Surf Perch Id
- Thread starter MacAttack57
- Start date
The above chart is good but wrong in spots. Here's some additional info. For pics go to the front of PFIC and look up the articles on each perch.
Species: Amphistichus argenteus (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek word amphistichus (a double series, concerning the two rows of teeth in each jaw), and the Latin word argenteus (silvery).
Alternate Names: Silver perch, barreds, sand perch, surfperch, and silver surf fish. In Mexico called mojarra de bandas or perca.
Identification: Barred surfperch are one of three large surfperch with bronze or brassy bars on the side. Their coloring is brassy or silvery; olive-green to yellow-green on the back, silvery below; no red in their tail. Most have vertical yellow or gold bars on the sides, generally with a few spots between the bars; some are seen lacking the bars on the sides. The upper jaw extends slightly beyond the lower jaw with the lower edge of eye above the mouth. Dorsal spines are always shorter than the longest dorsal soft-rays.
Size: Up to 17 inches and 4 1/2 pounds (a nine-year-old fish); most caught from piers are less than 14 inches in length. Two fish share the title of California record fish at a weight of 4 lb. 2 oz. One was caught in Morro Bay in 1995 and the second was caught in Oxnard in 1996. The IGFA Word Record fish is listed at 4 Lbs 12 oz for a fish caught at Guadalupe, California n 2016.
Range: Bahia Santa Rosalia, central Baja California, to Bodega Bay, California. Common from Punta Blance, central Baja California, to San Francisco.
Habitat: Typically found in the surf zone, shallow-water, sandy-shore areas where markings blend with the wave churned environment (although some feel a large population lives in deeper water.) Recorded to a depth of 262 feet. Primarily feeds on sand crabs; also bean clams and small mussels.
Piers: Barred surfperch are common at almost all sandy-shore, oceanfront piers, north to the Pacifica Pier. Best bets: Imperial Beach Pier, Crystal Pier, Oceanside Pier, Huntington Beach Pier, Hermosa Beach Pier, Malibu Pier, Ventura Pier, Goleta Pier, Gaviota Pier, Pismo Beach Pier, Avila Pier, Cayucos Pier and San Simeon Pier. Quite a few are also taken further north, especially at the Capitola Wharf, Santa Cruz Wharf and at the Pacifica Pier.
Shoreline: One of the main fish for sandy shore anglers in southern and central California anglers. Several areas see barred surfperch derbies.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: By far, the best bait for these perch are live sand crabs, which make up 90% of the diet of barred surfperch. Live sea worms, mussels and clams would be the next best baits but barreds are landed on just about every bait imaginable (and many regulars use nothing but plastic grubs). Light to medium tackle can be used depending on conditions. Since the best water to fish is found just outside the first set of breakers, most anglers use a pyramid sinker (with whatever size sinker is needed to hold the bait in place). Line can be 8-to 20-pound test. A high/low leader is most often used with size 6 to 2 hooks. Barred surfperch are caught year-round, but December-January are the best months in southern California according to the California Fish & Game studies. The same studies found the Oceanside area to be the top producer of fish.
Food Value: Mild-flavored flesh with small flakes and a soft texture. The flesh is white colored and low in fat content. Can be cooked in any manner but most commonly fried.
Comments: There are three species of surfperch that are large and which are predominate in the inshore surf area: barred surfperch, calico surfperch and redtail surfperch. Barred surfperch are the number one surf-area fish caught on southern California piers. North of Morro Bay, calico surfperch start to replace barred surfperch as the main inshore perch species; north of San Francisco, redtail surfperch replace the calico surfperch. At the Pacifica Pier it is occasionally possible to catch all three species on the same trip, a trifecta of sorts. Barred surfperch put up a spirited fight and are a favorite of surf fishermen.
Of note was a study done by the Department of Fish and Game in the Bolsa Chica-Hermosa Beach area between 2007 and 2009. One conclusion was that the number of barred surfperch in that area had increased relative to the 90s. However, barred surfperch dropped from third to tenth place relative to other surf species collected.
Calico Surfperch
Species: Amphistichus koelzi (Hubbs, 1933); from the Greek words amphi (double) and stoichos (series, referring to the two rows of teeth in each jaw) and Walter Koelz, a U.S. ichthyologist.
Alternate Names: Surf perch, humpback perch, porgie (or porgee). Called majarra angaripola or perca in Mexico.
Identification: Their coloring is silvery, with olive-green mottling and bars on sides (bars usually broken and disconnected); most fins are reddish colored; caudal fin (tail) pinkish to deep red. Longest dorsal fin spines about equal to or slightly longer than longest dorsal soft-ray; pronounced notch between dorsal fin hard rays and soft rays. Lower edge of eye is below the upper lip. More disc-like shaped than in redtail surfperch.
Size: To 12.8 inches; most caught from piers are 9-11 inches long. The California record fish weighed 2 Lbs. 4 oz. and was taken at Santa Cruz in 2023. The IGFA World Record fish is listed at 2 Lbs 0 oz for a fish taken in Morro Bay in 2006.
Range: Los Ojitos, central Baja California, Arroyo San Isidro, northern Baja California, to Shi Shi Beach, Cape Flattery, Washington. Common from northern Baja California to about southern Oregon.
Habitat: Typically in surf zone, shallow-water, sandy-shore areas; recorded to a depth of 30 feet.
Piers: Calico surfperch are the number one large surfperch caught on central California piers north of Cayucos. In the Pismo Beach-Cayucos region, large numbers of both barred surfperch and calico surfperch are caught; more barred surfperch are landed but the calico surfperch will be slightly larger in size. Best bets: Avila Pier, Cayucos Pier, San Simeon Pier, Capitola Wharf, Santa Cruz Wharf, Pacifica Pier and (surprisingly) Point Arena Pier.
Shoreline: One of the main fish for sandy shore anglers in central California anglers.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: Bait and tackle is the same for all three of the large surfperch. Best bait is live sand crabs followed by live sea worms (pile worms or bloodworms); next would be fresh mussels, shrimp or clams. Tackle should be heavy enough to hold bottom in the surf area, and hooks should be size 6 to size 2 baited on a high/low leader.
Food Value: Mild-flavored flesh with small flakes and a soft texture. The flesh is white colored and low in fat content. Can be cooked in any manner but most commonly fried.
Comments: Calico surfperch will often school right around the inshore pilings; at times, fishing right under the pier, as close to these pilings as possible, will yield the largest fish. Calicos are sometimes mistaken for redtail surfperch.
Redtail Surfperch
Species: Amphistichus rhodoterus (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek words amphi (double), stoichus (series, referring to the two rows of teeth in each jaw), and rhodoterus (rosy).
Alternate Names: Redtail perch, rosy surf fish and porgy (or porgie).
Identification: Their coloring is silver with olive green mottling and bars on side; fins red with the caudal fin (their tail) pink to deep purple. The longest dorsal spines are much longer than the dorsal soft-rays. More elongate than calico surfperch.
Size: To 16 inches and 4 pounds; most caught from piers are under a foot in length. The California record fish weighed 3 Lbs. 7 oz. and was taken at Kellogg Beach, Del Norte Co. in 2012. The IGFA World Record fish is listed at 1 Lb 4 oz for a fish caught at Orick, California in 2013.
Range: Punta Baja, northern Baja California, to Kyuquot Channel, northwest British Columbia. Common from northern California, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Habitat: Surf zone, shallow-water, sandy-shore, oceanfront areas; recorded to a depth of 24 feet. Although generally found in the open ocean, they enter sheltered estuaries and bays just before spawning in the spring and early summer. At such times, hundreds of fish may be concentrated in a fairly small area and it's pretty easy for anglers to catch a limit.
Piers: Commonly caught at sandy-shore piers and bay piers north of Pacifica. Best bets: Pacifica Pier, Del Norte St. Pier (Eureka), and both the “B” Street Pier and Citizen's Dock in Crescent City.
Shoreline: One of the main fish for sandy shore anglers in northern California anglers.
Boats: An inshore species but sometimes taken by boaters fishing Humboldt Bay.
Bait and Tackle: Use medium tackle, a large enough sinker to hold bottom, a high/low sinker, and hooks size 6 to 2. Best baits include live sand crabs (in the surf areas), fresh mussels, pile worms or bloodworms, and clams. North of Eureka, two favorite baits are tube worms (generally frozen) and crab backs.
Food Value: Mild-flavored flesh with small flakes and a soft texture. The flesh is white colored and low in fat content. Can be cooked in any manner but most commonly fried.
Comments: Redtail surfperch, along with barred surfperch and calico surfperch make up the trio of large surfperch that dominate action on the surf end of most California piers; all are fine sportfish and fine eating.
Walleye Surfperch
Species: Hyperprosopon argenteum (Gibbons, 1854); from the Greek root words hyper (above) and prosopon (face, from the upward direction of the face) and the Latin word argenteum (silvery).
Alternate Names: Silver perch, white perch, surf fish, bigeye perch, and China pompano. In Mexico called mojarra ojona or perca. Occasionally called wally perch, probably by those who have watched too many Leave It To Beaver reruns.
Identification: Typical perch shape. Identified by the tips of the pelvic fins being black and their very large eyes. Their coloring is silver with some duskiness on the back. Can have bars or no bars on their sides.
Size: To 12 inches; most caught from piers are less than 10 inches in length. Fish caught in northern California tend to be larger than those caught in the south.
Range: Punta San Rosarito and Isla Cedros, central Baja California, to Willapa Bay, Washington. Common from Bahia Playa Maria, central Baja California, to Oregon.
Habitat: In shallow-water areas, near both sand and rocks. Common in both oceanfront areas (throughout the year) and in bays (primarily during the summer). Often found in dense schools consisting of several hundred fish. They’re considered a nocturnal species that feeds mostly at night (although I’ve never had a problem catching them during the day.
Piers: Walleye are one of the main catches at almost every oceanfront pier in the state but larger concentrations seem to exist in the north. Best bets: Crystal Pier, Seal Beach Pier, Malibu Pier, Gaviota Pier, Pismo Beach Pier, Avila Pier, San Simeon Pier, Capitola Wharf, Pacifica Pier, Fort Point Pier, Elephant Rock Pier, Fort Baker Pier, Point Arena Pier, and the Commercial Street Dock in Eureka.
