a size 8 Owner mosquito hook for grubs this size. The smaller perch are always around and will help you get a feel for fishing plastics for perch. Hopefully that’ll increase your confidence and will lead to trying different baits and rigs that may produce larger fish. Don’t be surprised though when you catch a large fish on the small grubs too. I’ve heard of people catching legal halibuts on tiny grubs. Good luck!
Tom