Can I Catch Big Surfperch Surf Fishing In Big Waves? (Theory & Tips)

Enjoyed fishing so much today! San Luis Obispo. 1:30-5:30pm. With Charlie Cote and Eric Brecheen. Beautiful weather and sunset. No wind. Surf-forecast predicted 500-300 wave energy but when we arrived it was much bigger than that. It was a little too big all day, then finally mellowed out in the evening. Eric had to leave before us so he didn’t make it down the beach with us. I walked further than I intended to. I combed miles of beach in one direction with a perch bait, but only got one tap. The waves were breaking really far out, and it dawned on me that I could not recall a single good day of good perch fishing when big waves were crashin that far out. But I found some beautiful agates, and saw dolphins playing in the waves. I felt I had walked far enough and it was time to turn around and re-fish the same stretch in reverse. Maybe some nice fish will move up the beach closer to high tide. I decided to give up on the perch bait and take my chances at some big game since surf was high. Maybe a striped bass or big perch would come through. Tied on the Battlestar 115, Green Sardine and started combing my way back. The surf was chasing me up and down the beach as I waded to whip my cast out as far as I could. After about 40 minutes BAMB! Suddenly my rod is bent over and jerking hard! Huge head shakes, distinctly a perch, but so much power! Then… my rod relaxed and I felt my Jerkbait wobbling again. My heart sunk into my chest and I started throwing a mini tantrum. I’m guessing it would have been my biggest perch of the year so far, but it came off half way in. Heart breaker! Completely disgruntled to lose such a big fish after 3 hours of no bites, I channeled my energy into the pursuit. It drove me to keep casting, even harder. Maybe 15 minutes later, SHAKE! SHAKE! SHAKE! So very heavy! That distinct fast shake of a perch again. This one feels just as big or bigger. It stops shaking and feels like dead weight, so I figure it might be foul hooks. I can’t even budge it in the current so I run down and up the beach, chasing it in the wash. Finally a big wave washes it up on to the sand. The bait was foul hooked in the back. Charlie exclaims “That is a huge perch! That might be the biggest I’ve seen.” It was a really thick female. I decided to release her with the hope that she will make babies for a few more years. After shooting some video I place her back in the water and feel great about it. We got back to casting. Soon after, I look up and Charlie’s rod is bent. He easily lands a beautiful 22” Striped Bass which will be his first for the smoker. After that I landed a 16” Jack Smelt. I thought it was another huge perch but it charged at me, just as Surf Smelt do, and then I saw it. Charlie said that might be the biggest smelt he’s ever seen. The sun was setting and the surf mellowed out. My back muscles felt totally worked but I just couldn’t stop casting. It was so beautiful and so satisfying, and it was about 45 minutes after high tide so I knew magic could happen any second. Maybe a big striper for my third species of the day? No more fish, but I finally walked off filled with contentment, just with the fishing experience. Sometimes it’s just the beauty of the sea and sky, and all the fresh air and exercise that is needed to feel totally pleased. We each caught a beautiful fish after all. Charlie shared a tip. He said he had
Experimented with standing further up the beach to avoid spooking stripers that may be coming into the shore break for sand crabs, so he was not casting out very far, and was fishing the water just on the other side of the lip, maybe 30 or 40 feet from the sand. It makes sense to me. I’d like to go back and try that. It kinda makes hunting stripers more fun if I think I can catch them by being stealthy. We then enjoyed the long walk across the wonderful wild landscape. Long hard walk. The best beaches always are.
VINCE GOES FISHING
Created by Vincent Alexander
Join the Facebook group
/ californiasurffishing
10% OFF use code VINCEGOESFISHING at CaSurfFishing.com/shop
KZbin @vincegoesfishing
FACEBOOK PAGE @vincegoesfishing
INSTAGRAM @vincegoesfishing
TIKTOK @vincegoesfishing
THANK YOU, SUBSCRIBERS!
/ @vincegoesfishing
THANK YOU, DONORS!
www.casurffishing.com/donate
Steve Williams
Mark Phillips
Austin Lee
Steven Cobb
Alexander Zielinski
Alfred Gutierrez
Restyx Catalasan
Aidan Woodruff
Marcus Magdaleno
Katie Unger
Russell Vardaman
Christopher Seidenberg
John Matsubu
Armando Polino Vasquez
Adrienne M Murillo
Travis Angler
Oleg Moseichuk
Landon Peppel
Kurt Jackson
Kevin Brannon
Wayne Seda
Dennis Upchurch
James Gordon
Kiet Le
Ransom Burke
Ray Robitialle
Gary Ino
Jim Borland
Omar Perez
Jesse Montemayor
Michael Rosario
Roy Reed
Rick Baker
Glen Patricio
Marlaena & Jon Chiarappa
Joe Gonzalez
Daniel Conley