Shoreline: One of the main fish for sandy shore anglers in California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: Tackle can be kept light. Best bet is to rig a modified snag line, three or four size 8 hooks, each baited with a very small strip of anchovy and a 1/2-to 1-ounce sinker. Cast the rig out, let it sink to the bottom, then begin a slow retrieve; the walleye surfperch will often follow it from the bottom to mid-depth range and hit it on the way up. Many, many times I have seen anglers trying to catch these fish but failing simply because their bait or rigging was too large; walleyes have small mouths and will peck away at larger baits but not be hooked. Walleye will eat shrimp, mussels, worms, squid and pieces of fish, but small strips of anchovy have proven to be the main winner in my experiences.
Food Value: Mild-flavored flesh with small flakes and a soft texture. The flesh is white colored and low in fat content. Can be cooked in any manner but most commonly fried. Many walleye are really too small to have much meat available but can be cooked whole.
Comments: This fish numerically ranks first among the fish I have caught at California's piers. In the Department of Fish & Game studies, it ranked fourth among all pier-caught fish in southern California, and third among fish in central and northern California.
Of note was a study done by the Department of Fish and Game in the Bolsa Chica-Hermosa Beach area between 2007 and 2009. Walleye surfperch ranked fourth among surf fish collected in the study and showed an increase in numbers from the 1990s.
Silver Surfperch
Species: Hyperprosopon ellipticum (Gibbons, 1854); from the Greek root words hyper (above) and prosopon (face, from the upward direction of the face), and the Latin word ellipticum (elliptical, referring to the outline of the body).
Alternate Names: Silver perch or surfperch. In Mexico called mojarra ovalada or perca.
Identification: Their coloring is silver with duskiness on the back and the tail is usually pink. They have no spots on the fins with the exception (generally) of a small orange spot on the anal fin and sometimes a dark patch at the base of the anal fin. Often confused with walleye surfperch but the tips of the pelvic fins ARE NOT black and they do not have the large eyes like walleye surfperch.
Size: To 10.5 inches; those caught off piers are usually 6-8 inches long.
Range: Rio San Vicente, northern Baja California, to Schooner Cove, near Ucluelet and Brooks Peninsula, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Common from Santa Rosa Island, southern California, and central California, to Oregon. Uncommon along the mainland coast of southern California. I have only caught two silver surfperch from piers in SoCal, one at the Crystal Pier in San Diego and one at the Newport Pier.
Habitat: Intertidal, shallow-water areas near both sand and rock. Common in both oceanfront areas and in bays. Recorded to a depth of 360 feet.
Piers: Most common on central and northern California piers. Best bets: Pismo Beach Pier, Santa Cruz Wharf, Pacifica Pier (#1), Fort Point Pier, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Elephant Rock Pier, Fort Baker Pier, Point Arena Pier, Commercial Street Dock (Eureka), and the Trinidad Pier.
Shoreline: One of the main fish for sandy shore anglers in central and northern California anglers.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: Silver surfperch can be caught similarly to walleye surfperch with the following modifications: silver surfperch are usually mid-depth to the top of the water so fish off the bottom; and silver surfperch are more likely to take a worm-baited hook than walleye surfperch.
Food Value: Mild-flavored flesh with small flakes and a soft texture. The flesh is white colored and low in fat content. Can be cooked in any manner but most commonly fried. Many silvers are really too small to have much meat available but can be cooked whole.
Comments: Silver surfperch are very attractive perch that, in northern areas, seem to average much larger size than silver surfperch in the south. They are one of the main fish caught by pier anglers in central and northern California.
Spotfin Surfperch
Species: Hyperprosopon anale (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek root words hyper (above) and prosopon (face, from the upward direction of the face) and the Greek prefix ana (back again or similar).
Alternate Names: Silver perch. In Mexico called mojarra aletimanchada or perca.
Identification: Although similar to both the walleye surfperch and silver surfperch, the spotfin surfperch is identified by the large black spots in the dorsal and anal fins. Their coloring is a silver body with a dusky back.
Size: To 8 inches; most caught from piers are around five to six inches in length.
Range: Bahia Blanca, central Baja California, to Seal Rock, Oregon. Common from northern California to the Santa Barbara Channel in southern California.
Habitat: Intertidal, shallow-water, sandy-shore areas. Recorded to a depth of 331 feet.
Piers: Although relatively rare at southern and northern California piers they do show up along the central coast. At the Pacifica Pier they will often be mixed in with schools of walleye and silver surfperch. A few are taken at piers located near the entrance to San Francisco Bay, especially the Fort Baker and Fort Point Piers. Best bet: Pacifica Pier.
Shoreline: An occasional catch by sandy shore anglers in central California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: Spotfin are often taken incidentally by anglers pursuing the larger walleye and silver surfperch. Although some anglers save the fish for pan-frying, most are really too small, in my opinion, to keep. Anglers wanting to catch the fish should try size 8 or 6 hooks baited with small pieces of pile worms or a very small strip of anchovy. However, most are taken by anglers using Sabiki/Lucky Lura-type bait riggings and light tackle.
Food Value: Generally too small to eat so throw them back.
Comments: This is an attractive little fish that should be returned to the water unless the angler desires to use it as bait for larger fish, i.e., halibut.
Rubberlip Seaperch
Species: Rhacochilus toxotes (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek words rhacochilus (rag lip) and toxotes (pertaining to the East Indian archer fish, because of a presumed resemblance).
Alternate Names: Buttermouth perch, porgee, sprat, or liverlip. In the 19th century these were called sprat at Santa Cruz, and alfione at Soquel. Called mojarra labios de hule or perca labios de hule in Mexico.
Identification: Typical perch-shape with a deep and heavy body. Their coloring is brown, silvery or brassy with thick, rubbery lips that are usually white or pink.
Size: Rubberlip seaperch are the largest species of the surfperch/seaperch family and reach 18.5 inches in length. Most caught from piers are less than 13 inches long. The California angling record fish weighed 5 lb. 0 oz. and was taken at Monterey Bay, Monterey Co. in June 2009. The previous record, a 4 lb. 4 oz. fish, was taken in 1995 at the Monterey Dunes. The diving record fish weighed 4 Lbs. 10 oz. and was taken at Carmel in 2012. The IGFA World Record fish is listed at 2 Lbs 12 oz for a fish caught in Tiburon, California in 2012.
Range: Cabo Thurloe, southern Baja California, to Russian Gulch Beach, Mendocino County, California. Common from Bahia San Carlos, central Baja California, to San Francisco. Most commonly found in the Monterey Bay area.
Habitat: Surf zone, shallow-water rocky areas, kelp beds and bays. Scientists report that rubberlips primarily feed at night on thin-shelled invertebrates. Are the perch able to spot the tasty morsels with their super-keen eyesight? No, rubberlips appear to use their sensitive lips (remember, some fish have taste buds on their lips) to detect their nightly dinner.
Piers: A primarily southern and central California perch, common at bay and oceanfront piers, at least those located near rocky areas, reefs or kelp beds. Best bets: Ocean Beach Pier, Paradise Cove Pier, Stearns Wharf, Goleta Pier, Gaviota Pier, Monterey Coast Guard Pier, Monterey Wharf No. 2, Capitola Wharf, Santa Cruz Wharf, San Francisco Municipal Pier and Fort Baker Pier.
Shoreline: A favorite catch by rocky shore anglers in southern and central California.
Boats: An inshore species sometimes taken by boaters fishing in bays, especially San Francisco Bay.
Bait and Tackle: Rubberlip seaperch are usually taken on a high/low leader and size 6 or 4 hooks baited with fresh mussels, live sea worms, or small pieces of shrimp. Those with the proper know how use plastic grubs (usually root beer or oil colored) and they are the ones who often bag the largest fish. Small 1/12 or 1/8 oz. chrome, chrome with blue, or chrome with green Krocodiles have also proven to be very effective.
Food Value: Since they are one of the largest perch, specimens often contain quite a bit of meat. Although their flesh has a mild taste, most gourmets rate it only fair with small flakes and soft texture. They taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: One of my favorite quotes comes from Probably More Than You Want To Know About The Fishes Of The Pacific Coast by Milton Love (director of the UCSB Love Lab). In regard to rubberlip perch he says: “What is really cool about these fish is their ability to separate small invertebrates from all the mung they suck in, without having a tongue to help. (Surprise! Fish don’t have tongues. The structure that looks like a one is actually a support for their gill arches.) This trick is equivalent to your putting a bunch of miniature marshmallows, broken glass, fingernail clippings and cubic zirconiums in your mouth, then separating and swallowing only the marshmallows, all without using your tongue or fingernails. Good trick, yes?” This helps explain why the big perch are so difficult to hook. Oh, and if you haven’t yet bought Mr. Love’s book, do it now!
Black Perch
Species: Embiotoca jacksoni (Agassiz, 1853); from the Greek word embiotoca (bringing forth living young), and jacksoni (in honor of A. C. Jackson of San Francisco, who first noted that these perch give birth to living young and brought it to the attention of Alexander Agassiz who described the species).
Alternate Names: Buttermouth perch, black surfperch, black seaperch or bay perch. Often called pogie by anglers in the Bay Area. In Mexico called mojarra negra or perca negra.
Identification: Typical perch shape. Although variable, their coloring is usually black or brown to reddish, and yellowish on the belly; scales often have blue flecking. Lips are orange or yellow and they have a dark “mustache” on the upper lip. Typically they have dark vertical bars on the side; a bluish-white line is often seen at the base of the anal fin. Easily identified by a large patch of enlarged scales between the pectoral and pelvic fins.
Size: To 15.4 inches; most caught from piers are under a foot. The California record fish weighed 2 Lbs. 9 oz. and was taken by Zachery Mitchell at Pacific Grove in 2011. The IGFA World Record fish is listed at 1 Lb 8 oz for a fish caught at the Monterey Coast Guard Pier in Monterey in 2019.
Range: Isla Magdalena and Isla Gudalupe, southern Baja California, to Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, northern California. Common from Punta Abreojos, central Baja California, to Bolinas, Marin County, northern California.
Habitat: Typically found in surface and intertidal waters but recorded to a depth of 239 feet. Most common in eelgrass beds of bays and rocky-shore areas; both in bays and along the coast.
Piers: Common at most piers north to Bodega Bay. Generally caught at bay piers or inshore piling areas of oceanfront piers. Best bets: Imperial Beach Pier, Shelter Island Pier, Oceanside Harbor Pier, Dana Harbor Pier, Long Beach Finger Piers, Redondo Harbor Sportfishing Pier, Hermosa Beach Pier, Venice Pier, Santa Monica Pier, Cabrillo Pier (jetty side), Malibu Pier, Paradise Cove Pier, Goleta Pier, Gaviota Pier, Morro Bay T-Pier, Monterey Coast Guard Pier, Capitola Wharf, Fort Point Pier, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Candlestick Pier, Berkeley Pier, Ferry Point Pier, Paradise Beach Pier, Elephant Rock Pier, Angel Island Pier, and Fort Baker Pier.
