Mr. Eelgrass, and others, how is the fishing?

feddoc · Apr 24, 2023

Now that I have a pond of my own, it's been pretty good up here.

eelgrass · Apr 25, 2023

Salmon season is closed for the year. F&W emergency closed the razor clam digging but not for a lack of clams

. My buddy just spent $139 for a new clam gun too. but the surf perch fishing is okay. I'll start halibut fishing in May.

What kind of fish are in your pond?

feddoc · Apr 25, 2023

Trout. Clam gun?? What is that?

eelgrass · Apr 25, 2023

feddoc said:
Trout. Clam gun?? What is that?

Trout you say? How much is a non-resident fishing license?

Snoopdogg · Apr 25, 2023

I

clams. Those look big and tasty.

eelgrass · Apr 25, 2023

Snoopdogg said:
I clams. Those look big and tasty.

I dug on that beach years ago and brought home 180 razor clams. (three limits)

Swivelneck · Apr 25, 2023

Eel,
Despite growing up a 3 wood from the ocean, I am not much of an angler.
I took my boys out a couple of times last year with our surf rods, crab snares and some rigging to fish for perch with sand fleas. Did pretty well snaring, I think we got 4 keeper dungees and a half dozen rock crab in a few hours of casting. But the perch were another story. Two trips, and we can't seem to get the skunk off.
Any advice for a rookie on catching surf perch?

feddoc · Apr 25, 2023

eelgrass said:
Trout you say? How much is a non-resident fishing license?

One cheeseburger, with lettuce.

eelgrass · Apr 25, 2023

Swivelneck said:
Eel,
Despite growing up a 3 wood from the ocean, I am not much of an angler.
I took my boys out a couple of times last year with our surf rods, crab snares and some rigging to fish for perch with sand fleas. Did pretty well snaring, I think we got 4 keeper dungees and a half dozen rock crab in a few hours of casting. But the perch were another story. Two trips, and we can't seem to get the skunk off.
Any advice for a rookie on catching surf perch?

My favorite bait is sand fleas. One "secret" is to catch a bunch of sand fleas (the limit is 50/day in CA) and take them home and dip them in boiling water for about 10 seconds and they will turn orangish. Then freeze them for the next fishing trip. They work very well. Raw unshelled shrimp works too. Use enough weight to keep your bait from moving too much. Sometimes up to 4-5 ounces if the ocean is rough. If there is a best time, I would say around low tide and incoming but sometimes the tide doesn't matter, you'll still catch fish. If we don't get hit within a half hour we will move. We try to read the surf to see where to start. You want to fish the deeper water where there is a trough or a hole. It's hard to explain so maybe this video will help. Once to see it you'll know from then on. Then some days you can't buy a fish no matter what you do. I hope this helps.

eelgrass · Apr 25, 2023

eelgrass said:
My favorite bait is sand fleas. One "secret" is to catch a bunch of sand fleas (the limit is 50/day in CA) and take them home and dip them in boiling water for about 10 seconds and they will turn orangish. Then freeze them for the next fishing trip. They work very well. Raw unshelled shrimp works too. Use enough weight to keep your bait from moving too much. Sometimes up to 4-5 ounces if the ocean is rough. If there is a best time, I would say around low tide and incoming but sometimes the tide doesn't matter, you'll still catch fish. If we don't get hit within a half hour we will move. We try to read the surf to see where to start. You want to fish the deeper water where there is a trough or a hole. It's hard to explain so maybe this video will help. Once to see it you'll know from then on. Then some days you can't buy a fish no matter what you do. I hope this helps.

I forgot to add....another "secret" bait that works well is Berkley Gulp sandworms. Get the 2" in Camo color. They stay on the hook well. Sometimes they out fish the sand crabs.

elkassassin · Apr 25, 2023

In One Day?

eelgrass said:
I dug on that beach years ago and brought home 180 razor clams. (three limits)

Bwht4x4 · Apr 25, 2023

We've always done well on perch on the standard motor oil grub.

eelgrass · Apr 25, 2023

elkassassin said:
In One Day?

Go clamming at 10pm and get a limit before midnight. Then keep digging for the next day's limit. Get two limits in about 4 hours.

eelgrass · Apr 26, 2023

Bwht4x4 said:
We've always done well on perch on the standard motor oil grub.

View attachment 108992

Another one to try. Thanks.

willfrye027 · Apr 26, 2023

I used to fish for perch a lot. The gulp sand worms work great. I’ve never really messed with fresh/natural bait. Also caught a lot with the motor oil grubs. Usually will use a heavier spinning rod and Carolina rig, slow retrieve. When you find a nice hole with fish the action can be amazing! Key is to learn to read the rip currents and waves to find those deeper holes and places where they are hanging out.