Spooning for Surf Perch

Surf fishing is awesome, especially when spooning for surf perch. Fishing with spoons is nothing new. Spoons have been used for years and for every species you can imagine. Fresh water and salt water, surface, trolled, deep dropped, etc.

One of my newest passions is fishing in the surf with spoons. There are many types of fish lying in wait in the surf for an unsuspecting meal and that adds to the excitement. With variety comes sizes from small to large, to toothy. Sharks also spend time in the surf and that’s where it gets interesting. You can also catch Halibut in the surf. Halibut are not line shy so if you wish to target them, scale your tackle up as you see fit.

I throw spoons from 1/8 of an ounce to 1 ounce and 10lb test. The rougher the water the better, but what that means is it may be windy or tides may be out. Rough water tosses spoons around in the surf and that’s good for the flash. Spooning for surf perch involves standing in the waves so be prepared to get wet and fight waves as they come and go. This species will viciously attack a spoon so when retrieving the spoon hang on tight. It’s not like they will take you down to spool but they barred surf perch on a spoon don’t give up easy.

And keep in mind, there are many other species in the surf. Surf fish have a mild flavor, but connoisseurs agree that what makes the fish known is its texture more than its flavor. Many consider the texture of the surfperch too mushy, so brining the fish in cold water with salt and sugar for a few hours might help with the firmness of the flesh.

Tackle Suggestion Spooning for Surf Fishing

Rod: 8 – 12 Foot in length
Reel: Spinning
Line: 8 – 12lb Test
Baits: Spoons, soft plastics, sand crabs, blood worms, squid, hard baits
Hooks: Sizes 2, 4, or 6

The diets of barred and redtail surfperch consist primarily of invertebrates such as the Pacific mole crab, amphipods, skeleton shrimps, and polychaete worms. They also will consume smelt embryos and small fish such as Pacific sardine and northern anchovy. Barred Surf Perch grow up to 17 inches long and weigh 4.5 pounds. They are native to inshore waters from northern California and as far south as Baja California, Mexico. Most would say they are an acquired taste but everyone who fishes for them do so because they are a challenge and fun to land. While enjoying this fishery, please release pregnant females so they can spawn for another generation to enjoy.

Although surfperch are available year-round, the most productive time to fish for them is in the spring and early summer when they school up along sandy shorelines for spawning. The best fishing often occurs on an incoming tide, especially an hour or two before high tide.

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