Shoreline: One of the main fish for rocky shore anglers in southern and central California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters unless fishing in bays.
Bait and Tackle: Prefers fresh mussels, bloodworms, pile worms, small pieces of shrimp or small rock crabs. Size 8 or 6 hooks fished on the bottom with a high/low leader seem to work best.
Food Value: In the past this was considered a fairly good eating fish. Today, because of our polluted waters, they are considered unfit to eat in some locales. Their flesh has a mild taste, with small flakes and soft texture. As with other perch they taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: Once a favorite spring fish for Bay Area pier fishermen; today there’s a perch closure during the spawning months.
Rainbow Seaperch
Species: Hypsurus caryi (Agassiz, 1853); from the Greek word hyps (high), the Latin word urus (a kind of wild ox) and Greek word cary (a nut)—apparently in reference to the shape.
Alternate Names: Rainbow surfperch, striped perch. Called moharra by the 19th century Portuguese fishermen; another early-day name was bugara. In Mexico called mojarra arcoiris or perca,
Identification: One of the most beautiful fish in California, rainbow seaperch have a typical perch-like shape, although they’re more elongated then striped seaperch and black seaperch. They have red and blue stripes on the sides, bright blue and red-orange pelvic fins, and a dark spot on the soft dorsal fin rays and anal fin. The area between the pelvic and anal fins is flat.
Size: To 12 inches; most caught from piers are 8-10 inches long.
Range: Bahia San Carlos, central Baja California to Cape Mendocino, northern California. Common from northern Baja California, to San Francisco Bay.
Habitat: Shallow-water, rocky-shore areas but recorded to a depth of 165 feet.
Piers: Rainbow seaperch are common at only a few piers. Best bets: Gaviota Pier, Coast Guard Pier (Monterey), Monterey Wharf #2, Santa Cruz Wharf, Fort Point Pier, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Elephant Rock Pier, Fort Baker Pier.
Shoreline: A favored catch for rocky shore anglers in southern and central California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: These small perch are best taken with small size 6 or 8 hooks tied directly to your line, or by using a high/low leader. Best baits are fresh mussels, pile worms or small live rock crabs. Fish directly on the bottom.
Food Value: Fair, although they're almost too pretty to keep. Their flesh is mild in flavor with small flakes and soft texture. They taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: These fish, along with striped seaperch and pileperch, often enter central and northern California streams and spawn in the tidewater areas, when they do fish will be caught on nearly every cast. They put up a spirited fight, but for me, their beauty and fairly small size warrants a return to the water.
Striped Seaperch
Species: Embiotoca lateralis (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek root words embios (living) and tocos (to bring forth) and the Latin word lateralis (lateral, due to their blue stripes).
Alternate Names: Striped surfperch, rainbow perch, blue perch, striped surf fish. Early-day names included squawfish and crugnoli. In Mexico called mojarra azul or perca.
Identification: Striped seaperch have narrow orange and blue longitudinal stripes with blue spots on their head. Their dorsal spines are low and their body is deep and compressed. Dark and light color variations.
Size: To 16.4 inches; most caught from piers are 9-13 inches long. The California record fish weighed 2 lb. 11 oz. and was caught at King Salmon, Humboldt Co. in 2019. Two fish are tied for IGFA World Record. Both weighed 1 Lb 12 oz. One was caught at Tiburon, California in 2016 while the other was taken at Westport, Washington in 2016.
Range: Arrecife Sacramento, central Baja California, to Klakas Inlet in southeastern Alaska. Common from northern Channel Islands, southern California, to Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. Somewhat common in northern Baja California but uncommon in southern California.
Habitat: Typically found in shallow-water, rocky-shore area, most often near the bottom. Recorded to a depth of 312 feet.
Piers: Common at central and northern California piers situated near rocks. Best bets: Cayucos Pier, Santa Cruz Wharf, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Elephant Rock Pier, Point Arena Pier, Trinidad Pier, and Citizens Dock in Crescent City. The Point Arena Pier is undoubtedly the top pier in the state for striped seaperch; late winter to spring will almost always yield perch and most are fairly large fish.
Shoreline: One of the main catches for rocky shore anglers in central and northern California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: A high/low rigging is most commonly used for these large perch. Use a size 6 or 4 hook, a weight heavy enough to keep your bait stationary, and fish on the bottom near the pier. Striped perch most commonly travel in schools; if one is caught more are probably around. These perch will often make a sharp first strike without hooking themselves. Be patient, they will return and often keep pecking at the bait until hooked. The best bait depends on location. North of San Francisco the best bait is fresh mussels, raw shrimp (small pieces), live rock crabs, live pile worms, frozen tube worms and crab backs; in the Bay Area live grass shrimp and fresh mussels are the top baits.
Food Value: Large enough to eat with flesh that is mild in flavor with small flakes and soft texture. They taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: Although these perch are often large, some anglers do not like to fish for them. In the spring, the largest perch will often be females loaded with live young; when landed, the fish will start to give birth and the angler will be faced with the question of what to do with dozens of small live baby perch. A few anglers save them as bait, many throw them in the water, and some simply refuse to keep the mother perch preferring to let nature work its answer to the question of survival.
Pile Perch
Species: Phanerodon vacca (Girard, 1855); from the Latin word vacca (like a cow). Formerly Damalichthys vacca.
Alternate Names: Splittail perch, forktail perch, dusky perch, white perch, silver perch, piler perch, and porgy. In Mexico called mojarra muellera or perca.
Identification: Pile perch are distinguished by the black spot on the cheek, the very deeply forked tail, and the very tall, first soft rays on the dorsal fin that are about twice the height of the last spines. Color is dark brassy-brown, fading to silver on sides and belly; often has yellow pelvic fins. Pile perch have one dusky, vertical bar across the side at about the high point of the soft dorsal. The posterior position of the bar and the deeply forked caudal fin (tail) help distinguish it from sargo.
Size: To 17.4 inches; most caught from piers are 10-14 inches long. The California angling record fish weighed 2 Lbs. 7 oz. and was caught by Amy Young at Morro Bay in 2020. The diving record fish weighed 2 Lbs. 8 oz. and was taken in Stillwater Cove, Pebble Beach in 2011 by Christopher Saul. The IGFA World Record fish is listed at 2 Lbs 8 oz for a fish caught in Tiburon, California in 2016.
Range: Bahia Playa Maria (mainland) and Isla Guadalupe, Isla Cedros and Isla Natividad, central Baja California, to southern British Columbia. Common from Bahia San Carlos, central Baja California, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Unverified report to Port Wrangell, Alaska.
Habitat: Shallow-water, rocky-areas, and around piers and docks, both oceanfront and in bays. Recorded to a depth of 328 feet. Typically they are a bottom dwelling species, called “benthic grazing carnivores” by some. Others classify them as “commuter” fish that move between different habitats in search of prey. All agree they are primarily day feeders seeking out large, hard-shelled invertebrates that they are able to crush with their well developed, fused pharyngeal tooth plates. Since other perch do not share this ability, some scientists feel pile perch should be placed in a separate genus—Danalichthys. Foods include crabs, brittle stars, sand dollars, barnacles, bean clams, (whole) mussels, limpets, dove shells, California cones, Norris top shells, and chitons.
Piers: Pile perch are taken at virtually every pier in California but the largest numbers are taken at Bay Area piers. Best bets: Santa Monica Pier, Stearns Wharf, Goleta Pier, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Berkeley Pier, Point Pinole Pier and McNear Beach Pier.
Shoreline: A favored species for shore anglers fishing in bays throughout the state.
Boats: An inshore species sometimes taken by boaters fishing in bays, especially San Francisco Bay.
Bait and Tackle: Pile perch can be exasperatingly difficult to catch. The large perch will often be seen placidly swimming in clear view around the mussel-covered pilings while refusing to partake of the offerings of the gods up above—anglers whose mojo is evidently on empty. Damalichthys vacca do seem a little easier to catch when in their dense schools a’spawning. Perhaps their pea-sized brains are distracted and normal caution takes a back seat to other thoughts? The most common setup is to use a high/low leader with number 6 or 4 hooks, light line, and a light sinker. Best bait in southern California seems to be fresh mussels, rock crabs or bloodworms. In the Bay Area, grass shrimp, rock crabs, pile worms or fresh mussels are best. In Humboldt Bay, frozen tube worms or crab backs are most commonly used. Usually pile perch are nestled up next to the pilings; fish accordingly. Check out the shoreline by the pier at low tide and grab some local live bait—small crabs, mussels, worms, snails or clams; these will usually make the best bait.
Food Value: One of the larger perch with flesh that is mild in flavor with small flakes and soft texture. They taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: Many years ago, at Newport Pier, I watched an old-timer show one way to catch the perch. Pile perch were doing their typical trick d’tease: big fish showing a leg but refusing to bite. The old-timer tried out a trick of his own. He took out a mass of recently pried loose mussels, at least a dozen in the clump, and in and around this mussel-mass he wound a leader that had several number 8 hooks attached. Then he attached the leader to a handline and carefully dropped it down next to the pilings. This new mini-piling soon attracted the fish and he was able to catch several of the large pile perch. Sporting? I'm not sure, but it sure was effective. Since then, I've seen variations of this technique at both the Santa Monica Pier and at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara and heard stories of its use at the Goleta Pier.
White Seaperch
Species: Phanerodon furcatus (Girard, 1854); from the Greek root words phaneros (evident) and odons (tooth) and the Latin word furcatus (forked tail).
Alternate Names: Splittail perch, forktail perch and white perch. In Mexico called mojarra lomo rayado.
Identification: White seaperch are often confused with pile perch. The tail is deeply forked and the first and second sections of the dorsal fin are about equal height; there is a black line along the base of the soft dorsal. The coloring is light silver or olive on the back, white or dark silver on the belly; often dusky with a rosy-orange cast; yellow at base of pelvic and anal fins. The fins are yellow or dusky. Sometimes with dark spots near the mouth but lacks the dark bar below the dorsal fin seen in pile perch.
Size: To 14.8 inches; most pier-caught fish are 8 to 10 inches long.
