Surfperch (pile, striped, redtail)
Know your fish
Surfperch (pile, striped, redtail)
Embiotocidae
Typical size:20–35 cm, 0.3–1 kg
- Deep, oval, laterally compressed body; forked tail
- Pile perch: dusky with a dark vertical band; striped: blue and orange horizontal stripes; redtail: pink-red tail
- Gives birth to live young
Looks like: Small rockfish have spiny heads; perch are smooth-headed.
0255075100125150
cm
OK to keep
- 8/day; no minimum size
Must release
- Pregnant females in late spring and summer (fat belly) are worth releasing
Best months
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Fishing licences across Canada
Rig to tie
- 1Swivel to main line Size 4 barrel swivel, 20 lb braid above
- 2Leader 20 lb mono (10 lb for perch), 80 cm
- 3Hooks 2/0 baitholder for cabezon; size 4–6 for perch, on 15 cm dropper loops
- 4Bait Whole shore crab (hook up through the back) or shrimp in the shell; sand shrimp or clam neck for perch
- 5Sinker 1–2 oz bank sinker on the bottom
How to tie and fish it
Tie it:Tie two dropper loops 20 cm apart. Sinker on the end loop so the baits sit just off bottom.
Fish it:Cast beside rock or pilings, keep the line tight, and wait. Cabezon take the crab and run for a hole: hit it hard and lift.