[@MrAdsfasdfasdfasdfad]

I feel that belt/rod holder setup deserves its own video! Talk about going light!

[@VINCEGOESFISHING]

That’s an interesting idea. Maybe I’ll interview Charlie to discuss his gear sometime. He was a mechanical engineer and has an interesting engineers approach to everything he travels ultra lightweight and it’s a custom outfit. Never seen it done like this before, and it works great for him.

[@fisherman805lopez76]

Man Vince you have awesome knowledge I been watching you since Ventura. Fish on Brother.

[@VINCEGOESFISHING]

Hey that’s really cool that you’ve been following my surf fishing journey all the way since the beginning! Thanks man! Learned a ton already and now having a blast trying to figure out the perch 😊. Keep cranking man!

[@hobopro69]

Nice video, cool beach. I tried this morning in Monterey, a lot of wave energy no luck but it was nice to get out there.

[@VINCEGOESFISHING]

I can’t think of any time I’ve ever had a good day of fishing during really high surf. In this video we finally started getting bites at the end of the day when the waves calmed down. So I think Charlie is right about the big waves/wide surf zone theory. Maybe there is a balance between tiny waves and huge waves that is optimal for fish to feed within casting range. So now I’m thinking 300-500 energy is probably optimal for perch fishing on sandy beaches. That’s not to say you can’t/won’t catch fish in smaller or bigger waves. There are a lot of other variables in the dynamics, including structure/bottom contour. Just that this balance of 300-500 might be optimal for the perch to feed in close, and improve odds. Good luck!

[@Hook2Cook]

MAKES ME WANNA CATCH ONE SO BAD!

[@VINCEGOESFISHING]

Can’t wait for another slay sesh with ya brother!

[@michaelhamerski2168]

Nice fish, Charlie is right about rough sea fishing. Find some structure like a jetty or seastack and fish the lee side. Or just watch the sea lions, they know where the fish are. If a sea lion is 30 yards from shore throw your bait 30 yds out. Nice Perch BTW!

[@VINCEGOESFISHING]

Sounds right to me. I’m the warm season when bait is in the water I watch to see how close to shore the pelicans are flying. If they are flying within casting range then I tighten my grip haha 🎣

[@ronmodafferi8202]

An enjoyable short. concise video. An "early season" striper or are they always lurking??

[@VINCEGOESFISHING]

Welp, these days, now that their populations have increased exponentially after heavy rains, I think there’s always gonna be some lurking in the surf zone. I’ve heard reports of striped bass being caught in the slo surf on sandy beaches every month of the year. That didn’t happen 2 years ago. The fishery has changed dramatically. There’s always a chance you may hook a striped bass when surf fishing in SLO.

[@ronmodafferi8202]

Thanks!!@@VINCEGOESFISHING

[@SMOKEEMBOYZFISHING]

What rod is good for lures and Carolina rigs what rod you got there setup?

[@vincentwhitley8311]

Do you have Instagram

[@VINCEGOESFISHING]

Yes sir instagram.com/VINCEGOESFISHING