Range: Bahia San Carlos, Isla Cedros, and Islas San Benito, central Baja California, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Common from Bahia San Quintin, northern Baja California, to California.
Habitat: Shallow-water areas both oceanfront and in bays, especially around combinations of rocks and fine sand. Recorded to a depth of 282 feet. Tends to form small schools.
Piers: White seaperch can be caught on almost every pier in the state but in southern California they're most commonly caught on piers inside of bays or harbors. Best bets: Shelter Island Pier, Oceanside Harbor Pier, Dana Point Harbor Pier, Redondo Sportfishing Pier, Santa Cruz Wharf, Pacifica Pier, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Santa Cruz Wharf, Berkeley Pier, Fort Baker Pier and the Commercial Street Dock (Eureka).
Shoreline: A common catch for shore anglers throughout the state, especially in bays.
Boats: An inshore species sometimes taken by boaters fishing in bays, especially San Francisco Bay.
Bait and Tackle: Normal gear is a high/low leader equipped with size 6 or 4 hooks fished on or near the bottom. White seaperch are not as finicky as pileperch or other seaperch and will take a wider variety of baits. However, live seaworms, fresh mussels, and live shrimp are the best bait.
Food Value: Large enough to eat with flesh that is mild in flavor with small flakes and soft texture. They taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: White seaperch are often found together with pile perch and blackperch.
Shiner Perch
Species: Cymatogaster aggregata (Gibbons, 1854); from the Greek root words cymo (foetus or fetus) and gastro (belly) and the Latin word aggregatus (crowded together, referring to the schooling nature of the fish).
Alternate Names: Commonly called shiner; also 7-11 perch, leven perch, yellow perch, bay perch, yellow shiner. Called minnow, shiner, or sparda by 19th century fishermen. In Mexico called majarra brillosa or perca.
Identification: Their coloring is gray to greenish above, and silvery below. Females have three yellow bars on the side; the males typically only have yellow bars during the winter, in the breeding season they are nearly black.
Size: To 8.3 inches; most caught from piers are 4-6 inches in length.
Range: Punta Baja, northern Baja California, to Saint John Baptist Bay, southeastern Alaska. Common from northern Baja California to Alaska.
Habitat: Typically shallow water bay and oceanfront areas although recorded to a depth of 480 feet. Shiner surfperch prefer eelgrass beds in bays and are especially common around piers.
Piers: Shiners are one of the most numerous fish taken at California piers.
Shoreline: A frequent catch throughout California’s bays.
Boats: Rarely taken from boats.
Bait and Tackle: For most anglers, the problem with these fish is how to keep them off your hook, not how to get them on. If you are using small hooks (under a size 4) and small bait, especially pieces of worm, and if shiners are around, you will probably catch them. However, some may actually want to catch them—they are great fun for kids. They also make good live bait for larger species like striped bass and halibut. To catch them, simply use small hooks (size 8), a small piece of bait, and fish from the top to the mid-depth level of the water.
Food Value: Too small—throw 'em back since they attract the larger game fish to the pier. Actually some ethnic groups do eat them; they're often pickled and some people like to dry them and use them in Oriental dishes. As per other perch, they are mild in flavor and soft in texture.
Comments: Shiners can be a problem when you are using expensive pile worms or bloodworms and fishing for the larger perch.
Sharpnose Seaperch
Species: Phanerodon atripes (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880); from the Greek root words phaneros (meaning evident) and odons (tooth) and the Latin words atri (entrance) and pes (base of).
Alternate Names: Blackfoot seaperch and sharpnose surfperch. In Mexico called mojarra picuda.
Identification: These surfperch are very similar in shape to the white seaperch but coloring is different and the pelvic fins are black tipped. Their coloring is silvery with reddish-brown marks on the back, and dusky pelvic fins.
Size: To 11.5 inches but most caught off piers are between 8-10 inches.
Range: Islas San Benito, central Baja California, to Yaquina Bay, Oregon. Common from Punta Baja, northern Baja California, to central California.
Habitat: Shallow to deep water and around kelp beds.
Piers: This is a perch that is often found in deep water—down to 750 feet deep. However, during summer months it moves into shallower waters to spawn. During those months it is an infrequent catch at several Monterey Bay piers. Best bets are Monterey Wharf #2, Monterey Coast Guard Pier and the Santa Cruz Wharf.
Shoreline: An occasional catch by shore anglers in central California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken from boats.
Bait and Tackle: By far, the best bait is live pile worms or small crabs; next would be fresh mussels or small pieces of shrimp. The most common setup used by locals in Monterey is a small size 8 hook fished directly on the end of the line with a small split-shot sinker attached a short way up from the hook. Above this is attached a small bobber which indicates when the fish bites; anglers here seem to give a quick jerk to try to hook the light-biting fish. The fish are generally found in the surface canopy or mid-depth area, which is one reason for using the bobber. The ones I have caught were all taken on a high/low leader.
Food Value: Most are fairly small yielding little meat. The flesh is mild in flavor with small flakes and soft texture. They taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: This seems to be one of the harder perch to hook. I spent several exasperating hours fishing for these perch and watching locals (a few with the know-how) catch them before I caught my first sharpnose seaperch. However, since then I’ve caught several of the fish at the pier using my normal high/low leader and adjusting the depth of the line to where I was getting bites.
For whatever reason, there has seemed to be considerable fluctuations in the population of these fish over the years—or at least in the reported population. Jordan and Gilbert (1882) said “Monterey Bay, locally abundant,” while Eigenmann (1893) said “the commonest species in Monterey Bay.” However few sharpnose were reported in Fish and Game surveys over the years until the 1960s when they again began to show up in decent numbers.
It’s reported that sharpnose seaperch act as “cleaner fish” during the fall when Mola mola, the ocean sunfish, come in to the shallow waters at Point Lobos.
Kelp Perch
Species: Brachyistius frenatus (Gill, 1862); from the Greek words brachys (short) and istion (sail), and the Latin word frenatus (bridled).
Alternate Names: Brown seaperch, brown perch and kelp seaperch. In Mexico called mojarra sargacera or perca.
Identification: Typical perch shape. Kelp perch have a compressed body, long pointed snout, long dorsal fin spines and coloring that is generally golden-brown to reddish above and tan below. There is usually a pale stripe on the upper side and sometimes blue spotting.
Size: To 8 1/2 inches (.3 pounds) but most caught from piers are around 6 inches in length.
Range: Bahia Tortugas, central Baja California, to near Sitka, southeastern Alaska.
Habitat: Typically found in intertidal waters although recorded to a depth of 249 feet. Typically seen around offshore kelp beds but will move in around piers which have a heavy growth of kelp. Usually a kelp-canopy, dwelling species that likes to pick small invertebrates off of plants.
Piers: Seen in late summer at piers with heavy kelp. Best bets: Cabrillo Mole in Avalon, Paradise Cove Pier, Goleta Pier, Gaviota Pier and the Spud Point Marina Pier (Bodega Bay).
Shoreline: Occasionally taken by shore anglers in central California.
Boats: A small, inshore species rarely taken from boats.
Bait and Tackle: Use light tackle with small number 8 or 6 hooks and a small piece of bloodworm, shrimp or mussel.
Food Value: Too small and pretty; throw ‘em back.
Comments: A “cleaner fish” that often picks ectoparasites off the bodies of larger fish. Sounds yucky!
Dwarf Perch
Species: Micrometrus minimus (Gibbons, 1854); from the Greek words mikros (small) and metr (having a womb), and the Latin word minim (smallest).
Alternate Names: None that I have heard, although I have seen them mistakenly called shinerperch. In Mexico called mojarra enana or perca.
Identification: Typical perch shape. Dwarf perch have a compressed body; their longest dorsal fin spines are slightly longer than or same length as soft rays. They have a black triangle (crescent-shaped) at the base of the pectoral fin. Their coloring is silver with greenish blue reflections, and yellow on sides with dark stripes. The dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins usually have a black blotch.
Size: To 6.3 inches. Those caught from piers are normally 4-6 inches.
Range: Punta Baja (mainland) and Isla Cedros, central Baja California, to Salt Point, Sonoma County, northern California. Common from Bahia Playa Maria, central Baja California, to Sonoma County, northern California.
Habitat: Rocky shallow-water areas, among seaweed, and beds of eelgrass and surfgrass. Recorded to a depth of only 30 feet. Primarily feed on small crustaceans.
Piers: Although dwarf perch can be caught at most southern and central California piers, they are most common at piers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Best bets: Fort Point Pier, Fort Mason Piers, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Berkeley Pier, Port View Park Pier, Paradise Beach Pier and Fort Baker Pier.
Shoreline: Occasionally taken by shore anglers in central California.
Boats: A small, inshore species rarely taken from boats.
Bait and Tackle: These fish are sometimes taken on light tackle by anglers fishing for larger perch. Hook size number 8 and a small piece of bait, especially pile worm.
Food Value: Too small so throw ‘em back.
Comments: They are good striper bait.
Reef Perch
Species: Micrometrus aurora (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880); from the Greek words mikros (small) and metr (having a womb), and the Latin word aurora (sunrise). Family Embiotocidae, subfamily Embiotocinae.
Alternate Names: Reef surfperch. In Mexico called mojarra de arrecife or perca.
Identification: Typical perch shape with the longest dorsal fin spines slightly longer or same length as the soft rays. Silvery with blue, green, and black on back; yellow or yellow-orange stripe on sides from the pectoral fin almost to the caudal fin. Triangular, crescent-shaped black patch at base of pectoral fin and a large patch of black-tipped scales between the pectoral and anal fins.
Size: To 7.1 inches. Those caught off piers are generally 4-6 inches long.
Range: Punta Baja, central Baja California, to Tomales Bay, northern California.
Habitat: Usually found in intertidal areas in water six feet or less and only recorded to a depth of 30 feet. Generally found over surfgrass and red and green algae; primarily feeds on algae and small invertebrates.
Piers: A fairly rare species to most piers. I’ve only taken two, one from the Gaviota Pier (1996) and one from the Elephant Rock Pier in San Francisco Bay (2006).
Shoreline: An infrequent catch by shore anglers.
Boats: A small, inshore species rarely taken from boats.
Bait and Tackle: Occasionally taken on light tackle by anglers fishing for larger perch. Hook size number 8 and a small piece of bait, especially pile worm.
Food Value: Too small so throw ‘em back.
Comments: An attractive little perch that should be given the chance to frolic out their lives as nature intended.
