Surf Perch Fishing??

[High School Fisherman]

I wanted to get started fishing for surf perch on the Oregon Coast. Where are some good places to fish, what do you use (tackle/Bait), and any techniques on how to catch them would be most helpful. Thank you.

[chromer]

Surf perch ar available all along the coast throughout the year and in the bays during summer months. Keys to finding good spots along the surf are a steep sloped beach and a nearby source of fresh water. Most prefer an incoming tide when fishing the beach and the higher the tide the better.

Tackle for fishing in the bay is pretty simple; 7 - 9 foot rod rated 10 - 12 pound test. You can go lighter, but because you'll be chucking a couple of ounces a longer heavier rod usually works bettrt. Rig with your weight on the bottom and then 1 or 2 short leaders (6 - 10 inches) spaced at about 1 foot intervals up the line. I like to use 20 -30 pound test for my leaders so they are stiff and stay out from my main line. It helps reduce tangles.

Bait can be sand shrimp, clam pieces, squid pieces, muscle pieces or mole crabs. Just about anything will work. If you're fishing the beach you may need to wrap your sand shrimp with stretchy thread if you're making long casts.

From the beach you'll need a fairly long rod, 10 - 12 feet, and a good sized spinning reel. Catching perch in the surf takes some practice.

Most prefer the bays where low tide is usually best. Yaquina and Tillamook are among the north coast favorites. I'd check in with Sherry Lyster (503-322-3342) for the latest info on Tillamook Bay and either Newport Marina Store (541-867-4470) or Sawyer's Landing (541-265-3907) for info on Yaquina Bay. The book "Fishing the Oregon Coast" by Mark Vargas also has very good basic info to get you started.

Hope this helps.

[Matt H.]

I go fishing out at Tillamook quite a bit. Id be happy to have a fishing partner. Hell, we could probably get Ray to come, too. I think the Pinktails should be running now. If not, there is always sea bass, greenling, and the occasional ling to catch.

I rarely, if ever, get skunked when I fish the Tillamook Jetty area. Drop me an email if you want to arrange a time to go =).

Matt

[fishuntr2]

Its been awhile but I have fished off the north jetty, Coos Bay. Used a trout rod, several hooks, and shrimp we dug on the bay side of north spit. High/slack tide on the ocean side of the jetty right where the waves are starting to break. The lighter gear and the fact you don't have to cast far keeps the shrimp on longer. When your in em ,it'll be "fish on" almost as soon as the bait hits the water. If no bites move around until you find the fish. It was normal for us to get our limits within 1 hour and many times would catch several at a time. Those red-tails are some of the best tasting fish I have met!

[High School Fisherman]

One more question is it better to fish for surf perch, sea bass, greenling or any other fish during high or low tide? Im a beginner so im not really sure how to go about it, i plan on going this weekend, where do u think would be a good place to start for beginners?

[RJ]

get yourself a 1/2 gallon of sand shrimp keep them cool if you plan on fishing a couple days and a tide book. I like the last 2 hrs of high tide thru the change. try the agate/moolock beach area north of newport.the word is there starting to get the pink fins.RJ

[Perfect Drift]

As the water temp increases, watch for the white worms that live in the perches flesh.
You could soak the filets over night in water before cooking to see if they are present. I'm serious, grossed me out one morning after eating a mess of them for dinner the night before.