Question about surf fishing

[Lalalapotato]

I'm new to this site and I was wondering if anyone would be willing to share some tips and good areas to start for surf perch. Not asking for honey holes. Just good areas to start. I've caught a few here and there, but nothing to brag about.

[bones]

Well ...Before this question get moved from the reports section to the general salt water discussion section it would be helpful to tell us where you live and what beaches are the easiest for you to get to?

In advance I want to say though that the perch fishing has been very off this year because the water temps didn't drop like they used to due to the El Nino water temps and lack of sand crab beds. Hence ...There wasn't a great perch breeding season this year.

Oh...And let me say "Welcome to the FNN"...I'm looking forward to hearing about your adventures on the sand!

Mike

[Lalalapotato]

Yea sorry i realized i put it in the wrong section to late. Anyways i live in LA County so OC and LA beaches are pretty accessible to me.

[bones]

That's a whole lot of coastline...LOL
What beaches have you been standing on in the last year or so? Pretty much perch are everywhere and not hard to catch if they are actually in the area. Have you tried to catch them before? If so what type of gear/bait did you use?

[Lalalapotato]

I've only been out twice LOL. I'm really new to surf fishing and I've only been to Newport and Huntington. I used a Carolina rig with gulp camo sandworms. Also I didn't see any sand crabs at either beach.

[bones]

I don't know much about that area to be honest other than those beaches historically have not been the best perch beaches and with this dismal season Im sure it's even worse. The upside is that those beaches are better for halibut , corbina and spot fin croakers which are much better game fish over all. If I was you I'd target those species if the OC is your go to area. Trust me when I say that if you are tossing camo sand worms on a Carolina rig and not picking up perch they are not in the area or you have not found the holes/ rips that they are in. The secret is to walk until you find a hole they are in.

[Lalalapotato]

Would a 5/8 oz crocodile work for those fish? Also thank you so much for your insight.

[exfactor]

there is also alot of info here in "tips and tricks"section, and pasted links on "how to" in the surf fishing section. Best of luck to you in your pursuits!

[Lalalapotato]

Thank you for the info. I'll check it out. And sorry again that i put this in the wrong section. I'll try to use these tips the next time i head out which is this saturday.

[bones]

Would a 5/8 oz crocodile work for those fish? Also thank you so much for your insight.

5/8oz Kroc is a deadly bait slow rolled along the bottom for many game fish in the surf. My favorite color is the blue mack. The lucky craft 110 flash minnow is another deadly bait. Corbina are commonly caught on sand crabs if you can find them and spot fins love mussels. This is of course if you are not opposed to using bait.

[Lalalapotato]

5/8oz Kroc is a deadly bait slow rolled along the bottom for many game fish in the surf. My favorite color is the blue mack. The lucky craft 110 flash minnow is another deadly bait. Corbina are commonly caught on sand crabs if you can find them and spot fins love mussels. This is of course if you are not opposed to using bait.

Ok thanks a bunch. One last question. Are there considered "good conditions" for surf fishing?

[bones]

Ok thanks a bunch. One last question. Are there considered "good conditions" for surf fishing?

I'd say clean water, moderate waves, No salad to speak of and structure meaning holes, trenches or rocks which provide a break in the current for the fish to stack up in and wait for meal. Fish will seek calm spots like the edge of rip currents for example commonly referred to as the "SEAM". I personally think a 3 ft tide level on the outgoing tide is optimal for multiple species.

The other thing to obviously look for is forage food for the fish you seek. Sand crab beds or baitfish in the water. Either by seeing the actual bait or birds crashing on the bait. Also rocky structure which almost always attracts baitfish and also has mussels attached to it which is good for many species.

[Lalalapotato]

About the kroc, do i have to change the stock hooks? If so, what size?

[bones]

About the kroc, do i have to change the stock hooks? If so, what size?

No need to swap out the stock hook but be forewarned.... Stock hooks on a Kroc rust real fast and I still have not found a long shank hook that is the exact replacement. Hence...make sure you keep a little bottle of water in your car when you get ready to leave and promptly wash off your lures and reels if you have enough water. I have found that it is real easy to get lazy by the time you get home and even a few hours of salt water sitting on your gear will start a significant corrosion process that can not be reversed once it sets in.

[Lalalapotato]

No need to swap out the stock hook but be forewarned.... Stock hooks on a Kroc rust real fast and I still have not found a long shank hook that is the exact replacement. Hence...make sure you keep a little bottle of water in your car when you get ready to leave and promptly wash off your lures and reels if you have enough water. I have found that it is real easy to get lazy by the time you get home and even a few hours of salt water sitting on your gear will start a significant corrosion process that can not be reversed once it sets in.

OK. Thanks. I'll try not to get lazy after the session.

[Homefish]

Hey La...Potato, U should go to 1 of Bill Varney's surf fish'n seminars. His 1st one this year is 5/16/15 @ Crystal Cove.
Later, Homefish