Surfperches—Family Embiotocidae
Barred Surfperch Species: Amphistichus argenteus (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek word amphistichus (a double series, concerning the two rows of teeth in each jaw), and the Latin word argenteus (silvery).
Alternate Names: Silver perch, barreds, sand perch, surfperch, and silver surf fish. In Mexico called mojarra de bandas or perca.
Identification: Barred surfperch are one of three large surfperch with bronze or brassy bars on the side. Their coloring is brassy or silvery; olive-green to yellow-green on the back, silvery below; no red in their tail. Most have vertical yellow or gold bars on the sides, generally with a few spots between the bars; some are seen lacking the bars on the sides. The upper jaw extends slightly beyond the lower jaw with the lower edge of eye above the mouth. Dorsal spines are always shorter than the longest dorsal soft-rays.
Size: Up to 17 inches and 4 1/2 pounds (a nine-year-old fish); most caught from piers are less than 14 inches in length. Two fish share the title of California record fish at a weight of 4 lb. 2 oz. One was caught in Morro Bay in 1995 and the second was caught in Oxnard in 1996. The IGFA Word Record fish is listed at 4 Lbs 12 oz for a fish caught at Guadalupe, California n 2016.
Range: Bahia Santa Rosalia, central Baja California, to Bodega Bay, California. Common from Punta Blance, central Baja California, to San Francisco.
Habitat: Typically found in the surf zone, shallow-water, sandy-shore areas where markings blend with the wave churned environment (although some feel a large population lives in deeper water.) Recorded to a depth of 262 feet. Primarily feeds on sand crabs; also bean clams and small mussels.
Piers: Barred surfperch are common at almost all sandy-shore, oceanfront piers, north to the Pacifica Pier. Best bets: Imperial Beach Pier, Crystal Pier, Oceanside Pier, Huntington Beach Pier, Hermosa Beach Pier, Malibu Pier, Ventura Pier, Goleta Pier, Gaviota Pier, Pismo Beach Pier, Avila Pier, Cayucos Pier and San Simeon Pier. Quite a few are also taken further north, especially at the Capitola Wharf, Santa Cruz Wharf and at the Pacifica Pier.
Shoreline: One of the main fish for sandy shore anglers in southern and central California anglers. Several areas see barred surfperch derbies.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: By far, the best bait for these perch are live sand crabs, which make up 90% of the diet of barred surfperch. Live sea worms, mussels and clams would be the next best baits but barreds are landed on just about every bait imaginable (and many regulars use nothing but plastic grubs). Light to medium tackle can be used depending on conditions. Since the best water to fish is found just outside the first set of breakers, most anglers use a pyramid sinker (with whatever size sinker is needed to hold the bait in place). Line can be 8-to 20-pound test. A high/low leader is most often used with size 6 to 2 hooks. Barred surfperch are caught year-round, but December-January are the best months in southern California according to the California Fish & Game studies. The same studies found the Oceanside area to be the top producer of fish.
Food Value: Mild-flavored flesh with small flakes and a soft texture. The flesh is white colored and low in fat content. Can be cooked in any manner but most commonly fried.
Comments: There are three species of surfperch that are large and which are predominate in the inshore surf area: barred surfperch, calico surfperch and redtail surfperch. Barred surfperch are the number one surf-area fish caught on southern California piers. North of Morro Bay, calico surfperch start to replace barred surfperch as the main inshore perch species; north of San Francisco, redtail surfperch replace the calico surfperch. At the Pacifica Pier it is occasionally possible to catch all three species on the same trip, a trifecta of sorts. Barred surfperch put up a spirited fight and are a favorite of surf fishermen.
Of note was a study done by the Department of Fish and Game in the Bolsa Chica-Hermosa Beach area between 2007 and 2009. One conclusion was that the number of barred surfperch in that area had increased relative to the 90s. However, barred surfperch dropped from third to tenth place relative to other surf species collected.
Calico Surfperch
Species: Amphistichus koelzi (Hubbs, 1933); from the Greek words amphi (double) and stoichos (series, referring to the two rows of teeth in each jaw) and Walter Koelz, a U.S. ichthyologist.
Alternate Names: Surf perch, humpback perch, porgie (or porgee). Called majarra angaripola or perca in Mexico.
Identification: Their coloring is silvery, with olive-green mottling and bars on sides (bars usually broken and disconnected); most fins are reddish colored; caudal fin (tail) pinkish to deep red. Longest dorsal fin spines about equal to or slightly longer than longest dorsal soft-ray; pronounced notch between dorsal fin hard rays and soft rays. Lower edge of eye is below the upper lip. More disc-like shaped than in redtail surfperch.
Size: To 12.8 inches; most caught from piers are 9-11 inches long. The California record fish weighed 2 Lbs. 4 oz. and was taken at Santa Cruz in 2023. The IGFA World Record fish is listed at 2 Lbs 0 oz for a fish taken in Morro Bay in 2006.
Range: Los Ojitos, central Baja California, Arroyo San Isidro, northern Baja California, to Shi Shi Beach, Cape Flattery, Washington. Common from northern Baja California to about southern Oregon.
Habitat: Typically in surf zone, shallow-water, sandy-shore areas; recorded to a depth of 30 feet.
Piers: Calico surfperch are the number one large surfperch caught on central California piers north of Cayucos. In the Pismo Beach-Cayucos region, large numbers of both barred surfperch and calico surfperch are caught; more barred surfperch are landed but the calico surfperch will be slightly larger in size. Best bets: Avila Pier, Cayucos Pier, San Simeon Pier, Capitola Wharf, Santa Cruz Wharf, Pacifica Pier and (surprisingly) Point Arena Pier.
Shoreline: One of the main fish for sandy shore anglers in central California anglers.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: Bait and tackle is the same for all three of the large surfperch. Best bait is live sand crabs followed by live sea worms (pile worms or bloodworms); next would be fresh mussels, shrimp or clams. Tackle should be heavy enough to hold bottom in the surf area, and hooks should be size 6 to size 2 baited on a high/low leader.
Food Value: Mild-flavored flesh with small flakes and a soft texture. The flesh is white colored and low in fat content. Can be cooked in any manner but most commonly fried.
Comments: Calico surfperch will often school right around the inshore pilings; at times, fishing right under the pier, as close to these pilings as possible, will yield the largest fish. Calicos are sometimes mistaken for redtail surfperch.
Redtail Surfperch
Species: Amphistichus rhodoterus (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek words amphi (double), stoichus (series, referring to the two rows of teeth in each jaw), and rhodoterus (rosy).
Alternate Names: Redtail perch, rosy surf fish and porgy (or porgie).
Identification: Their coloring is silver with olive green mottling and bars on side; fins red with the caudal fin (their tail) pink to deep purple. The longest dorsal spines are much longer than the dorsal soft-rays. More elongate than calico surfperch.
Size: To 16 inches and 4 pounds; most caught from piers are under a foot in length. The California record fish weighed 3 Lbs. 7 oz. and was taken at Kellogg Beach, Del Norte Co. in 2012. The IGFA World Record fish is listed at 1 Lb 4 oz for a fish caught at Orick, California in 2013.
Range: Punta Baja, northern Baja California, to Kyuquot Channel, northwest British Columbia. Common from northern California, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Habitat: Surf zone, shallow-water, sandy-shore, oceanfront areas; recorded to a depth of 24 feet. Although generally found in the open ocean, they enter sheltered estuaries and bays just before spawning in the spring and early summer. At such times, hundreds of fish may be concentrated in a fairly small area and it's pretty easy for anglers to catch a limit.
Piers: Commonly caught at sandy-shore piers and bay piers north of Pacifica. Best bets: Pacifica Pier, Del Norte St. Pier (Eureka), and both the “B” Street Pier and Citizen's Dock in Crescent City.
Shoreline: One of the main fish for sandy shore anglers in northern California anglers.
Boats: An inshore species but sometimes taken by boaters fishing Humboldt Bay.
Bait and Tackle: Use medium tackle, a large enough sinker to hold bottom, a high/low sinker, and hooks size 6 to 2. Best baits include live sand crabs (in the surf areas), fresh mussels, pile worms or bloodworms, and clams. North of Eureka, two favorite baits are tube worms (generally frozen) and crab backs.
Food Value: Mild-flavored flesh with small flakes and a soft texture. The flesh is white colored and low in fat content. Can be cooked in any manner but most commonly fried.
Comments: Redtail surfperch, along with barred surfperch and calico surfperch make up the trio of large surfperch that dominate action on the surf end of most California piers; all are fine sportfish and fine eating.
Walleye Surfperch
Species: Hyperprosopon argenteum (Gibbons, 1854); from the Greek root words hyper (above) and prosopon (face, from the upward direction of the face) and the Latin word argenteum (silvery).
Alternate Names: Silver perch, white perch, surf fish, bigeye perch, and China pompano. In Mexico called mojarra ojona or perca. Occasionally called wally perch, probably by those who have watched too many Leave It To Beaver reruns.
Identification: Typical perch shape. Identified by the tips of the pelvic fins being black and their very large eyes. Their coloring is silver with some duskiness on the back. Can have bars or no bars on their sides.
Size: To 12 inches; most caught from piers are less than 10 inches in length. Fish caught in northern California tend to be larger than those caught in the south.
Range: Punta San Rosarito and Isla Cedros, central Baja California, to Willapa Bay, Washington. Common from Bahia Playa Maria, central Baja California, to Oregon.
Habitat: In shallow-water areas, near both sand and rocks. Common in both oceanfront areas (throughout the year) and in bays (primarily during the summer). Often found in dense schools consisting of several hundred fish. They’re considered a nocturnal species that feeds mostly at night (although I’ve never had a problem catching them during the day.
Piers: Walleye are one of the main catches at almost every oceanfront pier in the state but larger concentrations seem to exist in the north. Best bets: Crystal Pier, Seal Beach Pier, Malibu Pier, Gaviota Pier, Pismo Beach Pier, Avila Pier, San Simeon Pier, Capitola Wharf, Pacifica Pier, Fort Point Pier, Elephant Rock Pier, Fort Baker Pier, Point Arena Pier, and the Commercial Street Dock in Eureka.
Shoreline: One of the main fish for sandy shore anglers in California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: Tackle can be kept light. Best bet is to rig a modified snag line, three or four size 8 hooks, each baited with a very small strip of anchovy and a 1/2-to 1-ounce sinker. Cast the rig out, let it sink to the bottom, then begin a slow retrieve; the walleye surfperch will often follow it from the bottom to mid-depth range and hit it on the way up. Many, many times I have seen anglers trying to catch these fish but failing simply because their bait or rigging was too large; walleyes have small mouths and will peck away at larger baits but not be hooked. Walleye will eat shrimp, mussels, worms, squid and pieces of fish, but small strips of anchovy have proven to be the main winner in my experiences.
Food Value: Mild-flavored flesh with small flakes and a soft texture. The flesh is white colored and low in fat content. Can be cooked in any manner but most commonly fried. Many walleye are really too small to have much meat available but can be cooked whole.
Comments: This fish numerically ranks first among the fish I have caught at California's piers. In the Department of Fish & Game studies, it ranked fourth among all pier-caught fish in southern California, and third among fish in central and northern California.
Of note was a study done by the Department of Fish and Game in the Bolsa Chica-Hermosa Beach area between 2007 and 2009. Walleye surfperch ranked fourth among surf fish collected in the study and showed an increase in numbers from the 1990s.
Silver Surfperch
Species: Hyperprosopon ellipticum (Gibbons, 1854); from the Greek root words hyper (above) and prosopon (face, from the upward direction of the face), and the Latin word ellipticum (elliptical, referring to the outline of the body).
Alternate Names: Silver perch or surfperch. In Mexico called mojarra ovalada or perca.
Identification: Their coloring is silver with duskiness on the back and the tail is usually pink. They have no spots on the fins with the exception (generally) of a small orange spot on the anal fin and sometimes a dark patch at the base of the anal fin. Often confused with walleye surfperch but the tips of the pelvic fins ARE NOT black and they do not have the large eyes like walleye surfperch.
Size: To 10.5 inches; those caught off piers are usually 6-8 inches long.
Range: Rio San Vicente, northern Baja California, to Schooner Cove, near Ucluelet and Brooks Peninsula, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Common from Santa Rosa Island, southern California, and central California, to Oregon. Uncommon along the mainland coast of southern California. I have only caught two silver surfperch from piers in SoCal, one at the Crystal Pier in San Diego and one at the Newport Pier.
Habitat: Intertidal, shallow-water areas near both sand and rock. Common in both oceanfront areas and in bays. Recorded to a depth of 360 feet.
Piers: Most common on central and northern California piers. Best bets: Pismo Beach Pier, Santa Cruz Wharf, Pacifica Pier (#1), Fort Point Pier, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Elephant Rock Pier, Fort Baker Pier, Point Arena Pier, Commercial Street Dock (Eureka), and the Trinidad Pier.
Shoreline: One of the main fish for sandy shore anglers in central and northern California anglers.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: Silver surfperch can be caught similarly to walleye surfperch with the following modifications: silver surfperch are usually mid-depth to the top of the water so fish off the bottom; and silver surfperch are more likely to take a worm-baited hook than walleye surfperch.
Food Value: Mild-flavored flesh with small flakes and a soft texture. The flesh is white colored and low in fat content. Can be cooked in any manner but most commonly fried. Many silvers are really too small to have much meat available but can be cooked whole.
Comments: Silver surfperch are very attractive perch that, in northern areas, seem to average much larger size than silver surfperch in the south. They are one of the main fish caught by pier anglers in central and northern California.
Spotfin Surfperch
Species: Hyperprosopon anale (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek root words hyper (above) and prosopon (face, from the upward direction of the face) and the Greek prefix ana (back again or similar).
Alternate Names: Silver perch. In Mexico called mojarra aletimanchada or perca.
Identification: Although similar to both the walleye surfperch and silver surfperch, the spotfin surfperch is identified by the large black spots in the dorsal and anal fins. Their coloring is a silver body with a dusky back.
Size: To 8 inches; most caught from piers are around five to six inches in length.
Range: Bahia Blanca, central Baja California, to Seal Rock, Oregon. Common from northern California to the Santa Barbara Channel in southern California.
Habitat: Intertidal, shallow-water, sandy-shore areas. Recorded to a depth of 331 feet.
Piers: Although relatively rare at southern and northern California piers they do show up along the central coast. At the Pacifica Pier they will often be mixed in with schools of walleye and silver surfperch. A few are taken at piers located near the entrance to San Francisco Bay, especially the Fort Baker and Fort Point Piers. Best bet: Pacifica Pier.
Shoreline: An occasional catch by sandy shore anglers in central California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: Spotfin are often taken incidentally by anglers pursuing the larger walleye and silver surfperch. Although some anglers save the fish for pan-frying, most are really too small, in my opinion, to keep. Anglers wanting to catch the fish should try size 8 or 6 hooks baited with small pieces of pile worms or a very small strip of anchovy. However, most are taken by anglers using Sabiki/Lucky Lura-type bait riggings and light tackle.
Food Value: Generally too small to eat so throw them back.
Comments: This is an attractive little fish that should be returned to the water unless the angler desires to use it as bait for larger fish, i.e., halibut.
Rubberlip Seaperch
Species: Rhacochilus toxotes (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek words rhacochilus (rag lip) and toxotes (pertaining to the East Indian archer fish, because of a presumed resemblance).
Alternate Names: Buttermouth perch, porgee, sprat, or liverlip. In the 19th century these were called sprat at Santa Cruz, and alfione at Soquel. Called mojarra labios de hule or perca labios de hule in Mexico.
Identification: Typical perch-shape with a deep and heavy body. Their coloring is brown, silvery or brassy with thick, rubbery lips that are usually white or pink.
Size: Rubberlip seaperch are the largest species of the surfperch/seaperch family and reach 18.5 inches in length. Most caught from piers are less than 13 inches long. The California angling record fish weighed 5 lb. 0 oz. and was taken at Monterey Bay, Monterey Co. in June 2009. The previous record, a 4 lb. 4 oz. fish, was taken in 1995 at the Monterey Dunes. The diving record fish weighed 4 Lbs. 10 oz. and was taken at Carmel in 2012. The IGFA World Record fish is listed at 2 Lbs 12 oz for a fish caught in Tiburon, California in 2012.
Range: Cabo Thurloe, southern Baja California, to Russian Gulch Beach, Mendocino County, California. Common from Bahia San Carlos, central Baja California, to San Francisco. Most commonly found in the Monterey Bay area.
Habitat: Surf zone, shallow-water rocky areas, kelp beds and bays. Scientists report that rubberlips primarily feed at night on thin-shelled invertebrates. Are the perch able to spot the tasty morsels with their super-keen eyesight? No, rubberlips appear to use their sensitive lips (remember, some fish have taste buds on their lips) to detect their nightly dinner.
Piers: A primarily southern and central California perch, common at bay and oceanfront piers, at least those located near rocky areas, reefs or kelp beds. Best bets: Ocean Beach Pier, Paradise Cove Pier, Stearns Wharf, Goleta Pier, Gaviota Pier, Monterey Coast Guard Pier, Monterey Wharf No. 2, Capitola Wharf, Santa Cruz Wharf, San Francisco Municipal Pier and Fort Baker Pier.
Shoreline: A favorite catch by rocky shore anglers in southern and central California.
Boats: An inshore species sometimes taken by boaters fishing in bays, especially San Francisco Bay.
Bait and Tackle: Rubberlip seaperch are usually taken on a high/low leader and size 6 or 4 hooks baited with fresh mussels, live sea worms, or small pieces of shrimp. Those with the proper know how use plastic grubs (usually root beer or oil colored) and they are the ones who often bag the largest fish. Small 1/12 or 1/8 oz. chrome, chrome with blue, or chrome with green Krocodiles have also proven to be very effective.
Food Value: Since they are one of the largest perch, specimens often contain quite a bit of meat. Although their flesh has a mild taste, most gourmets rate it only fair with small flakes and soft texture. They taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: One of my favorite quotes comes from Probably More Than You Want To Know About The Fishes Of The Pacific Coast by Milton Love (director of the UCSB Love Lab). In regard to rubberlip perch he says: “What is really cool about these fish is their ability to separate small invertebrates from all the mung they suck in, without having a tongue to help. (Surprise! Fish don’t have tongues. The structure that looks like a one is actually a support for their gill arches.) This trick is equivalent to your putting a bunch of miniature marshmallows, broken glass, fingernail clippings and cubic zirconiums in your mouth, then separating and swallowing only the marshmallows, all without using your tongue or fingernails. Good trick, yes?” This helps explain why the big perch are so difficult to hook. Oh, and if you haven’t yet bought Mr. Love’s book, do it now!
Black Perch
Species: Embiotoca jacksoni (Agassiz, 1853); from the Greek word embiotoca (bringing forth living young), and jacksoni (in honor of A. C. Jackson of San Francisco, who first noted that these perch give birth to living young and brought it to the attention of Alexander Agassiz who described the species).
Alternate Names: Buttermouth perch, black surfperch, black seaperch or bay perch. Often called pogie by anglers in the Bay Area. In Mexico called mojarra negra or perca negra.
Identification: Typical perch shape. Although variable, their coloring is usually black or brown to reddish, and yellowish on the belly; scales often have blue flecking. Lips are orange or yellow and they have a dark “mustache” on the upper lip. Typically they have dark vertical bars on the side; a bluish-white line is often seen at the base of the anal fin. Easily identified by a large patch of enlarged scales between the pectoral and pelvic fins.
Size: To 15.4 inches; most caught from piers are under a foot. The California record fish weighed 2 Lbs. 9 oz. and was taken by Zachery Mitchell at Pacific Grove in 2011. The IGFA World Record fish is listed at 1 Lb 8 oz for a fish caught at the Monterey Coast Guard Pier in Monterey in 2019.
Range: Isla Magdalena and Isla Gudalupe, southern Baja California, to Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, northern California. Common from Punta Abreojos, central Baja California, to Bolinas, Marin County, northern California.
Habitat: Typically found in surface and intertidal waters but recorded to a depth of 239 feet. Most common in eelgrass beds of bays and rocky-shore areas; both in bays and along the coast.
Piers: Common at most piers north to Bodega Bay. Generally caught at bay piers or inshore piling areas of oceanfront piers. Best bets: Imperial Beach Pier, Shelter Island Pier, Oceanside Harbor Pier, Dana Harbor Pier, Long Beach Finger Piers, Redondo Harbor Sportfishing Pier, Hermosa Beach Pier, Venice Pier, Santa Monica Pier, Cabrillo Pier (jetty side), Malibu Pier, Paradise Cove Pier, Goleta Pier, Gaviota Pier, Morro Bay T-Pier, Monterey Coast Guard Pier, Capitola Wharf, Fort Point Pier, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Candlestick Pier, Berkeley Pier, Ferry Point Pier, Paradise Beach Pier, Elephant Rock Pier, Angel Island Pier, and Fort Baker Pier.
Shoreline: One of the main fish for rocky shore anglers in southern and central California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters unless fishing in bays.
Bait and Tackle: Prefers fresh mussels, bloodworms, pile worms, small pieces of shrimp or small rock crabs. Size 8 or 6 hooks fished on the bottom with a high/low leader seem to work best.
Food Value: In the past this was considered a fairly good eating fish. Today, because of our polluted waters, they are considered unfit to eat in some locales. Their flesh has a mild taste, with small flakes and soft texture. As with other perch they taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: Once a favorite spring fish for Bay Area pier fishermen; today there’s a perch closure during the spawning months.
Rainbow Seaperch
Species: Hypsurus caryi (Agassiz, 1853); from the Greek word hyps (high), the Latin word urus (a kind of wild ox) and Greek word cary (a nut)—apparently in reference to the shape.
Alternate Names: Rainbow surfperch, striped perch. Called moharra by the 19th century Portuguese fishermen; another early-day name was bugara. In Mexico called mojarra arcoiris or perca,
Identification: One of the most beautiful fish in California, rainbow seaperch have a typical perch-like shape, although they’re more elongated then striped seaperch and black seaperch. They have red and blue stripes on the sides, bright blue and red-orange pelvic fins, and a dark spot on the soft dorsal fin rays and anal fin. The area between the pelvic and anal fins is flat.
Size: To 12 inches; most caught from piers are 8-10 inches long.
Range: Bahia San Carlos, central Baja California to Cape Mendocino, northern California. Common from northern Baja California, to San Francisco Bay.
Habitat: Shallow-water, rocky-shore areas but recorded to a depth of 165 feet.
Piers: Rainbow seaperch are common at only a few piers. Best bets: Gaviota Pier, Coast Guard Pier (Monterey), Monterey Wharf #2, Santa Cruz Wharf, Fort Point Pier, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Elephant Rock Pier, Fort Baker Pier.
Shoreline: A favored catch for rocky shore anglers in southern and central California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: These small perch are best taken with small size 6 or 8 hooks tied directly to your line, or by using a high/low leader. Best baits are fresh mussels, pile worms or small live rock crabs. Fish directly on the bottom.
Food Value: Fair, although they're almost too pretty to keep. Their flesh is mild in flavor with small flakes and soft texture. They taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: These fish, along with striped seaperch and pileperch, often enter central and northern California streams and spawn in the tidewater areas, when they do fish will be caught on nearly every cast. They put up a spirited fight, but for me, their beauty and fairly small size warrants a return to the water.
Striped Seaperch
Species: Embiotoca lateralis (Agassiz, 1854); from the Greek root words embios (living) and tocos (to bring forth) and the Latin word lateralis (lateral, due to their blue stripes).
Alternate Names: Striped surfperch, rainbow perch, blue perch, striped surf fish. Early-day names included squawfish and crugnoli. In Mexico called mojarra azul or perca.
Identification: Striped seaperch have narrow orange and blue longitudinal stripes with blue spots on their head. Their dorsal spines are low and their body is deep and compressed. Dark and light color variations.
Size: To 16.4 inches; most caught from piers are 9-13 inches long. The California record fish weighed 2 lb. 11 oz. and was caught at King Salmon, Humboldt Co. in 2019. Two fish are tied for IGFA World Record. Both weighed 1 Lb 12 oz. One was caught at Tiburon, California in 2016 while the other was taken at Westport, Washington in 2016.
Range: Arrecife Sacramento, central Baja California, to Klakas Inlet in southeastern Alaska. Common from northern Channel Islands, southern California, to Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. Somewhat common in northern Baja California but uncommon in southern California.
Habitat: Typically found in shallow-water, rocky-shore area, most often near the bottom. Recorded to a depth of 312 feet.
Piers: Common at central and northern California piers situated near rocks. Best bets: Cayucos Pier, Santa Cruz Wharf, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Elephant Rock Pier, Point Arena Pier, Trinidad Pier, and Citizens Dock in Crescent City. The Point Arena Pier is undoubtedly the top pier in the state for striped seaperch; late winter to spring will almost always yield perch and most are fairly large fish.
Shoreline: One of the main catches for rocky shore anglers in central and northern California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken by boaters.
Bait and Tackle: A high/low rigging is most commonly used for these large perch. Use a size 6 or 4 hook, a weight heavy enough to keep your bait stationary, and fish on the bottom near the pier. Striped perch most commonly travel in schools; if one is caught more are probably around. These perch will often make a sharp first strike without hooking themselves. Be patient, they will return and often keep pecking at the bait until hooked. The best bait depends on location. North of San Francisco the best bait is fresh mussels, raw shrimp (small pieces), live rock crabs, live pile worms, frozen tube worms and crab backs; in the Bay Area live grass shrimp and fresh mussels are the top baits.
Food Value: Large enough to eat with flesh that is mild in flavor with small flakes and soft texture. They taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: Although these perch are often large, some anglers do not like to fish for them. In the spring, the largest perch will often be females loaded with live young; when landed, the fish will start to give birth and the angler will be faced with the question of what to do with dozens of small live baby perch. A few anglers save them as bait, many throw them in the water, and some simply refuse to keep the mother perch preferring to let nature work its answer to the question of survival.
Pile Perch
Species: Phanerodon vacca (Girard, 1855); from the Latin word vacca (like a cow). Formerly Damalichthys vacca.
Alternate Names: Splittail perch, forktail perch, dusky perch, white perch, silver perch, piler perch, and porgy. In Mexico called mojarra muellera or perca.
Identification: Pile perch are distinguished by the black spot on the cheek, the very deeply forked tail, and the very tall, first soft rays on the dorsal fin that are about twice the height of the last spines. Color is dark brassy-brown, fading to silver on sides and belly; often has yellow pelvic fins. Pile perch have one dusky, vertical bar across the side at about the high point of the soft dorsal. The posterior position of the bar and the deeply forked caudal fin (tail) help distinguish it from sargo.
Size: To 17.4 inches; most caught from piers are 10-14 inches long. The California angling record fish weighed 2 Lbs. 7 oz. and was caught by Amy Young at Morro Bay in 2020. The diving record fish weighed 2 Lbs. 8 oz. and was taken in Stillwater Cove, Pebble Beach in 2011 by Christopher Saul. The IGFA World Record fish is listed at 2 Lbs 8 oz for a fish caught in Tiburon, California in 2016.
Range: Bahia Playa Maria (mainland) and Isla Guadalupe, Isla Cedros and Isla Natividad, central Baja California, to southern British Columbia. Common from Bahia San Carlos, central Baja California, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Unverified report to Port Wrangell, Alaska.
Habitat: Shallow-water, rocky-areas, and around piers and docks, both oceanfront and in bays. Recorded to a depth of 328 feet. Typically they are a bottom dwelling species, called “benthic grazing carnivores” by some. Others classify them as “commuter” fish that move between different habitats in search of prey. All agree they are primarily day feeders seeking out large, hard-shelled invertebrates that they are able to crush with their well developed, fused pharyngeal tooth plates. Since other perch do not share this ability, some scientists feel pile perch should be placed in a separate genus—Danalichthys. Foods include crabs, brittle stars, sand dollars, barnacles, bean clams, (whole) mussels, limpets, dove shells, California cones, Norris top shells, and chitons.
Piers: Pile perch are taken at virtually every pier in California but the largest numbers are taken at Bay Area piers. Best bets: Santa Monica Pier, Stearns Wharf, Goleta Pier, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Berkeley Pier, Point Pinole Pier and McNear Beach Pier.
Shoreline: A favored species for shore anglers fishing in bays throughout the state.
Boats: An inshore species sometimes taken by boaters fishing in bays, especially San Francisco Bay.
Bait and Tackle: Pile perch can be exasperatingly difficult to catch. The large perch will often be seen placidly swimming in clear view around the mussel-covered pilings while refusing to partake of the offerings of the gods up above—anglers whose mojo is evidently on empty. Damalichthys vacca do seem a little easier to catch when in their dense schools a’spawning. Perhaps their pea-sized brains are distracted and normal caution takes a back seat to other thoughts? The most common setup is to use a high/low leader with number 6 or 4 hooks, light line, and a light sinker. Best bait in southern California seems to be fresh mussels, rock crabs or bloodworms. In the Bay Area, grass shrimp, rock crabs, pile worms or fresh mussels are best. In Humboldt Bay, frozen tube worms or crab backs are most commonly used. Usually pile perch are nestled up next to the pilings; fish accordingly. Check out the shoreline by the pier at low tide and grab some local live bait—small crabs, mussels, worms, snails or clams; these will usually make the best bait.
Food Value: One of the larger perch with flesh that is mild in flavor with small flakes and soft texture. They taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: Many years ago, at Newport Pier, I watched an old-timer show one way to catch the perch. Pile perch were doing their typical trick d’tease: big fish showing a leg but refusing to bite. The old-timer tried out a trick of his own. He took out a mass of recently pried loose mussels, at least a dozen in the clump, and in and around this mussel-mass he wound a leader that had several number 8 hooks attached. Then he attached the leader to a handline and carefully dropped it down next to the pilings. This new mini-piling soon attracted the fish and he was able to catch several of the large pile perch. Sporting? I'm not sure, but it sure was effective. Since then, I've seen variations of this technique at both the Santa Monica Pier and at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara and heard stories of its use at the Goleta Pier.
White Seaperch
Species: Phanerodon furcatus (Girard, 1854); from the Greek root words phaneros (evident) and odons (tooth) and the Latin word furcatus (forked tail).
Alternate Names: Splittail perch, forktail perch and white perch. In Mexico called mojarra lomo rayado.
Identification: White seaperch are often confused with pile perch. The tail is deeply forked and the first and second sections of the dorsal fin are about equal height; there is a black line along the base of the soft dorsal. The coloring is light silver or olive on the back, white or dark silver on the belly; often dusky with a rosy-orange cast; yellow at base of pelvic and anal fins. The fins are yellow or dusky. Sometimes with dark spots near the mouth but lacks the dark bar below the dorsal fin seen in pile perch.
Size: To 14.8 inches; most pier-caught fish are 8 to 10 inches long.
Range: Bahia San Carlos, Isla Cedros, and Islas San Benito, central Baja California, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Common from Bahia San Quintin, northern Baja California, to California.
Habitat: Shallow-water areas both oceanfront and in bays, especially around combinations of rocks and fine sand. Recorded to a depth of 282 feet. Tends to form small schools.
Piers: White seaperch can be caught on almost every pier in the state but in southern California they're most commonly caught on piers inside of bays or harbors. Best bets: Shelter Island Pier, Oceanside Harbor Pier, Dana Point Harbor Pier, Redondo Sportfishing Pier, Santa Cruz Wharf, Pacifica Pier, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Santa Cruz Wharf, Berkeley Pier, Fort Baker Pier and the Commercial Street Dock (Eureka).
Shoreline: A common catch for shore anglers throughout the state, especially in bays.
Boats: An inshore species sometimes taken by boaters fishing in bays, especially San Francisco Bay.
Bait and Tackle: Normal gear is a high/low leader equipped with size 6 or 4 hooks fished on or near the bottom. White seaperch are not as finicky as pileperch or other seaperch and will take a wider variety of baits. However, live seaworms, fresh mussels, and live shrimp are the best bait.
Food Value: Large enough to eat with flesh that is mild in flavor with small flakes and soft texture. They taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: White seaperch are often found together with pile perch and blackperch.
Shiner Perch
Species: Cymatogaster aggregata (Gibbons, 1854); from the Greek root words cymo (foetus or fetus) and gastro (belly) and the Latin word aggregatus (crowded together, referring to the schooling nature of the fish).
Alternate Names: Commonly called shiner; also 7-11 perch, leven perch, yellow perch, bay perch, yellow shiner. Called minnow, shiner, or sparda by 19th century fishermen. In Mexico called majarra brillosa or perca.
Identification: Their coloring is gray to greenish above, and silvery below. Females have three yellow bars on the side; the males typically only have yellow bars during the winter, in the breeding season they are nearly black.
Size: To 8.3 inches; most caught from piers are 4-6 inches in length.
Range: Punta Baja, northern Baja California, to Saint John Baptist Bay, southeastern Alaska. Common from northern Baja California to Alaska.
Habitat: Typically shallow water bay and oceanfront areas although recorded to a depth of 480 feet. Shiner surfperch prefer eelgrass beds in bays and are especially common around piers.
Piers: Shiners are one of the most numerous fish taken at California piers.
Shoreline: A frequent catch throughout California’s bays.
Boats: Rarely taken from boats.
Bait and Tackle: For most anglers, the problem with these fish is how to keep them off your hook, not how to get them on. If you are using small hooks (under a size 4) and small bait, especially pieces of worm, and if shiners are around, you will probably catch them. However, some may actually want to catch them—they are great fun for kids. They also make good live bait for larger species like striped bass and halibut. To catch them, simply use small hooks (size 8), a small piece of bait, and fish from the top to the mid-depth level of the water.
Food Value: Too small—throw 'em back since they attract the larger game fish to the pier. Actually some ethnic groups do eat them; they're often pickled and some people like to dry them and use them in Oriental dishes. As per other perch, they are mild in flavor and soft in texture.
Comments: Shiners can be a problem when you are using expensive pile worms or bloodworms and fishing for the larger perch.
Sharpnose Seaperch
Species: Phanerodon atripes (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880); from the Greek root words phaneros (meaning evident) and odons (tooth) and the Latin words atri (entrance) and pes (base of).
Alternate Names: Blackfoot seaperch and sharpnose surfperch. In Mexico called mojarra picuda.
Identification: These surfperch are very similar in shape to the white seaperch but coloring is different and the pelvic fins are black tipped. Their coloring is silvery with reddish-brown marks on the back, and dusky pelvic fins.
Size: To 11.5 inches but most caught off piers are between 8-10 inches.
Range: Islas San Benito, central Baja California, to Yaquina Bay, Oregon. Common from Punta Baja, northern Baja California, to central California.
Habitat: Shallow to deep water and around kelp beds.
Piers: This is a perch that is often found in deep water—down to 750 feet deep. However, during summer months it moves into shallower waters to spawn. During those months it is an infrequent catch at several Monterey Bay piers. Best bets are Monterey Wharf #2, Monterey Coast Guard Pier and the Santa Cruz Wharf.
Shoreline: An occasional catch by shore anglers in central California.
Boats: An inshore species rarely taken from boats.
Bait and Tackle: By far, the best bait is live pile worms or small crabs; next would be fresh mussels or small pieces of shrimp. The most common setup used by locals in Monterey is a small size 8 hook fished directly on the end of the line with a small split-shot sinker attached a short way up from the hook. Above this is attached a small bobber which indicates when the fish bites; anglers here seem to give a quick jerk to try to hook the light-biting fish. The fish are generally found in the surface canopy or mid-depth area, which is one reason for using the bobber. The ones I have caught were all taken on a high/low leader.
Food Value: Most are fairly small yielding little meat. The flesh is mild in flavor with small flakes and soft texture. They taste best during the non-spawning season, are low in fat content, and can be cooked using most methods.
Comments: This seems to be one of the harder perch to hook. I spent several exasperating hours fishing for these perch and watching locals (a few with the know-how) catch them before I caught my first sharpnose seaperch. However, since then I’ve caught several of the fish at the pier using my normal high/low leader and adjusting the depth of the line to where I was getting bites.
For whatever reason, there has seemed to be considerable fluctuations in the population of these fish over the years—or at least in the reported population. Jordan and Gilbert (1882) said “Monterey Bay, locally abundant,” while Eigenmann (1893) said “the commonest species in Monterey Bay.” However few sharpnose were reported in Fish and Game surveys over the years until the 1960s when they again began to show up in decent numbers.
It’s reported that sharpnose seaperch act as “cleaner fish” during the fall when Mola mola, the ocean sunfish, come in to the shallow waters at Point Lobos.
Kelp Perch
Species: Brachyistius frenatus (Gill, 1862); from the Greek words brachys (short) and istion (sail), and the Latin word frenatus (bridled).
Alternate Names: Brown seaperch, brown perch and kelp seaperch. In Mexico called mojarra sargacera or perca.
Identification: Typical perch shape. Kelp perch have a compressed body, long pointed snout, long dorsal fin spines and coloring that is generally golden-brown to reddish above and tan below. There is usually a pale stripe on the upper side and sometimes blue spotting.
Size: To 8 1/2 inches (.3 pounds) but most caught from piers are around 6 inches in length.
Range: Bahia Tortugas, central Baja California, to near Sitka, southeastern Alaska.
Habitat: Typically found in intertidal waters although recorded to a depth of 249 feet. Typically seen around offshore kelp beds but will move in around piers which have a heavy growth of kelp. Usually a kelp-canopy, dwelling species that likes to pick small invertebrates off of plants.
Piers: Seen in late summer at piers with heavy kelp. Best bets: Cabrillo Mole in Avalon, Paradise Cove Pier, Goleta Pier, Gaviota Pier and the Spud Point Marina Pier (Bodega Bay).
Shoreline: Occasionally taken by shore anglers in central California.
Boats: A small, inshore species rarely taken from boats.
Bait and Tackle: Use light tackle with small number 8 or 6 hooks and a small piece of bloodworm, shrimp or mussel.
Food Value: Too small and pretty; throw ‘em back.
Comments: A “cleaner fish” that often picks ectoparasites off the bodies of larger fish. Sounds yucky!
Dwarf Perch
Species: Micrometrus minimus (Gibbons, 1854); from the Greek words mikros (small) and metr (having a womb), and the Latin word minim (smallest).
Alternate Names: None that I have heard, although I have seen them mistakenly called shinerperch. In Mexico called mojarra enana or perca.
Identification: Typical perch shape. Dwarf perch have a compressed body; their longest dorsal fin spines are slightly longer than or same length as soft rays. They have a black triangle (crescent-shaped) at the base of the pectoral fin. Their coloring is silver with greenish blue reflections, and yellow on sides with dark stripes. The dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins usually have a black blotch.
Size: To 6.3 inches. Those caught from piers are normally 4-6 inches.
Range: Punta Baja (mainland) and Isla Cedros, central Baja California, to Salt Point, Sonoma County, northern California. Common from Bahia Playa Maria, central Baja California, to Sonoma County, northern California.
Habitat: Rocky shallow-water areas, among seaweed, and beds of eelgrass and surfgrass. Recorded to a depth of only 30 feet. Primarily feed on small crustaceans.
Piers: Although dwarf perch can be caught at most southern and central California piers, they are most common at piers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Best bets: Fort Point Pier, Fort Mason Piers, San Francisco Municipal Pier, Berkeley Pier, Port View Park Pier, Paradise Beach Pier and Fort Baker Pier.
Shoreline: Occasionally taken by shore anglers in central California.
Boats: A small, inshore species rarely taken from boats.
Bait and Tackle: These fish are sometimes taken on light tackle by anglers fishing for larger perch. Hook size number 8 and a small piece of bait, especially pile worm.
Food Value: Too small so throw ‘em back.
Comments: They are good striper bait.
Reef Perch
Species: Micrometrus aurora (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880); from the Greek words mikros (small) and metr (having a womb), and the Latin word aurora (sunrise). Family Embiotocidae, subfamily Embiotocinae.
Alternate Names: Reef surfperch. In Mexico called mojarra de arrecife or perca.
Identification: Typical perch shape with the longest dorsal fin spines slightly longer or same length as the soft rays. Silvery with blue, green, and black on back; yellow or yellow-orange stripe on sides from the pectoral fin almost to the caudal fin. Triangular, crescent-shaped black patch at base of pectoral fin and a large patch of black-tipped scales between the pectoral and anal fins.
Size: To 7.1 inches. Those caught off piers are generally 4-6 inches long.
Range: Punta Baja, central Baja California, to Tomales Bay, northern California.
Habitat: Usually found in intertidal areas in water six feet or less and only recorded to a depth of 30 feet. Generally found over surfgrass and red and green algae; primarily feeds on algae and small invertebrates.
Piers: A fairly rare species to most piers. I’ve only taken two, one from the Gaviota Pier (1996) and one from the Elephant Rock Pier in San Francisco Bay (2006).
Shoreline: An infrequent catch by shore anglers.
Boats: A small, inshore species rarely taken from boats.
Bait and Tackle: Occasionally taken on light tackle by anglers fishing for larger perch. Hook size number 8 and a small piece of bait, especially pile worm.
Food Value: Too small so throw ‘em back.
Comments: An attractive little perch that should be given the chance to frolic out their lives as nature intended.